Em-In

Emergency Ascents

These fall into two categories: controlled emergency swimming ascents and buoyant emergency ascents. It is vital to remember the risk of embolism and positive breathing out is absolutely essential during these ascents. As such, it is most important that an ascent rate of 20 feet per minute is achieved from 15 feet to the surface and this requires that the diver is always capable of being neutrally buoyant at 15 feet with a near empty cylinder.

First Aid

Medical emergencies don't occur every day. But when they do, you should have the information and resources you need to deal with these situations. Hoofer SCUBA strongly recommends that all divers obtain the training to administer basic first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Certification courses are readily available through agencies such as PADI, American Red Cross, or Divers Alert Network (DAN).

Hoofer SCUBA also recommends that divers become familiar with or receive added training in how to deliver oxygen to a dive accident victim should it be necessary.

Fitness to Dive

Diving uses as much energy as moderate to heavy work. Before resuming diving, after a lay off, you are advised to regain physical fitness, practice basic underwater skills in the pool or sheltered water training area and complete a series of 'work up' dives before diving to depth.

Ensure all divers are both physically and psychologically fit for the dives they plan to undertake.

Hoofer SCUBA also recommends that a diver take a refresher course if they have not been diving in over one year. Refresher courses are offered through the club Divemaster.

Flying and Diving

Flying or traveling to altitude after diving can give rise to decompression illness. Flying or traveling to altitude before diving, may increase the risk of decompression illness on a subsequent dive. It is therefore recommended that divers use the PADI Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) to determine whether the proposed dive/journey combination is acceptable. (See PADI Recreational Dive Planner (RDP)/Altitude)

Hand Signals

See Signals.

Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation, before a snorkel dive, should be avoided at all costs, as it has the effect of flushing out carbon dioxide from the respiratory system. Build up of carbon dioxide, rather than lack of oxygen, creates the desire to breathe and, by getting rid of carbon dioxide in this way, snorkelers are more likely to suffer a 'blackout' through hypoxia (shortage of oxygen).

Ice Diving

Scuba diving will not let a little thing like snow and ice stop people from enjoying their favorite sport. This type of activity requires a lot of set-up and safety precautions before anyone ever enters the water but it is an experience you should not miss. The visibility is usually better under the ice because there are fewer algae and microscopic life forms to cloud up the water. Except for comfort during changing a dry suit is really not required and a 7mm wetsuit is sufficient. A hood and gloves are also needed to remain comfortable.

Diving under ice should only be undertaken with a surface party of at least two. This allows one to tender the divers, while the other is free, if required for any reason, including an emergency. One of the divers must be securely roped to the surface, if diving in pairs, and contact between them should be by means of a buddy line.

A triangular 6x6x6 foot hole is cut through the ice. The ice cutter should be tethered while cutting, with a second person tending the cutter’s line. A smaller hole 20 to 30 feet from the dive triangle should be augured into the ice. This is where all lines should be eventually secured via a board or some similar mechanism being placed through the hole and then anchored to the other side of the ice.

An ice screw is placed in the plug and secured with a line. The plug is pushed under the cut area, to be replaced after the diving. Snow is cleared off the ice in radial and concentric lines around the hole, each 10 feet apart and only a about the width of a large snow shovel. Sand or cat litter is then scattered around the hole to provide traction.

Divers should wear a rock-climbing style chest harness under their BCDs. The divers are tethered together by means of karabiners to a line that is in turn tended. The line tender should allow no more that 50 feet of line to be let out during the dive.

An extra tank with regulator placed at one corner of the triangle with regulators in the water to provide emergency air.

The safety diver sits by, suited up and ready to go and attached to a tether 50% longer than the other divers' tether. This enables the rescue to diver to be able to perform a sweep search in a circle completely covering the area accessible by the divers. The rope of the rescue diver should encircle the other divers allowing the rescue diver to go directly back to the other divers by following the rope back.

All dives must be tended. Hoofer SCUBA does not permit untethered, non-tended ice diving.

After the dive, the plug is pulled back into place, and then appropriately marked per Wisconsin Law.

Wisconsin Statute 167.26 Leaving unguarded ice holes
(1)Except as provided in sub. (1m), any person who removes ice or causes its removal from any stream, pond or lake shall place around the margin of the opening made by such removal a fence, by setting posts of not less than 2 by 4 in size with any of the following fencings:
(a)A fence board attached not less than 3 1/2 feet above the surface of the ice on the stream, pond or lake.
(b)Colored plastic construction roll fencing attached to the posts.
(2)Persons barricading or marking ice holes in the manner specified in this section shall not be liable for damages suffered by persons who enter the barricaded or marked area.
(5) This section shall apply to all navigable or public waters of the state.
(6)Persons violating this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 6 months or fined not more than $100.

Incidents

See Accidents/Incidents.

Instruction

Hoofer SCUBA currently offers instruction of SCUBA diving through the use of a contract instructor. Some of the stipulations of this contract include:

Responsibilities of Contractor. Contractor shall:
1. Provide diving instruction to Diving Club classes in a manner that complies with standards and practices set forth by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (“PADI”). Contractor shall notify Diving Club of any changes to these standards or practices which impact upon the services provided under this Agreement.
2. Maintain adequate and industry recognized insurance.
3. Provide at Contractor’s expense all equipment necessary for instructors, instructional aids, and safety.
4. Provide a suitable site for open water training of classes.
5. Assess and determine the suitability of weather conditions for instruction.
6. Provide all instructional staff necessary for safe and effective instruction, in compliance with PADI standards. Instructional staff includes: Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Divemasters, and Shore Support. Contractor is encouraged to utilize Diving Club members as Divemasters or in other assistant capacities, when in the judgment of Contractor use of such club members does not interfere with safe and effective instruction.
7. Pay instructional staff for their services as necessary, and comply with all applicable laws pertaining to employment and tax withholding and reporting. Club members do not require payment.
8. Provide sufficient staffing and equipment to accommodate class sizes.
9. Maintain regular class schedules, as set forth by the Hoofer SCUBA Executive Committee. Class schedules shall not be altered without prior written approval of the Diving Club.
10. Provide a representative to attend Diving Club kick-offs and other events, as Contractor’s schedule permits.
11. Assist the Diving Club in promoting upcoming Diving Club activities, socials and trips.

Responsibilities of Diving Club.
1. Advertise and promote classes conducted by Contractor.
2. Provide classroom space, audiovisual equipment (but not audiovisual media), and pool time for instruction under this Agreement.
3. Facilitate the students’ acquisition of diving equipment for in-water instruction. The students will obtain: buoyancy control devices, regulators, submersible pressure gauges, compasses, depth gauges, weights, weight belts, air tanks, and compressed air. Diving Club will require students to utilize equipment maintained to current recreational dive standards.

Insurance

Your health insurance policy may not cover you, if you have a diving accident. If you are not sure about your coverage, ask your insurance company and get all promises in writing. If your insurance company does not cover you, you can get a supplemental policy specifically for diving accidents. These policies cover bills your primary health insurance will not, including deductibles. Look for coverage that meets all your needs. Currently, three organizations sell dive accident policies. They are Diver's Alert Network (DAN), PADI, and Diver's Security Insurance (DSI).

Diver's Alert Network (DAN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical and research organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational scuba divers and associated with Duke University Medical Center (DUMC). DAN is supported by the largest association of recreational divers in the world.

Founded in 1980, DAN has served as a lifeline for the scuba industry by operating diving's only 24-hour emergency hotline, a lifesaving service for injured divers. Additionally, DAN operates a diving medical information line, conducts vital diving medical research, and develops and provides a number of educational programs for everyone from beginning divers to medical professionals.

Diver's Alert Network (DAN) is supported by membership dues and donations. In return, members receive a number of important benefits including $100,000 emergency medical evacuation assistance, DAN educational publications, a subscription to Alert Diver magazine, and access to diving's first and foremost accident insurance coverage.

It is important to note that potential incidents should be reported to the Hoofer SCUBA using the Hoofer SCUBA incident Reporting System, and further details on this system, and the insurance policy itself can be obtained by contacting Technical Support Services at Hoofer SCUBA Headquarters.

Integrated Weight Systems

See Weightbelts/Integrated Weight Systems.