Posted by Ken Kurtis on January 17, 2003 at 17:06:34:
In Reply to: Re: OOA diver posted by AADIVER on January 17, 2003 at 16:53:05:
Frank asked: "What reason(s) did the diver give for surfacing with an empty tank? Mitigating circumstances, perhaps?"
None that I heard.
But quite frankly (and this is why we have the rule) I can't really think of any "good" reason to run out of air. (And rest assured that the phrase, "I needed to do deco" is one that wouldn't resonate well with me on a recreational dive trip.)
Running out of air is, IMHO, one of the most careless and stupidest things a diver can do. It's a problem in which the time frame you have to solve it is pretty much equal to the amount of time you can hold your breath. (And don't forget that you usually discover "no air" after an exhale, not an inhale, so you really don't have too much time to respond.)
One area where Michael Kane and I are in 100% agreement (don't everyone faint now) is that there's no reason to run out of air and if you do, it's probably one of the most dangerous (and easiest to avoid) things you can do to yourself underwater.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA