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Panic Proof Diver
Prerequisite
  1. FCOA Freediver or equivalent 
  2. Open Water Certified
  3. Having mastered the FCOA Mask drill
  4. Having mastered all basic scuba skills
Panic is the most common cause of dive accidents.  Most divers know that they should go up slowly and that they should not hold their breath while ascending. But when we panic, all logic is lost.
  
Most Common Causes of Panic During Scuba:
  1. Mask issues
  2. Equalizing issues
  3. Air issues (running out of air or the mouthpiece coming off)
  4. Entanglement
  5. Buoyancy issues. In calm conditions, we might be able to hover perfectly. However, the following stress factors can distract us and cause us to excessively shoot up or sink down:
  • Darkness
  • Separation
  • Rough conditions
  • Panic of another diver
By exposing ourselves to those panic triggers in a safe environment, we can learn to keep our calm. This should always be done after a discussion to see what we are ready for. The question should be: "What do you want to practice?" The safest place to do "Panic Proofing" challenges is in chest-deep water. However, while you are there, you should pretend to be at a great depth with no direct access to the surface, maybe because you are inside a shipwreck or because you have a decompression ceiling. 

The ultimate exercises
  1. Tank closed and mask ripped off: Prioritize regaining air. You don't need a mask!
  2. Blindfolded and wrapped in a fishing net. (The easiest blindfold is a handkerchief inside your mask)
  3. Five-minute blindfolded scuba swim: How many times can you circle the pool in 5 minutes while trailing the wall?
  4. Surfacing an unconscious diver while blind folded: The diver that pretends to be unconscious should not be blindfolded so they can see how the blindfolded diver is doing. This diver could first pretend to have a panic attack, maybe rough handling the blindfolded diver a bit (this should always be agreed upon beforehand). A panicked diver has the tendency to grab and hold their buddy with force. This can be intimidating for the blindfolded diver, but it is simply something that can happen, so learning how to calm can be a life-saving skill. Right after that, the diver can pretend to have blacked out. Now the blindfolded diver has to spring into action, they have to feel around to get their hands in the correct position. Keeping the airway open is always the highest priority when bringing up an unconscious scuba diver because if you don't, you will very likely over expand their lungs.
  5. Bubble catch vision: Read your dive computer without your mask (works for 50% of divers who try it)
  6. Screamer tolerance: While you are blindfolded underwater, your buddy or instructor simulates panic by bumping into you, screaming, and pulling your regulator out because they are "out of air". You must keep your calm and stick to best diving practices.


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What is your current scuba diver level?  *
Panics Caused by Mask Issues 

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with your mask getting pulled off at any moment, by any diver? 
 *
Panics Caused by Air Issues

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with your scuba tank getting closed without you knowing it? 
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Panics Caused by Combined Triggers

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with your scuba tank getting closed without your knowledge while your mask is being pulled off? 
 *

Panic Caused by Darkness and Entanglement

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with being blindfolded before your scuba dive and getting wrapped in a fishing net?

 *
Panic Caused by Your Buddy Becoming Non-Responsive in Zero Visibility

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with responding to a blacked-out scuba diver while blindfolded?

 *
Panic Caused by Your Buddy Panicking When He Runs Out of Air

While you are blindfolded, he will bump into you, scream for help, and pull your regulator out. As he recovers from the out-of-air scenario, he will express anger 😡 toward you and blame you for the incident.

Please describe your confidence level: Are you okay with challenging your ability to act appropriately when your buddy becomes panicked, unpredictable, or unreasonable?

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(RVT) Tank Closed and Mask Ripped Off: Response Video

If you choose to train remotely, train together with a buddy and have yourself filmed while your tank is being closed and your mask is being ripped off.

Upload your video link here.

(RVT) Blindfolded and Entangled in a Net: Response Video

If you choose to train remotely, train together with a buddy and have yourself filmed while you get blindfolded and entangled in a net. Calmly untangle yourself until you can leave the net beside you.

Upload your video link here.

(RVT) Surfacing an Unconscious Diver While Blindfolded

If you choose to train remotely, train together with a buddy and have yourself filmed while surfacing an unconscious diver while blindfolded.

Upload your video link here.

(RVT) Attempt to Bubble Catch Vision: Performance Video

If you choose to train remotely, train together with a buddy and have yourself filmed while you read your dive computer using bubble catch vision. You don't have to master it because it does not work for everybody, but you should give it a shot.

Upload your video link here.

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