The diver incorrectly thought
his first-stage regulator had failed
and jumped to the conclusion
that he was out of air. The survey
also found that 40 percent of male
divers and 27 percent of female
divers reported being “low on air
or out of air” sometime during
their dive career. However, only
18 percent of males and 7 percent
of females related their first
panic experience in diving to that
experience. DAN has reported
approximately 41 percent of
divers in fatal dives had run out
of breathing gas. While running
out of air can be fatal, most divers
handle being low on or out of air
without incident.
The second adverse event that
occurred was the separation of
the diver from his buddy. He did
not think other divers were close
enough to give him air as quickly
as he needed it. Because his dive
buddy was not within touching
distance, the diver was effectively
diving solo. Spare air was a poor
substitute for a dive buddy who
could have immediately offered a
functioning regulator and helped
him calm down.
The diver’s report of being “shell-
shocked after the event and since
the event” suggests post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). He faced
the threat of death or serious injury
and has persistently re-experienced
the event in traumatic nightmares.
He has also avoided potentially
distressing stimuli after the event:
He has not sought professional help
because he has been “too busy,” and
he has presumably not dived since
the incident. He also experiences
persistent negative trauma-related
emotions and has demonstrated
negative alterations in cognition
and mood with persistent distorted
blame of others (e.g., the regulator
service technician) for causing
the traumatic event. His signs and
symptoms are below the threshold
for a diagnosis of PTSD, but they
are still quite distressing to him and
warrant help — whether he wishes
to resume diving or not.
Over the years I have helped
divers with problems such as
these by working with them in the
water or by telephone or email
using cognitive behavioral therapy.
The therapy includes instruction
in diaphragmatic breathing for
relaxation (available for free
on
) and
progressive in-vivo exposure and
response prevention.
Typically, traumatized divers
avoid dealing with this type of
problem until circumstances
motivate them to tackle it so they
can resume diving. Others abandon
scuba diving and take up snorkeling
or other activities they find less
anxiety provoking.
AD
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REFERENCE
1. Colvard DF, Colvard LY. A study of panic
in recreational divers. The Undersea Journal,
2003; Q1: 40-44.
SEE THE VIDEO
The diver featured in this article was shooting
video at the time the incident occurred. To
watch this video, visit
/
sh/0mf5fzx349jg01n/gOCwva19IQ.
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STEPHEN FRINK
