Analiza wszystkich wypadków nurkowych w  Wielkiej Brytanii  w roku 2005.

Raport zawiera: wypadki śmiertelne, przypadki DCI, przypadki ran/ chorób, wypadki na łodzi i na powierzchni, niekontrolowanych oraz awaryjnych wynurzeń i wiele innych pouczających odnotowanych zdarzeń.

Fatalities

October 2004 05/001 Two divers were found unconscious at the bottom of a shotline by other divers. Shetland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having two divers on the surface inert and unresponsive, the skipper also stating being unable to bring them aboard alone. Another vessel proceeded to the site, Shetland Coastguard requested launch of Longhope lifeboat. The lifeboat recovered the two divers and continued CPR until met by doctors, ambulances and Coastguard teams at the harbour. Both casualties pronounced dead on scene by doctor. (Coastguard, RNLI & Media reports).

March 2005 05/074 A cave diver failed to return from a solo dive. Other divers later found his body tangled in ropes that were already in place.(Media report).

March 2005 05/041 A diver was engaged in a training course. Whilst entering the water from a beach he became unwell and then collapsed. Resuscitation techniques were applied but the casualty died. Initial reports suggest that the death was due to a heart attack.

April 2005 05/075 A diver became inverted at a depth of 6m and ascended feet first. He spat out his regulator. His buddy tried to replace it and to turn him the right way up. The buddy was pushed away. Another member of the group succeeded in righting the diver and he inflated his BCD. He was towed to the shore and given AV on the way. He was recovered from the water, the emergency services were called and resuscitation techniques were applied using oxygen and an automatic defibrillator. The casualty failed to recover. The cause of death was found to have been through drowning. 

April 2005 05/093 Two divers finished a dive to 20m and were recovered into their boat. One of the pair stated that he had lost a delayed SMB and reel on the wreck and wanted to do a 'bounce' dive to recover it. He and his buddy re-entered the water and descended. One of the pair felt a restriction in his regulator because he was running low on air. He signalled to his buddy for air but the buddy indicated that he too was running out. They both surfaced after about 3 min, 20m apart and in distress. One was tangled in a line and out of air so the boat's skipper made for him first and he was recovered into the boat. The boat then moved to the second diver but just as they got to him he disappeared below the surface. An extensive search was conducted involving two lifeboats, a helicopter and other boats. The diver who had been recovered was taken to hospital and treated for shock. The body of the missing diver was found on the seabed six days later. 

April 2005 05/095 Three divers conducted a dive in a quarry. They exchanged signals to ascend. One of the three became separated, surfaced, got out of the water and waited for his buddies to surface. Two sets of bubbles were seen but these turned out to be a different pair of divers. Later two rebreather divers found the two missing divers apparently lifeless at a depth of 34m. They were unable to lift the divers so they marked their location with delayed SMBs. The divers were recovered and resuscitation techniques were applied. They were taken to hospital where death was confirmed. 

April 2005 05/096 A diver got into difficulties underwater and was brought to the surface. He was recovered into the boat unconscious and resuscitation techniques were applied. The Coastguard was alerted and a nearby warship offered assistance. The diver was recovered onto the warship and from there he was airlifted to hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival. It is thought that he suffered a heart attack whilst underwater. (Media reports). 

April 2005 05/102 A group of four divers dived on a wreck at a maximum depth of 60m, all using rebreathers with trimix. Although in the water together they conducted their dives separately. After 60 min, one diver was seen by another to be recovering a porthole. The porthole was later found at the surface under the diver's lifting bag. Three divers surfaced having completed over 150 min decompression on a trapeze. The diver who had been seen with the porthole did not surface and the alarm was raised when he was 15 min overdue. A search was initiated involving two lifeboats, two helicopters, a warship and other vessels. The missing diver was not found. 

April 2005 05/135 A diver conducted a dive on a wreck to a maximum depth of 68m using a rebreather. He dived alone although others from his party were in the water at the same time. He was last seen hovering motionless above the wreck. He failed to surface and an extensive search involving aircraft was made. His body has not been recovered. NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 6 ©BSAC - 2005 

April 2005 05/136 A diver entered the water alone. His body was later spotted, motionless, at the surface by a passing fisherman. The diver was recovered by a lifeboat but resuscitation attempts failed. 

April 2005 05/158 An instructor and two students were engaged in a training course to a maximum depth of 28m. At the end of the dive they were ascending the shotline when one of the trainees showed some distress and grabbed for the second student's octopus regulator. The instructor's mask was displaced and the second student inflated her BCD taking the instructor with her to the surface. The trainee who had the initial problem was seen to slip off the shotline and drop from view. The instructor and student who had surfaced were airlifted to a recompression facility for precautionary treatment. An extensive search was carried out for the missing diver involving two lifeboats, two helicopters and naval and civilian divers but he was not found. 

April 2005 05/187 A pair of diver were ascending from a dive to a maximum depth of 29m. During the ascent they became separated and one of the pair failed to surfaced. An extensive search involving aircraft, surface vessels and divers was conducted but the missing diver was not found. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/191 Two divers conducted a buddy check, entered the water and commenced their descent. At about 7m the descent rate of one of the divers started to increase. His buddy followed at a slower rated but keeping him in sight. The first diver hit the bottom at a depth of 25m and the second diver settled beside him. The first diver was trying to reconnect his drysuit direct feed hose. He made several unsuccessful attempts and then signalled for his buddy to assist. The buddy also made several unsuccessful attempts to reconnect the hose. Then there was a loud noise and the hose began to thrash around filling the water with bubbles and reducing visibility. The heavy diver was able to signal 'out of air' and he took his buddy's regulator. He was breathing very heavily and the buddy tried to signal to him to calm him and to initiate an ascent. The buddy tried to stop the bubbles by doubling the hose but this did not work. The buddy placed his second regulator in his mouth and took hold of the troubled diver. They started their ascent in a mass of bubbles. Suddenly the troubled diver stopped moving and the pair sank back to the seabed with the buddy being pulled downwards in a position above the other diver. On the seabed the buddy fully inflated his own BCD and they made a rapid ascent to the surface. At the surface the buddy struggled to support the other diver, who was not breathing. He removed both weight harnesses and started to give the casualty AV. He shouted for help and another boat came to assist. The casualty was recovered into the boat. The buddy also got into the boat and he and another diver administered oxygen enriched AV and CPR to the casualty. The Coastguard was alerted and the boat returned to shore. Resuscitation techniques were continuously applied. They were met by a doctor and an ambulance. The casualty was declared to be dead. The buddy was airlifted to a recompression facility for precautionary recompression treatment. He suffered no ill effects. 

April 2005 05/203 A diver surfaced alone from a wreck dive with a maximum depth of 30m. He was seen holding on to his SMB and with his face mask removed. As the boat turned to pick him up he sank below the surface and did not reappear. The Coastguard was alerted and an extensive air and sea search was made. Underwater searches were also made using sonar and divers. The missing diver was not found. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/214 A rebreather diver completed an 80 min dive to 46m including the following stops; 2 min at 35m, 2 min at 28m, 2 min at 19m, 5 min at 9m and 25 min at 6m. During the ascent he felt sick and had to switch to his bail out regulator so that he could be sick underwater. He got water in his mask and he swallowed this water. He requested help to get back in the boat and was sick again. He drank some tea and vomited again. He complained of feeling unwell. He sat down and breathed enriched air from his rebreather. He then became incoherent and collapsed. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was placed on oxygen. The diver was airlifted to hospital where he died four days later. NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 7 

Decompression Incidents 

April 2004 05/314 Humber Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. Following a medi-link call RAF rescue helicopter R-131 was scrambled airlifting the casualty to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/317 Clyde Coastguard received a call from diver suffering from suspected DCI whilst on way to catch a car ferry. The hyperbaric chamber was contacted with Largs Coastguard making sure the casualty safely arrived at the chamber. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/319 Shetland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel requesting assistance for a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. Vessel met by ambulance, to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/320 Clyde Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having two divers aboard suffering from suspected DCI. Following medical advice, the divers were taken by lifeboat to shore where they were transferred to an ambulance and transported to hospital for treatment. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2004 05/025 Two divers commenced a dive. One of the pair had only used a drysuit twice before. At 4m, this diver had difficulty descending and the other diver assisted by adding rocks to her BCD. They reached a maximum depth of 25m and then started to ascend. 17 min into the dive, at a depth of 18m, the BCD inflator valve of the diver who had had buoyancy problems stuck and the diver became buoyant. Her buddy came to her assistance and they settled onto the seabed. The inflator valve stuck a second time and they were unable to disconnect the hose. Both divers made a rapid, buoyant ascent to the surface. Their total dive time was 22 min. Once on shore, the diver who had been buoyant complained of breathlessness and feeling weak. The buddy was symptom-free. The Coastguard was alerted and medical advice was sought. The diver was airlifted to a recompression chamber for treatment. Her symptoms were fully resolved. 

April 2004 05/026 A trainee diver who was involved in a drysuit training course conducted a 30 min dive to a maximum depth of 6m. 1 hour later he dived again. At 22m he lost control of his buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface. He was placed on oxygen for a while. A day later he experienced problems and received recompression treatment for a cerebral DCI. 

April 2004 05/027 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 19m. One of the pair was using nitrox 36, the other was using air. During the dive the nitrox diver suffered a slight loss of buoyancy control and ascended 5m. She quickly corrected this problem and re-descended. After 30 min they made their ascent using a shotline. They completed a 5 min stop at 6m and then left the water. Their total dive time was 36 min. Later that evening the nitrox diver began to feel lethargic. A little later her left arm started to ache. She initially thought that it was a muscle strain, but the condition worsened. She breathed from her nitrox 36 supply and the condition improved. She sought medical advice and travelled to a recompression facility. On the way her condition deteriorated; she developed 'pins and needles' in both arms and over the cheek bones in her face, and she had difficulty focusing. She was placed on oxygen. She received a series of three recompression treatments and she was left with minor residual symptoms which were considered to have been from tissue damage. She was advised to seek a PFO test. 

April 2004 05/325 Clyde Coastguard received a call from ambulance control to assist at the Helo landing site for Helimed 5 to land a diver suffering from suspected DCI for transfer to a recompression chamber for treatment. Casualty was finally transferred by land, Cumbrae Coastguard team stood down. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/326 Brixham Coastguard maintained a communications watch over RAF rescue helicopter as it flew a diver from an inland site to DDRC Plymouth for treatment following a dive where he developed suspected DCI. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/029 A diver was participating in a nitrox training course. He completed a dive to 14m for 23 min with a 5 min stop at 9m and a 5 min stop at 6m. His dive gas was air and he used nitrox 40 for decompression. During the decompression stops he practiced gas switching. 2 hours 20 min later he dived to 16m for 23 min and completed the same decompression process. The following day he made an aircraft flight. 1 hour after the flight, 15 hours 30 min after his last dive, he developed pains in his neck and shoulders and a tingling in his arms and hands. These symptoms persisted for three days and he then flew back home. He sought medical advice and was referred to a recompression facility. He received recompression treatment and his symptoms resolved. The following day the symptoms returned, he received two further sessions of treatment and his symptoms were finally resolved. He had suffered a previous, suspected DCI, four months earlier which had resulted in a neck injury and this was thought to have contributed. 

April 2004 05/016 A diver dived to 39m. Later the same day he made a second dive to a maximum depth of 20m. Shortly after this second dive he complained of chest pains and 'pins and needles' in his legs. The diver was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. The boat returned to shore and the diver was airlifted to a recompression facility. He received three sessions of recompression treatment and was experiencing difficulties walking. 

April 2004 05/034 Two pairs of divers conducted a dive together. One pair waited while the second pair moved down to 35m and they then started an ascent together, moving up a sloping bottom contour. At 24m one of the divers lost control of her drysuit buoyancy and started a buoyant ascent. Her buddy went with her. The second pair also made an ascent. At 6m they found the buddy of the buoyant diver; his computer indicated that a 4 min stop was required. The second pair had less than 1 min NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 8 ©BSAC - 2005 decompression and when this had cleared one surfaced and the other stayed with the buoyant diver's buddy. At the surface the diver from the second pair found the buoyant diver; her computer indicated that a 4 min stop had been missed. She was assisted from the water and placed on oxygen. After 15 min she developed pain in her back and legs and started to feel nauseous. The emergency services were alerted and she was airlifted to a recompression facility for treatment. 

April 2005 05/036 Three divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 23m. At 20m one of the three experienced a problem with her regulator. She attempted to breathe from the alternative air source of one of the other divers but couldn't get air. These two divers made a rapid ascent to the surface. The third diver made a normal ascent. The two who had made the rapid ascent were in distress at the surface. They were recovered from the water and placed on oxygen. The diver who had been out of air was airlifted to a recompression facility. The other two were taken by ambulance to hospital. The diver who had made the normal ascent was discharged but the one who had made the rapid ascent was transferred to the recompression facility. Both divers who had made the rapid ascent were successfully treated. It was later discovered that the diver who had had breathing difficulties had no air in her cylinder and that the pony cylinder of the buddy from whom she had attempted to take the alternative air source was switched off. 

April 2005 05/046 A diver conducted a dive to 15m for 21 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 4 hours 1 min later she dived to 33m for 24 min including a 1 min stop at 12m, a 1 min stop at 9m and a 4 min stop at 6m. 19 hours 7 min later she dived to 21m. At this depth she experienced a 'spinning' sensation. She signalled to her two buddies that she wanted to ascend. She made a rapid ascent to the surface missing a planned stop at 6m. One buddy came with her and the other made a normal ascent. Her dive duration was 2 min 20 sec. She felt disorientated after the dive. The following day she had a tingling and numbness in her right hand and sore elbows and shoulders. She felt tired and sick and she had a headache. She sought advice from a hyperbaric facility and attended for treatment. DCI was diagnosed and a burst eardrum was suspected. She received two sessions of recompression treatment. Neither buddy suffered any ill effects. 

April 2005 05/048 Two divers planned a dive to 50m. At this depth one of the divers believes that he experienced nitrogen narcosis. He suggested to his buddy that they descend to 60m which they did. They spent 1 min at 60m and then began their ascent. They conducted the following stops - 2 min at 28m, 2 min at 18m, 2 min at 9m and 23 min at 6m as indicated by their computers. On leaving the water one of the divers experienced difficulties. The emergency services were called and he was taken to hospital and then to a recompression facility where he was treated for DCI. 

April 2005 05/042 A diver conducted a 60 min dive to 60m using trimix 19/35. The dive time included a total of 27 min of stops which were made at depths between 39 and 6m using nitrox 36 and nitrox 75. 3 hours later he developed a migraine headache. He began to feel nauseous and to vomit. He sought medical advice and was taken, on oxygen, by ambulance, to a recompression facility. He received a 9 hour treatment which fully resolved his symptoms. 

April 2005 05/051 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 20m. At this depth one of the pair wanted to cough and he removed his regulator to do so. The regulator then began to free flow. He attempted to use his pony regulator and his buddy turned his main air supply off and then on again, which stopped the free flow. The diver then reached for his inflation unit. His buddy thought that he was about to make a rapid ascent and she managed to control him. They made a normal ascent to 15m but at this point the ascent rate began to rise. The panicked diver made a rapid ascent from 10m to the surface. His dive duration was 14 min. His buddy made a normal ascent. 20 min later, the diver who had made the rapid ascent started to feel pain in his hip and knee, and a tingling in his hand. He had had a headache prior to the dive and had taken Panadol. He was placed on oxygen. His condition did not improve and he was taken by helicopter to a recompression facility where he received recompression treatment. He was discharged the following day. 

April 2005 05/061 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 35m. They started their ascent and, at a depth of 30m, the fin of one of the divers came off. This caused him to lose control of his buoyancy. At 20m he removed his weightbelt and managed to control his ascent to about 12m. At this point he lost buoyancy control and made a fast ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 18 min. Later he experienced a tingling in his right thigh. He was placed on oxygen which initially improved his symptoms. He then developed a problem with his right shoulder. An ambulance was called and the diver was airlifted to a recompression chamber for treatment. He is believed to have made a full recovery. 

April 2005 05/062 Two divers completed a 27 min dive to 20m with a 3 min decompression stop at 5m. During the last few minutes of the dive one of the pair began to feel cold. Shortly after leaving the water, she started to feel dizzy. Her buddy helped her to remove her kit and she was placed in the recovery position. She was very cold and disorientated. She was placed on oxygen and wrapped up to prevent further heat loss. She was taken by ambulance to hospital and from there to a recompression facility where she received three sessions of treatment. She made a full recovery. 

April 2005 05/078 A diver suffering from DCI was airlifted to a recompression facility. (Media report). 

April 2005 05/080 A diver conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 43m for a duration of 18 min including a 2 min stop at 6m. After a surface interval of 2 hours 12 min he dived to 30m for 27 min including a 1 min stop at 5m. Back on the boat the diver complained of a lower back pain; he thought that he had strained a muscle climbing the ladder. The pain worsened and he was placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted. 5 min later the casualty had lost feeling in the top of his right leg. The casualty was airlifted to a recompression facility for treatment and released the following day. 

April 2005 05/288 A diver conducted a dive to 14m. 4 hours 30 min later she dived to 14m for 27 min with a 1 min safety stop at 3m. 19 hours later she dived to 22m. After about 13 min she felt air migrate into the feet of her drysuit and then her right foot was pulled from the boot. Shortly afterwards the same thing NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 9 happened to her left foot. She then lost control of her buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface hitting the underside of the boat. Her buddy made a normal ascent. The buoyant diver was recovered into the boat. She complained of pain in her right shoulder and nausea. She was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. She was airlifted to a recompression facility where she was treated for a suspected neurological DCI. She was discharged later that night. 

April 2005 05/342 Brixham Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, the casualty was airlifted by Coastguard rescue helicopter to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/345 Solent Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. The casualty was airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to QAH for treatment, the incident also attended by Littlehampton and Portsmouth Coastguard teams. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/111 A diver and an instructor descended to a depth of 30m. The diver indicated that he was unhappy and they started to ascend. During the ascent the diver lost his regulator and made a very rapid ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 9 min. He was recovered from the water. He lost consciousness, had a weak pulse and his pupils were unresponsive. He was placed on oxygen and airlifted to a recompression facility. He received recompression treatment for DCI and was released, fully recovered, later the same day. 

April 2005 05/215 A diver completed a 34 min dive to 28m followed, 5 hours 12 min later, by a 30 min dive to 17m. The following day he dived to 22m for 33 min with a 2 min safety stop at 6m. About 12 hours later he noticed itching and 'pins and needles' down his back. During the night the condition worsened and spread across his back. The next morning he sought medical advice and received recompression treatment that resolved his symptoms. Repetitive diving and dehydration were thought to have been contributory factors. 

April 2005 05/112 An instructor and a trainee conducted a 40 min dive to 17m. 16 hours later they dived to a maximum depth of 17m. Towards the end of the dive, the instructor demonstrated the deployment of a delayed SMB. During deployment the reel jammed and the regulator being used for fill the SMB started to free flow. Before he could release the reel the instructor was dragged upwards. The trainee hung on to the instructor and both started to ascend. The trainee then let go of the instructor but both were carried buoyantly to the surface. Their dive duration was 40 min. Both were recovered into their boat and placed on oxygen. Shortly afterwards the trainee began to complain of visual disturbances. The Coastguard was alerted and the divers were airlifted to a recompression facility where they both received treatment. Both made a full recovery. 

April 2005 05/257 A diver conducted a 32 min dive to a depth of 27m with a 1 min stop at 6m. 4 hours later he dived to 28m for 48 min with an 8 min stop at 6m using nitrox 50. Shortly after the second dive he felt a pain in his elbow. He was placed on oxygen for 10 min, switched to nitrox 50 for 10 min, back to oxygen for 20 min until it ran out, then back to nitrox 50. The diver had no other symptoms of DCI. Medical advice was sought and it was determined that there was a lifeboat in the area with another diver with DCI and a doctor on board. The lifeboat was tasked to collect the diver who was placed on oxygen and taken ashore. He was taken to a recompression facility. His symptoms had resolved. It was decided that he should receive precautionary recompression treatment with the other diver who had been on the lifeboat. He experienced no further problems. 

April 2005 05/259 A diver dived to 14m for 30 min with a 2 min stop at 6m. 2 hours later she dived to 14m again. After 20 min she became cold and the diver and her buddy decided to terminate the dive. The buddy settled on the seabed and prepared a delayed SMB. While he did so the other diver started to rise to the surface. When the buddy realised that she had started her ascent he made himself buoyant to catch her up. By the time he caught up with her and had controlled their buoyancy they were at the surface. Two days later the diver complained of 'pins and needles' in her fingers and joint pains. Medical advice was sought and the diver was taken to a recompression facility. She received two sessions of recompression therapy and her symptoms were fully resolved. 

April 2005 05/123 A pair of divers dived to 30m. One of the pair began to feel very uncomfortable and indicated that she wanted to ascend. She then began a rapid ascent; her buddy followed. Their dive duration was 23 min. At the surface the diver who had started the rapid ascent felt unwell and was placed on oxygen. Her condition worsened and the emergency services were alerted. She was airlifted to a recompression facility. Later her buddy also began to feel unwell and he made his own way to the recompression facility. Both divers received two sessions of recompression treatment for DCI. 

April 2005 05/355 Dive support vessel reported having two divers aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a rapid ascent 16m after a dive to 32m. Both divers taken to DDRC for treatment. (Coastguard report). NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 10 ©BSAC - 2005 

April 2005 05/091 Two divers descended a shotline to a wreck. They swam to the end of the shotline to tie a lifting bag to the grapple to aid recovery. Visibility and light levels were low due to plankton. They reached a maximum depth of 32m. The lead diver then became tangled in mono-filament fishing net and lines that were covering part of the wreck. He was unable to free himself and started to panic. His buddy came to his aid and was eventually able to cut him free. The diver had been trapped for 12 min. He had inflated his BCD and drysuit whilst trapped and once free he started a buoyant ascent. He was able to slow the ascent at 20m. He looked for his buddy but could not see him. He then made a normal ascent with a safety stop at 3m. The buddy had also become tangled in the lines and was unable to free himself so he removed his diving cylinders and after inflating his drysuit, he made a free ascent directly to the surface, where he arrived before his buddy. At the surface he was able to give an emergency signal and he was recovered into a boat. He was semiconscious. He was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard alerted. The buddy surfaced safely a few minutes later. Both divers were airlifted to a recompression facility where treatment for DCI was given. 

April 2005 05/354 Dive support vessel reported having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a dive to 32m. Casualty and buddy airlifted to DDRC for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/122 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 27m. They started their ascent and, at a depth of 25m, one of the pair attempted to release air from his drysuit but was unable to prevent a rapid ascent. He was able to stop at 3m for 2 min but then he surfaced. His dive duration was 27 min. His buddy made a normal ascent. The buoyant diver was recovered from the water and placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. Once ashore he was taken by ambulance to a recompression facility where he was treated for DCI. 

April 2005 05/129 A diver conducted a 30 min dive to a depth of 18m using nitrox 34. One hour later he developed a pain in his forehead, vision problems and a tightness in his chest. He was placed on oxygen and transferred by helicopter to a recompression facility where he was treated for suspected DCI. 

April 2005 05/133 A diver conducted a 40 min dive to a maximum depth of 25m with a 3 min safety stop at 6m. 2 hours 11 min later she dived to a maximum depth of 25m. During this dive she began to feel buoyant as she swam up a slope. She tried to dump air from her cuff dump and a few bubbles came out. She soon felt buoyant again and she removed her drysuit direct feed hose in case the inflation valve had become jammed. She again dumped a little air from her cuff dump. She checked to make sure her BCD was empty which it was. She and her buddy decided to abort the dive. The buddy deployed a delayed SMB and they started their ascent. The buoyant diver was unable to control her ascent and rose, at an increasingly fast rate, to the surface. She was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. Her buddy made a normal ascent including safety stops. As the boat neared the shore the diver who had made the rapid ascent began to feel a slight tingling sensation in her left hand and arm. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was airlifted to a recompression facility. Recompression treatment did not resolve the symptoms. The symptoms resolved, in hospital, overnight and the diver was released the following day after a second recompression treatment. It is thought that the diver's undersuit blocked the dump valve. 

April 2005 05/359 Dive support vessel contacted Stornoway Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. A medilink call was established. Coastguard rescue helicopter R-MU was scrambled to airlift casualty to a recompression chamber for treatment, being met by Oban Coastguard team and a waiting ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/362 Dive support vessel contacted Portland Coastguard reporting having two divers aboard who had made a rapid ascent and were suffering from suspected DCI. The divers were airlifted from the vessel and transferred to a waiting ambulance by Poole Coastguard rescue team for onward transportation to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/369 Dive support vessel contacted Portland Coastguard by telephone reporting having a diver aboard having made a rapid ascent and was showing signs of DCI. Rescue helicopter RWB was tasked to airlift the casualty and buddy from the vessel to a recompression chamber for treatment, Poole Coastguard manned the HLS. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/372 Dive support vessel called Falmouth Coastguard on VHF reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a dive to 36m. Falmouth Coastguard tasked RN rescue R-193 and Penzance Coastguard team, the casualty and buddy were airlifted to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/373 Dive support vessel called Portland Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard with suspected DCI, medical advice had already been sought and the doctor had recommended evacuation. Portland Coastguard tasked Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB to airlift the casualty to a recompression chamber for treatment. the HLS was manned by Poole Coastguard team. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/146 30 min after a 21 min dive a diver complained of soreness and numbness on his right hand side. He was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. A lifeboat was launched to assist. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/228 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 30m. After 25 min both divers prepared to ascend. One of the pair deployed a delayed SMB and they started their ascent after 28 min. The diver with the SMB lost control of his buoyancy and ascended quickly to the surface. The other diver managed to complete 6 min of stops between 6 and 3m, but had exceeded the recommended ascent rate. The first diver was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and once other divers had been recovered the boat returned to shore. The first diver was taken by ambulance to a recompression facility where he was treated twice for DCI. It was later found that weight was missing from the integrated weight system of his BCD. It is thought that this had been lost during the dive, leading to his rapid ascent. NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 11 

April 2005 05/374 Dive support vessel contacted Portland Coastguard on VHF channel 16 reporting having a diver aboard suffering from a skin rash, the dive support vessel had medical advice which recommended an airlift to recompression chamber. Coastguard helicopter R-WB was tasked to evacuate the diver. The helicopter was met by a doctor and Poole Coastguard for transportation by ambulance to the recompression chamber. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/376 Stornoway Coastguard received a call from a diver who was experiencing problem associated with DCI following a dive to 22m, the diver was airlifted to recompression chamber by Coastguard rescue helicopter R-MU, with Broadford & Portree Coastguard teams assisting. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/137 Dive support vessel contacted Stornoway Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. Coastguard rescue helicopter R-MU was tasked to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/378 Brixham Coastguard received a call from a diver reporting one of the party was suffering from suspected DCI following a dive to 34m. Casualty was met by ambulance and Hope Cove Coastguard then airlifted by RAF rescue helicopter R-169 to DDRC Plymouth for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/381 Dive support vessel reported having a diver on shore who was feeling dizzy and having had problems clearing ears following a dive to 34m, the diver was airlifted to DDRC Plymouth for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/377 Clyde Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard who had made a rapid ascent to the surface following loss of weigh belt, the casualty was transferred to hospital and later on to hyperbaric chamber for treatment for DCI. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/153 A diver conducted a dive to 31m for 40 min with a 3 min safety stop at 6m. 1 hour 47 min later he dived to 22m for 40 min with a 3 min safety stop at 6m. Once back on the boat the diver felt as if he had pulled a muscle in his arm. Later that evening the pain got much worse and he sought advice from a recompression facility. A 'mixed neurological and limb' DCI was diagnosed. He received a series of four recompression treatments over the next three days. He was left with some numbness in his elbow and has followed advice to stop diving. 

April 2005 05/383 Forth Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, following a dive to 23m when a rapid ascent was made during the ascent from 14m. The casualty was met by ambulance and Eyemouth Coastguard, casualty was assessed and it was decided to airlift the patient to recompression chamber by Helimed rescue helicopter. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/160 A diver conducted a 24 min dive to a depth of 5m. 41 min later he dived to 35m. During this second dive he ascended to 25m and then re-descended to 35m. He then rose to 22m from where he ascended to the surface in 2 min. Once out of the water he complained of feeling unwell and he had backache. He was placed on oxygen and taken to hospital from where he was discharged during the night. He awoke the following morning feeling unwell, unable to walk and with urinary retention. He went to hospital and from there to a recompression facility where he received extensive treatment over a period of twelve days. 

April 2005 05/391 Solent Coastguard received a call from dive boat reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, the casualty was taken to QAH by ambulance for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/388 Falmouth Coastguard received a '

Aprilday' call on VHF channel 16 reporting a diver onboard suffering from suspected DCI following a rapid ascent from 65m, missing 45min of stops. Falmouth Coastguard tasked RN rescue helicopter R-193 to airlift the casualty to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/166 A diver completed a dive to 23m for 40 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 5 hours 35 min later he dived to 13m for 34 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 16 hours 35 min later he dived to 20m for 42 min with a 2 min stop at 15m and a 3 min stop at 6m. He was woken early the following morning by a dull pain in his right shoulder. He took a pain killer and went back to bed. He woke later with a pronounced pain in his right shoulder and a slight pain in his right elbow. He also had a weakness in his right hand and decreased reflexes in his right arm. His pain improved when he breathed nitrox 50. He sought medical advice and was diagnosed with a neurological DCI. He received two sessions of recompression treatment. 

April 2005 05/167 A rebreather diver suffered paralysis in both legs. She received recompression treatment. 

April 2005 05/188 Three divers entered the water and commenced their descent down a shotline. One diver moved ahead of the others. At 22m he realised that the other two were not following him and he reascended to meet them at about 10m. One of the other divers then started to descend when the third diver indicated that he was having problems clearing his ears and was going to abort the dive. This diver ascended on his own and the other two continued the dive. They met on the bottom at a depth of 26m. They swam to a wreck at a maximum depth of 28m. One of the pair experienced buoyancy control problems and held on to the wreck on occasions trying to dump air from his suit. They deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent and whilst doing so the buoyant diver lost control and was carried to the surface. The buoyant diver's SMB had a small weight attached and he felt that the loss of this weight which he sent up with the buoy caused him to finally lose control of his buoyancy. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. His buddy ascended as fast as his computer would allow. The Coastguard was alerted and the boat returned to shore. The diver who had made the rapid ascent was taken by ambulance and helicopter to a recompression facility for treatment for DCI. NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 12 ©BSAC - 2005 

April 2005 05/168 A diver using nitrox 30 completed a 36 min dive to 36m including a 5 min stop at 6m and a 1 min stop at 3m. Shortly after re-boarding the boat he complained of an ache in his left shoulder. This persisted and he was placed on oxygen. He had a blotchy red rash on his shoulder which faded when the oxygen was administered. Medical advice was sought and the Coastguard was contacted. The diver was airlifted to a recompression facility. He received treatment that resolved his symptoms. His buddy suffered no ill effects. 

April 2005 05/308 Three divers descended a shotline and conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 33m. After 17 min they began to re-ascend, back up the shotline. They completed a safety stop at 6m and then surfaced. Their dive duration was 28 min of which 11 min was the ascent. The following day one of the three developed a headache and began to feel nauseous. During the night he awoke suddenly with his head pounding. He went back to sleep. When he awoke in the morning his headache was still there and he began to develop a slight tingling in his right arm and waves of dizziness. He sought medical advice, saw his doctor and was taken to hospital. The diver was starting to feel very confused and had muscle fatigue. The doctors rejected his suggestions that he might be suffering from DCI and he was given analgesic drugs. He was kept in hospital overnight and the following day his wife rang a recompression facility and sought diving medical advice. They advised that he attend a recompression facility, which he did. He received three sessions of recompression treatment for DCI and made a full recovery. 

April 2005 05/406 Portland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, the casualty was airlifted from the vessel by Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB and taken to Poole HLS to be met by Poole Coastguard and a waiting ambulance for transportation to recompression chamber. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/408 Portland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, Coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled airlifting the casualty to Poole HLS where they were met by Poole Coastguard and an ambulance for transportation to recompression chamber, (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/189 A diver conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 32m using nitrox 34. He started his ascent after 32 min and took 8 min to rise to 6m. At this depth he completed a 10 min stop and then took a further 2 min to reach the surface. 40 min after the dive he felt one ear clear and became dizzy. He refrained from further diving. Once back on shore he found that he was unable to walk properly. He was placed on oxygen and specialised medical advice was sought. He went to hospital and from there to a recompression facility. He received two recompression treatments. He was diagnosed with a possible DCI of the inner ear. Dehydration and heavy exercise before the dive were cited as potential exacerbating factors. He was later passed fit to recommence diving. 

April 2005 05/413 Brixham Coastguard tasked RN rescue helicopter R -193 to airlift a diver suffering from suspected DCI after dive to 66m, casualty was flown to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/180 A diver dived to 31m for 33 min. 2 hours 30 min later he dived to 15m for 33 min. The following day, 18 hours later, he dived, with two others, to a depth of 36m for 27 min with a 4 min stop at 6m. Shortly after getting back into the boat this diver was found to be dizzy and disorientated and he had a numbness in his right hand and leg. He was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was informed. The diver's condition improved. He was airlifted to a recompression facility where he was treated for DCI. 

April 2005 05/417 Dover Coastguard received a call from a dive boat reporting having two divers aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a dive to 25m, a medi-link call was established, the doctor recommended immediate evacuation by lifeboat, both divers taken by ambulance to Whipps Cross Hospital for treatment. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/217 Two divers surfaced having missed a 1 min stop. One of the pair developed symptoms of DCI and was airlifted to a recompression facility where she was treated for a serious spinal DCI. 

April 2005 05/420 Humber Coastguard received a call from a dive support vessel indicating a diver with suspected DCI following a dive to 20m, the diver reported buoyancy problems causing him to ascend too fast at the end of the dive, the diver was airlifted by RAF rescue helicopter R-131 and transferred to hyperbaric chamber for treatment, Hull Coastguard prepared the HLS. (Coastguard & RNLI reports). 

April 2005 05/299 Two divers conducted a dive to a depth of 60m using trimix. After 25 min they started their ascent. Both deployed delayed SMBs. One of the divers then abandoned his SMB and dropped back down onto the other diver and gave the 'out of air' signal. The other diver gave him his alternative air source and assisted him to 30m. The assisting diver switched to his nitrox 40 supply and indicated that the troubled diver should do the same. When he did so he inhaled some water and he then inflated his BCD and made a buoyant ascent to the surface. The abandoned SMB line was tangled around both divers and the other diver was dragged upwards. He managed to cut himself free and regain control of his ascent. The buoyant diver arrived at the surface in a panic. He was assisted into the boat. The other diver's SMB line had become tangled around the panicked diver and this was cut at the surface. The panicked diver was airlifted to a recompression facility and discharged after a precautionary treatment. The buddy discovered that his SMB had been cut and then deployed a small lifting bag as an SMB. He completed all his required stops and surfaced. 4 hours later he felt a pain in his lower back. The following morning his symptoms had worsened and he attended a recompression facility. He received a series of recompression treatments for a spinal DCI and had residual loss of sensation in his lower body. 

April 2005 05/422 Liverpool Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, the vessel was met by an ambulance and taken to hyperbaric chamber. (Coastguard report). NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 13 

April 2005 05/263 A diver dived to 36m for 30 min with a 2 min stop at 6m. 19 hours 14 min later he dived to a maximum depth of 43m. For this second dive he was using a twin set in which one cylinder contained air and the other about 10% helium. Each cylinder had its own regulator. The dive initially planned was relatively shallow and the divers' dive planning information suggested that the helium could be treated just like nitrogen. However the dive plan was changed at short notice, because of the weather, and the diver neglected to reconsider his use of helium. He started the dive using the cylinder containing air and switched to the one containing helium when the contents gauge read 100 bar. He estimates this to have been 10 min into the dive at a depth of 36m. He left maximum depth after 20 min, ascended to 31m, and then deployed a delayed SMB. He ascended to 9m and 6m where he conducted a 1 min safety stop. At 3m his computer indicated that a stop was required. During this stop he felt an ache in his lower back. Then he felt a warm feeling spreading down his legs. He concluded that he had a spinal DCI. He switched back to the air cylinder. He completed an 18 min stop at 3m and surfaced. He was able to get back into the boat but unable to stand once in the boat. He was given fluids and placed on oxygen. The boat returned to shore and the diver was taken by ambulance to hospital. He was then airlifted to a recompression facility. He received seventeen sessions of recompression therapy over a three week period. After this he was able to walk unaided but was left with altered sensation below the waist. 

April 2005 05/155 Two pairs of divers entered the water and conducted a 39 min dive to a maximum depth of 33m with safety stops at 9 and 6m. One of the group felt anxious in the water and she struggled to get back into the boat at the end of the dive. Back in the boat she felt faint and nauseous. She continued to feel unwell and refrained from further diving that day. Over the next two days her condition deteriorated and she developed a very severe pain in her shoulder. She was being treated for a previous shoulder injury. Three days later she sought advice from a recompression facility and received recompression treatment which resolved her symptoms. 

April 2005 05/424 Liverpool Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from a severe headache following a dive to 27m, the diver was given oxygen and requested medical advice. The vessel was met by ambulance and taken to hyperbaric chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/423 Shetland Coastguard received a call from a dive boat reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, at arrival in harbour the casualty and buddy were transferred to a waiting ambulance and transported to hospital for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/425 Humber Coastguard received a call from dive boat reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a rapid ascent from 26m, the diver was in a threesome diving down a shotline when an un-equalised ear forced the diver to abort, ascending the shot alone and being recovered to the dive boat. Some short time later the diver felt better and attempted to rejoin the other pair at 26m, the diver forgot ankle weights and whilst attempting to descend by pulling down the shotline, the diver lost buoyancy control and made a feet first buoyant ascent, the boat party entered the water removing gear and recovered to the boat, no oxygen was on the boat. The diver was airlifted by RAF rescue helicopter R-128 to a recompression chamber for treatment, the aircraft was met by Hull Coastguard and a waiting ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/428 Portland Coastguard received a call from a dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI followed a rapid ascent from 22m, the casualty was airlifted from the vessel by Coastguard rescue helicopter R.IJ, the helicopter was met by Poole Coastguard who prepared the HLS, the casualty was taken to Poole recompression chamber by ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/426 Two divers were airlifted from a dive support vessel, one complaining of suspected symptoms of DCI, it is believed that one diver may have had a buoyancy problem and made a rapid ascent from 22m. The divers were met by Poole Coastguard and an ambulance at the HLS for transportation to recompression chamber. (Coastguard report). Percentage analysis of factors involved in cases of DCI 0 10 20 30 Percentage Occurrence Rapid Ascent Dive >30m Repeat Dives Within Limits Misuse/Missed stops 

April 2005 05/207 A diver dived to 32m for 38 min. 2 hours 54 min later he dived to 25m for 34 min. The following day he dived to 45m for 32 min and 2 hours 30 min later to 18m for 48 min. The following day he dived to 43m for 36 min and 2 hours 29 min later to 21m for 44 min. After the penultimate dive he noticed a 'twinge' in his upper right arm, but put this down to lifting a heavy weight. After the last dive he noticed a dull pain in his right upper arm. When driving home, after the last dive, the pain in his arm worsened. He sought medical advice and was advised to visit a recompression facility. He received three sessions of recompression treatment which eased the pain. 

April 2005 05/300 Two divers conducted a dive to a depth of 37m. One of the divers deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent. The reel jammed and dragged the diver upwards. He let go of the reel but was unable to stop the ascent. His buddy held on to him until 10m. The buoyant diver rose straight to the surface. The other diver completed a safety stop at 3m and then ascended to the surface. 10 min after surfacing the diver who had made the NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 14 ©BSAC - 2005 rapid ascent noticed a pain in his wrist and lower arm. He was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. Both divers were airlifted to a recompression facility. The diver with symptoms was recompressed and his symptoms were resolved. 

April 2005 05/185 The Coastguard was alerted when a diver developed DCI. He was brought ashore by lifeboat and taken to a recompression facility for treatment. (Media report). 

April 2005 05/201 A group of six divers were conducting a dive to a depth of 22m. One of the divers passed through a thermocline. This disorientated her and caused her to panic. She made a rapid ascent to the surface and the others went with her. Their dive time was 20 min. Once out of the water the diver was found to be in severe shock. She was placed on oxygen and the emergency services were alerted. She was taken to hospital and diving medical advice was sought. She was taken to a recompression facility and staff at the facility requested to see all those involved. Four members of the group were found to have symptoms of DCI and all four received recompression treatment. 

April 2005 05/303 Two divers conducted a dive to 20m for 43 min with a 1 min stop at 3m. 2 hours 45 min later they dived to 16m for 49 min with a 1 min stop at 3m. 18 hours 23 min later they conducted a dive to a depth of 27m. They planned for a no-stop dive using their computers. After 29 min they started their ascent and one of the divers noticed that his computer was indicating that a decompression stop was necessary. They believe that they had been affected by nitrogen narcosis. They ascended to 3m and made the stop. Their computer cleared after 1 min but they followed their back up plan and completed a 5 min stop. 2 hours after the dive one of the divers felt a numbness in his arm. Medical advice was sought. The diver was placed on oxygen and taken to a recompression facility. Medical examination suggested a DCI in his arm and he received two sessions of recompression therapy. Two days prior to the dive he had pulled a muscle in his arm and it was thought that this had contributed to the problem. 

April 2005 05/186 A diver suffered DCI after a dive to 52m. He was airlifted to a recompression facility for treatment. (Media report). 

April 2005 05/231 Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 33m using nitrox 32. Towards the end of the dive one of the pair deployed a delayed SMB and they started their ascent. The diver with the SMB stopped at 5m to conduct a 3 min safety stop but the other diver, who had lost control of her buoyancy at around 10m, made a rapid ascent directly to the surface. Her dive duration was 30 min. The divers could see each other and the diver with the SMB signalled for the buoyant diver to wait at the surface for him. They were recovered into their boat. Neither diver reported the rapid ascent. The diver who had made the rapid ascent complained of a headache and of feeling sick. She vomited. The boat returned to shore and the diver stated that she still felt unwell and was advised to seek medical advice. The following day she still felt unwell and she went to a recompression facility. A cerebral DCI as the result of an embolism was diagnosed. The diver received a course of thirteen recompression treatments over a fifteen day period. She made a good recovery. 

April 2005 05/232 A diver conducted a 32 min dive to a depth of 34m. The following day she dived to 33m for 30 min with a 2 min stop at 3m. She was using nitrox 27. She later experienced symptoms of DCI. It is thought that some exertion following the dive and dehydration may have been contributing factors. 

April 2005 05/440 Dive support vessel contacted Stornoway Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, a medi-link call was established with ARI, Coastguard helicopter R-MU was scrambled to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/235 A diver completed a 30 min dive to 31m with a 3 min safety stop at 6m. 2 hours 50 min later he dived to 23m for 55 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 90 min after the last dive he noticed a significant itchiness of his upper left arm. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was given fluids and placed on oxygen. He was then taken to a recompression facility where he received recompression treatment. His symptoms were resolved. He was advised to seek examination for a PFO. 

April 2005 05/443 Portland Coastguard received a call from a dive vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, the casualty was airlifted from the vessel by Coastguard rescue helicopter R-VA and the aircraft was met by an ambulance, doctor and Poole Coastguard. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/444 Portland Coastguard received a call from dive boat reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI after becoming entangled in netting and surfacing without stopping. The casualty lost contact with his buddy who then became entangled in netting, the diver attempted to release his delayed SMB but this compounded the problem, the diver panicked making a rapid ascent from 29m. The diver was airlifted by Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB to Poole HLS where he was met by an ambulance, doctor, and Poole Coastguard, the dive boat was met by Westbay Coastguard. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/237 A diver conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 9m. Towards the end of the dive he was swimming back up a sloping seabed. At 5m he was lifted by swell and this caused him to make an uncontrolled ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 32 min. 2 hours 20 min later he dived to 9m for 32 min. The following day the diver sought advice from a recompression facility and was treated for a neurological DCI. 

April 2005 05/236 Two divers conducted a 29 min dive to 43m including a 5 min stop at 7m and a 3 min stop at 3m. 2 hours 30 min later they dived to 27m for 41 min including a 5 min stop at 6m and a 4 min stop at 3m. After this second dive one diver noticed a pain in his right shoulder and the other a pain in her left arm. Both put this down to muscle strain whilst climbing back into the boat. The first diver's shoulder pain increased and he developed a rash and swelling to his right bicep and over his collar bone to the centre of his back. He went to a recompression facility and was treated for DCI. The second diver's condition also worsened and, about 24 hours after the dive, her arm felt 'solid, hot, sore and scratchy'. The following day she too went to the recompression facility and joined her NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 15 buddy for his second recompression treatment. No further treatment was required. One of the divers was subsequently checked for a PFO but none was found. 

April 2005 05/238 A diver conducted a 28 min dive to 30m including a 3 min stop at 6m. 1 hour 40 min later he dived to 17m for 51 min with a 1 min stop at 6m. After this dive he felt a pain to the left side of his stomach and found that he had a bruise that felt sore. He discussed this with his dive buddy and they concluded that part of his dive equipment may have been responsible. Later, whilst unloading the boat, he felt a sharp pain in his chest when he breathed. He then felt nauseous and developed a headache. He thought that it was the onset of migraine and took some pain killers. The mark on his stomach spread and his breathing was still causing him problems. On the way home he was taken to a hospital and then on to another hospital by ambulance. He was given oxygen which improved his condition. Advice was sought from a recompression facility and he was transferred there by ambulance. He was given recompression treatment but, after 2 hours he felt quite poorly and the treatment was terminated. He had a second treatment the following day after which he was discharged. 

April 2005 05/448 Newcastle General Hospital contacted Humber Coastguard requesting assistance to transfer a casualty to a recompression chamber, the diver had made two dives earlier that day, the first 30m the second 15m with a 30 min surface interval, the casualty developed numbness in his hand on the first dive which was exacerbated on the second, the diver was given medical advice and transferred from hospital by ambulance to Hull hyperbaric chamber for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/449 Portland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB was tasked to recover the casualty to recompression chamber, the helicopter was met at the HLS by Poole Coastguard and an ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/454 Brixham Coastguard were alerted by dive vessel of a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a dive to 26m 46 min, the vessel was advised to make way to harbour where they were met by Plymouth Coastguard and an ambulance for transportation to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/241 A diver completed a 40 min dive to a depth of 28m with a 10 min stop at 6m. Later that day, while travelling home, he developed a pain in his shoulder. He sought medical advice and attended a recompression facility. He was kept in overnight and received recompression treatment the following day which resolved his symptoms. 

April 2005 05/460 Portland Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard who had missed 3 min of stops following a dive to 20m, the diver was now semiconscious and complained of loss of feeling in the lower limbs, Portland tasked Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber, the aircraft was met by Poole Coastguard and a waiting ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/459 Falmouth Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard with suspected DCI following a dive to 32m, a medi-link call was established with QAH, the doctor recommended an air evacuation to recompression chamber, RN rescue helicopter R-193 transferred the casualty to DDRC Plymouth, Penzance Coastguard gathered details from the vessel on return to port. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/462 Dive RHIB contacted Portland Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI. Portland Coastguard tasked Coastguard helicopter R-WB to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber, the aircraft was met at the HLS by Poole Coastguard, police and ambulance. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/275 A diver using trimix completed a dive to 52m for 74 min including the following stops; 4 min at 18m, 2 min at 15m, 2 min at 12m, 4 min at 9m, and 11 min at 6m. Later that day his shoulder became painful. He sought medical advice and received recompression treatment. The results were inconclusive and it was uncertain if it was DCI or a muscle strain. 

April 2005 05/246 A diver dived to 12m for 57 min. 23 hours later he dived with a buddy to 43m. They started their ascent and, at 35m, his computer went blank. They completed their ascent using the buddy's computer. Their dive duration was 66 min with a 3 min stop at 12m, a 1 min stop at 9m, and a 15 min stop at 6m. The diver with the failed computer felt a little light at the 6m stop but managed to control his depth by breathing very shallowly. Shortly after leaving the water he noticed an ache in his shoulder. He was placed on oxygen and this eased the symptom. Medical advice was sought and the Coastguard was alerted. The diver was airlifted to a recompression facility where he received treatment. 

April 2005 05/467 Stornoway Coastguard received a 999 call from St. Kilda base reporting a diver aboard a diving vessel was suffering from suspected DCI, a medi-link call was established and the doctor recommended immediate air evacuation to a hyperbaric chamber at Aberdeen, the casualty was airlifted by RAF rescue helicopter R-137. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/247 An instructor was engaged in training drills with 2 students. He used a third person to demonstrate controlled buoyant lift; ascending from 6m to the surface. After his demonstration each of his students practiced the drill. They then completed some further training at the surface. About 40 min later the students conducted two further controlled buoyant lifts from 6m to the surface. After this the group went for a dive to 22m. The last part of this dive was 6 min at 6m with a normal ascent to the surface. That night the instructor awoke feeling nauseous and dizzy and with 'pins and needles' in his hand. He sought medical advice and went to a recompression facility where he was treated for DCI. The treatment resolved his symptoms. 

April 2005 05/255 A diver conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 49m. He made a 3 min stop at 9m but then surfaced missing other planned stops due to an equipment failure. His dive duration was 36 min. He complained of an all over tingling feeling and NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 16 ©BSAC - 2005 pains in his joints. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was placed on oxygen. He was taken by lifeboat and helicopter to a recompression facility for treatment. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/276 Two divers completed a dive to 22m for 31 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 2 hours later they dived to 20m for 36 min with a 5 min stop at 6m. During the ascent from this last dive they struggled to control their buoyancy and went between 18 and 12m a few times. They finally managed to stabilise at 15m where they deployed their SMB. Two days later one of the divers developed 'pins and needles' in her forearms and lower legs and mild joint pain in her hands. She sought medical advice and received four sessions of recompression treatment. Eight days after the dive her buddy attended the recompression facility with a slight headache. He received three sessions of precautionary recompression treatment. 

April 2005 05/249 Two divers descended a shotline. They descended very slowly as one of the pair had problems clearing his ears. They took 15 min to get to 27m. After 29 min and with 2 min bottom time remaining on their computers they started their ascent. One of the divers deployed his delayed SMB and the other diver used it as a guide. At around 20m the other diver experienced buoyancy problems and inverted himself so that he could fin downwards. The SMB line became slack and started to become tangled around the buoyant diver so it was abandoned. The buddy tried to assist the buoyant diver by attempting to release air from his BCD, but he was not able to reach it. The buoyant diver's regulator became dislodged but he was able to replace it. They began to ascend rapidly, the buddy let go of the buoyant diver and they became separated. The buddy made a normal ascent. The buoyant diver rose directly to the surface. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The buddy breathed nitrox 40 once back in the boat. The Coastguard was alerted and the divers were airlifted to a hospital. Both were found to be asymptomatic and discharged. The following day the buoyant diver developed a rash, nausea and giddiness. He sought medical advice and received recompression treatment. His symptoms were resolved. 

April 2005 05/250 A diver conducted a 22 min dive to a depth of 16m. 24 hours later he dived to 44m. He was using a drysuit that he was not familiar with and on the first dive a lot of water leaked into the suit. Believing that the suit's automatic valve was at fault, he left it closed during the second dive and attempted to operate it manually. As he ascended the shotline from the second dive he felt buoyant and had difficulty dumping air. He made a 1 min stop at 24m, a 2 min stop at 21m, a 1 min stop at 18m and a 2 min stop at 15m. Due to his buoyancy problems and the effects of swell, he missed a planned stop at 12m. He had switched to nitrox 50 at 16m and he made an extended 7 min stop at 9m. He then moved to 6m where he intended to make a 21 min stop. He attempted to dump air from his suit by depressing the dump valve and squeezing his arms against his torso to drive air out of the suit. He thinks that this action inadvertently actuated the air feed to his BCD. The result was that he made a buoyant ascent to the surface, missing 17 min of decompression. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the diver was airlifted to a recompression facility where he received treatment. 

April 2005 05/473 Portland Coastguard received a 'Pan Pan' call from dive vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI following a rapid ascent from 29m, lost buoyancy control on ascent despite best efforts to dump air. The casualty was recovered to the parent vessel and given oxygen, Portland Coastguard tasked Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber, the helicopter was met by Poole Coastguard and an ambulance at the HLS. (Coastguard report). Decompression data source analysis 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Newspaper RNLI BSAC Coastguard 

April 2005 05/252 A diver conducted a 38 min dive to 31m with a 1 min stop at each of 18, 15 and 9m and a 3 min stop at 6m and 3m. 2 hours 30 min later he dived to 29m. During the ascent from this dive he began to feel too buoyant. At 9m he tried to fin downwards to maintain his stop depths but this became increasingly more difficult. He had risen to 6m and at this point decided to stop trying to hold his depth. He signalled to his two buddies and rose to the surface. At the surface he was recovered into the boat, given water and placed on oxygen. His computer indicated that he had missed 7 min of decompression stops. His dive duration was 32 min. His buddies made a normal ascent. The Coastguard was alerted and a lifeboat collected the diver and brought him to the shore. He was taken by ambulance to a recompression facility. Examination indicated that his balance was affected and he was recompressed. The treatment significantly improved his symptoms. 

April 2005 05/475 Clyde Coastguard was alerted to a diver suffering from suspected DCI following a rapid ascent from 50m, the diver had requested medical advice from ARI, Clyde Coastguard tasked RAF rescue helicopter R-177 to airlift the casualty to recompression chamber. Coastguard teams from Tarbert and Cumbrae assisted. (Coastguard report). 

April 2005 05/476 Portland Coastguard received a call from a dive support vessel reporting having a diver aboard suffering from suspected DCI, following a dive to 30m, the diver had completed all deco for the dive according to computer, rescue helicopter R-WB airlifted the casualty to the HLS where it was met by Poole Coastguard and Dorset ambulance service. (Coastguard report). Number of reports NDC Diving Incidents Report - 2005 ©BSAC -2005 17 

Injury / Illness 

April 2004 05/009 Two divers entered the water, descended to 6m and then followed the sloping bottom into deeper water. At 13m the dive leader looked round for his buddy, but could not see her. He surfaced and waited to see if she came to the surface too. When she did not he raised the alarm. A rescue team quickly responded. Meanwhile two other divers had found the missing diver, on her back, on the bottom at 6m, with her regulator out of her mouth. They brought her to the surface and she was recovered from the water. Resuscitation techniques were applied and the emergency services were alerted. She was taken by ambulance to hospital where her condition was described as critical. 

April 2004 05/006 A pair of divers descended a shotline to a depth of 11m. On arrival at the bottom, one of the pair experienced dizziness, nausea and disorientation. He had a sharp pain in his ear and the feeling of liquid moving around. The divers aborted the dive, making a normal ascent to the surface. Subsequent medical examination revealed a burst eardrum. 

April 2004 05/024 A group of divers travelled by RHIB to a dive site. Once there, one of the group started to feel seasick. He was sick but then felt well enough to make the dive. He dived to 35m for 25 min. Once back on the boat he continued to be sick. He then complained of feeling cold. The air temperature was 4 deg C and the water temperature was 13 deg C. He was given warm clothing to wear and a hot drink. He was sheltered from the wind on the return trip. The radio was used to call an ambulance which met the party when it arrived back in the harbour. The casualty was found to have suffered from mild hypothermia but he quickly recovered. 

April 2004 05/015 Two divers dived to a depth of 27m. 12 min into the dive one of the pair indicated that he had a problem with his head and that he wanted to return to the surface. He switched to his pony cylinder which contained nitrox 27. They started their ascent but the troubled diver experienced problems with his buoyancy control and began to sink; every time he put air into his suit it escaped through the dump valve. His buddy brought him to 6m using a controlled buoyant lift; at this point the troubled diver regained control and they finished the dive. Once out of the water, the troubled diver explained that he had nearly passed out and that he had had a bad headache that got better when he switched to his alternative gas supply. The diver conducted a dive the following day without any problem. Subsequent testing revealed no problems with the quality of the diver's air. 

April 2004 05/327 Portland Coastguard received a mobile telephone call from the coordinator of a diving course reporting having a diver suffering from breathlessness. The diver was administered oxygen at the scene by the diving supervisor, an ambulance was tasked by Portland Coastguard attending to the diver who was transferred to hospital as a precautionary measure. (Coastguard report). 

April 2004 05/014 A diver using a rebreather conducted a dive to 36m. Later he dived again to a depth of 20m. He began to feel uneasy, his vision blurred and he began to feel confused. He switched to an open circuit regulator and the symptoms resolved. He flushed the loop of his rebreather and switched back to it. A little later he began to feel unwell again and again he flushed the loop. Later he repeated this process and then he ascended to the surface. Subsequently the diver found a small quantity of water in the scrubber. He also felt that some settling had taken place in the scrubber. 

April 2004 05/033 A diver conducted a dive to a maximum of 20m wearing a twopiece, 5mm wetsuit. During the dive he became cold so he swam back to the exit point with his buddy. Once at the surface he became very cold and had to be treated for hypothermia. 

April 2005 05/044 Two trainees and an instructor were engaged in a pool training session. The instructor demonstrated an exit over the side of the pool at the deep end. The trainees removed their equipment and made a similar exit. One of them hit the side of the pool and then climbed out. Later that day he felt discomfort and attended hospital. A cracked rib was discovered. 

April 2005 05/035 Two divers were engaged in a dive at a depth of 25m. After 30 min, one of the pair began to feel ill. She felt nauseous and she had a headache. Her buddy brought her to the surface and she was placed on oxygen. The diver was taken by ambulance to hospital and released later that afternoon. Contamination of her air supply was suspected. 

April 2005 05/063 After a dive in a quarry a diver was carrying her twin cylinder set up some steps when she slipped and fell. She hit her face on the steps. She had cuts to her forehead and bruising. 

April 2005 05/481 Lifeboat launched to assist diver(s) with illness. One person brought in. (RNLI report). 

April 2005 05/283 A member of the public was participating in a 'Try Dive' session in a swimming pool. She had signed a fitness to dive form and after a briefing session participated in the use of diving equipment in a depth of 2m. She then took a swimming test and entered the water for a second session with diving equipment. At this point she stated that she felt unwell. She felt a tightness around her neck, nausea and a feeling of indigestion. She was assisted from the water. Her condition deteriorated and an ambulance was called. The diver then stated that she suffered from lupus and was on steroid treatment. She was placed on oxygen and taken to hospital.