It Happened to Me!

A report on our second ‘It Happened to Me!’ workshop

On 28th January, a group of Clidivers gathered upstairs at the Red Lion for our “It happened to me” workshop – a chance to share real experiences, ask honest questions, and learn together in a relaxed, non-judgemental setting (with pizza and drinks to help things along!). We heard first-hand accounts of DCI (with an “ooh la la” grade of PFO), buddy separation, and a drysuit flood on a deep wreck, sparking some rich discussion. Here are the highlights from the evening. 

The group left with a clearer understanding that DCI exists on a spectrum and that it’s worth tuning in to incremental changes in how you’re feeling after dives. It can be easy to write off a headache as a result of dehydration or a rash as from gear rubbing the skin even when this happens repeatedly. We discussed how DCI symptoms can vary by person, for example not all rashes look the same. Multiple people talked about the feeling of a bend being very particular and different from general aches. 

We talked about the challenges of diving in a buddy trio, which appeared in some of the examples. It was also noted that when experienced divers are together, buddy briefings can become somewhat perfunctory but it’s always important to do this thoroughly and not be complacent. The group also highlighted the importance of being aware of the risks of contaminated air fills

We were introduced to:

• the “normalisation of deviance” theory – the gradual process of practices or deviations from the rule becoming the norm, and
• the “incident pit” – how minor incidents can escalate into significant problems. 

Participants had some great suggestions for the club to think about, including: 

• Ensuring O2 is in our accommodation on trips, so that it’s easy to access after we’re done with the day’s diving
• Reminding people about CO sensors and what to do if you have concerns about the quality of a fill
• Encouraging thorough buddy briefings so everyone knows the plan 
• Dive managers prompting buddy trios to agree between them how they will manage this before they get in the water

What came through strongly was how much members valued having a space to hear from others and ask questions. Thanks to everyone who came along and shared so openly.

A key headline to take away was: If you find yourself thinking “oh, it will be fine”, that in itself is a warning sign to take notice of!