One of my Open Water students ended up in the Hospital

[@Kratos_God_of_50_BMG]

I have anxiety issues myself, and it sounds like she had a panic attack which probably exacerbated whatever pre-existing condition she didn't know that she had, but it's definitely better that it happened in the pool instead of open ocean. I know that as a teacher it's only natural to feel like there's something that you could have done differently to prevent a situation like that, but it sounds like you did everything by the book that probably kept the situation from going nuclear!

[@BlairLindsayParamedic]

Thank you for sharing this. As a new instructor this is really valuable.

[@nourandbesher]

Bless your heart ❤️💜 you and your team did a great job. I'm so glad she's doing well. You mentioned that you think about it a lot and I can tell from the way you're breathing and talking about it. For some reason, clearing the mask was and is the easiest skill in all the skills. As a dive master, I always take My time with patience with all the students and sometimes when I feel a student is having some issues, I start talking about something else away from scuba diving and it always works. I have been following your channels for a long time and I always learn something new. God bless you again and please keep up the good work.

[@OceanPancake]

Thanks for your kind words! Hopefully you don't have to deal with any dive accidents or bad situations. Sending love!

[@ratdude010]

I just got my certificate. Had the same problem with my wetsuit. The one I originally put on was way too tight - you really had to pull it up; I guess they shrink over time. Luckily for me, they loaned me the instructors wetsuit. Somehow, he knew I went to the bathroom in it though. Excited to start diving.

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

Yes wet suits can be a bit constricting and people are not used to that. I would agree a wetsuit takes some getting used to especially at first.

[@OceanPancake]

Yes definitely! It's something that's easy to forget when youre used to it

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

Saltwater in your eyes Burns if you're not used to it it kind of hurts. I think student divers should be aware of that because in the pool it's one thing but in the ocean it's entirely another especially for a new diver.

[@OceanPancake]

Definitely! I always made sure to let them know and also explain why I don't so the mask skills in the Ocean to demonstrate! ( I lose supervision for too long)

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

@@OceanPancake almost every dive I get salt water in my eyes at one point or another you just build up a tolerance for it.

[@benheckendorn2696]

Hey Katt, I would love to watch the clip about mask cleaning, could be funy. ❤ Katt, great you share all your experiance, also the bad once, because this way we learn much more, you can‘t learn anything from positive experiance, I guees. 😮 😂 I knew Australia is strange, but I didn't know they haven't any beaches, but a meach. 😝 Let's meet us at the meach. ☺️

[@Krahamus]

Yah i had same problem with clearing mask also, what i did is filled my mask with water in shower and just breathed tru mouth pretending to have regulator, than used snorkeler in bathtub and filled water, these exercises helped a lot for me.

[@OceanPancake]

That's great that you had these exercises help! Can tell you were an eager student

[@Krahamus]

@@OceanPancake Oh yes, i could say very, before doing open water, i done discovery scuba dive, and this dive is what pushed me to do open water course, it felt like im in some other world underwater, like in space floating, seeing other life forms just living they're days, i wanted to stay still and observe everything, but it wasn't enough time, so when discovery dive was finished i could say was one of most amazing experiences in my life, but at the same time i was disappointed because i seen fraction what is out there, and wanted to see more, so i though i need to learn and become scuba diver, even today i like to do zen diving with my friend, just stay still in water and observe life.

[@isabelpayne9607]

Hey miss A why did you stop teaching our school (can’t say online)

[@whatthefunction9140]

Any freak out is a warning sign

[@OceanPancake]

Definitely is. But as a dive instructor nervous divers are extremely common so it's part of our training to help guide students through their stresses

[@andreigerov4706]

What should we do if someone had difficulty in breathing after dive and we are far from hospital? What are the first steps?

[@OceanPancake]

You need to call the emergency number in your area and DAN (divers alert network) they will provide step by step instructions to help identify and take the next steps.

[@mihai08]

She probably had a panic/anxiety attack post training. I am a strong militant against pool training. I use the pool only with difficult training situations that require more 1 to 1 attention. Once on the sandy bottom, I would do the exercise first. I never start with the mask clearing as described. 1. Pinch silicon skirt, flood mask halfway or bellow eye level. 2. Show the water level 3. Two fingers above the nose bridge, light pressure on the mask, inhale and slowly exhale through the nose clearing the half folded mask. Next exercise, repeat same steps, only this time flood the mask completely Next exercise. 1. Take off the mask 2. Bread calmly 3 times 3. Present mask Bread slow and controlled 4. Put mask back on Bread slow and show control 5. Clear mask

[@Nikki-tx1wd]

Why are you against pool training?

[@mihai08]

@Nikki I am for pool training when used with students facing difficulties allowing water in their masks or any other phobias. When successful, I will repeat the same exercises in salty water. There are schools out there using the pools just because it is convenient in less time-consuming. Knees in the sand, finding your balance in the movement of the water and having salt water in contact with your eyes and mouth.

[@Nikki-tx1wd]

@@mihai08 I just signed up for open water with PADI and the course is specifically designed to start in pool (confined water) to learn and practice, but then you need I think 4 actually open water dives

[@mihai08]

@@Nikki-tx1wd first of all welcome to the diving community. I am so happy for you, it sounds like a good plan and I wish you many new interesting adventures 😊

[@boryanatr]

@@Nikki-tx1wd Pool or pool-like conditions :) you can do the skills in the sea too.

[@scubawithdom3278]

Only a day?I remember my classroom time was 3 days,a pool day and then my checkout dives

[@OceanPancake]

In our dive shop, the theory was a 8 hour intense day foowed by a similarly long day in the pool and then 4 open water dives over two days. This adheres to PADI standards and actually goes above what is acceptable with e learning

[@jaimegerona4021]

@@OceanPancake Hi I am discovered your channel since watching you swim so close to the greatwhite shark. I could never do what you do in a million years I am so in awe of you doing this. It incredibly scary seeing you divers on the ocean floor and all those sharks above you. Do you think divers like yourself would be able to how can I say, live to show your footage, in crocodile infested waters such as off of northern territory of australia, africa or elsewhere? Also do you think the sharks are more aggressive in certain regions and not so aggressive in others even among the same species?

[@jwjco]

Hi Pancake ,, Good to see you

[@evolvedmonkey9978]

1- Use of Antidepressants / Anxiety medication 2- Diabetes 3 - Heart related problems 4 - Obesity, specifically with a higher Body fat 5 - Epilepsy 6 - Narcolepsy/ Sleep apnea -> be careful with this one, had it and though that wouldn't occur under water.. I was wrong. Talk to your doctor before jumping into 35 feet of water with a regulator on your mouth, you can DIE and put others at risk, remind yourself that Diving although, nowadays safer with courses and good gear, as it's inherent risks and you can kill yourself with ease while practising it without responsibility and without knowing your own limitations!!! Physical and psychological. About the accident from your student, I'm almost sure she had a panic attack due to anxiety, panic attacks have exactly that modus operandi, and might cause heart problems.

[@tammybambini1096]

Narcolepsy is something completely different than Sleep apnea

[@evolvedmonkey9978]

@@tammybambini1096 and? aren't they both capable of disable a human being? Sleep apnea someone switches off immediately, narcolepsy falls asleep in almost every activity, I do know, I had narcolepsy.

[@tammybambini1096]

@@evolvedmonkey9978 yes, both are capable of disabling a person, and both can present as excessive daytime sleepiness. Main difference (in a few words): Sleep apnea is disturbed sleep due to repeated sympathetic arousal because one can not get enough air due to opstructed airway during deep sleep, well understood and treatable; and narcolepsy is a disturbance of sleep-wake-cycle, with many unknowns and ongoing research and to my knowledge not many treatment options. And yes, that´s why you go get a dive medical examination before starting your dive adventures (and every time something changes).

[@tammybambini1096]

@@evolvedmonkey9978 not in the way you think... diving is an activity that is "arousing" enough that you overcome your OSAS-induced sleepiness, narcolepsy is your brain just shutting off regardless of how arousing the surroundings are... so the latter is way more dangerous (equivalent to an epileptic seizure under water...).

[@jamesguido9877]

Recommend that you use a better microphone; one that is attached to your clothing. Everyone should complete the PADI medical form before putting a single toe in the water. In some cases that medical form must be signed by an MD and hopefully that MD is also a certified diver.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Sounds like the student was hyperventilating due to stress...surprised the pool first aid facility didn’t have an oxygen bottle to put her on. It probably would solved the problem.

[@OceanPancake]

Turns out she did have an irregular heartbeat condition that she would have not known about if the stress didn't showcase it

[@jonathanchadwickartsandadv712]

Wow! Luckily it happened in a pool!

[@OceanPancake]

That's why it's so important to take it step by step

[@davidressler9316]

well its a good thing she was in the class; at least that way she found out about her heart condition.

[@williamsweet7511]

did she have a PFO?

[@SC-lo5ez]

An individual who cannot cope with the fundamentals such as clearing water in the mask and most of all do not respect (ascent) procedures should have been out of the course immediately. This would have been a prevention decision.

[@OceanPancake]

Unfortunately many students struggle with the mask skill at the beginning due to nerves, and in a relatively short period perform it well once we return to it. If every person failing the mask skill immediately was eliminated from the course we would have a significant proportion leaving.

[@antongrun1077]

That’s true! But, yes, as always a but. I’m a DM, so my experiences are from self conducted refresher courses. When people in it fail or struggle with the mask skills, it’s then often kind of a shit show in the open water part…