Our group was diving Oil Slick. A friend was at the top of the ladder and her legs gave out, so down she came. Two of us were too close to the bottom of the ladder, but just far enough away that her landing missed us. She got a horrible butt bruise from hitting the ladder on the way down, but otherwise all was OK. Just a reminder to let the person exiting any ladder to completely clear before you start your way up. It could easily have been a much worse ending. The lessons we learned in beginning scuba tend to get forgotten.

Thanks for posting this reminder. I see this a lot at oil slick, divers gathered under the ladder while someone is going up it. I also see multiple people pile up alongside the cement block at Karpata, which is also a safety issue.

Thankfully it was a near miss. We all get to breathe, relax, and learn from this. The reminder is a very good lesson to take to heart. Thanks for taking the time to post.

thanks for this post, I fearfully watched many times exiting dive groups via that ladder and even watching them entry, giant striding and forgetting basic rules for safety. Thanks for raising awareness Grunt.

I've seen that on boat dives, too. So, Grunt is right-on that safety should extend to ALL ladders while exiting.

That's a good reminder, thanks.

"A friend was at the top of the ladder and her legs gave out, so down she came."


Also remember to be in the best physical shape you are capable of. It helps.

From eddie's note, this means doing leg presses at the gym three times a week for a month prior to your dive trip, similar to prepping for a ski trip.

Try to press at least your body weight, multiple reps, etc...

I made the decision to take stress and rescue class after an incident at Oil Slick.

A different group was in front of my group at exit time. they were acting the fool around the ladder and wouldn't get out.

Another diver in my group quickly assessed the situation as life or death for the group at the ladder and not "fooling" around. I completely missed the serious situation for what it was.

A diver climbing up the ladder had their tank slip out of their strapping and the tank not only pulled that diver off the ladder backwards -it struck the diver underneath her on the head and caused a situation with two panicked divers.

Fortunately the person in my group assessed what the situation was - took matters in hand - ordered us all about under water (our group and the panicked group) and all was fine!

Are you sure they didn't see who was down there and push her?

Steve,

what a way of insinuating the worst, ever had a bad childhood?
Move on and things happen, there is no conspiracy all the time around the corner, read a good book!

Steve, Ya still hav'en Honneymoon problems? Shake it off man, and relax!!!

Steve:

Huh?

I'm with you guys on this one. Definitely has an attitude.

Well, I must have missed it, but let's simma down now.

Back on topic, I've dove Oil slick many times. On the last trip, I was half way up the ladder and my tank slipped...uh...let's just say I froze right there when my buddy, still in the water told me to stop NOW. He managed to get up where I was, hold the tank with one hand and sort of steady it while we both went up. What was weird, as soon as he got out his tank slipped off. In 300 dives I've never had a tank slip...

Thinking back, what I probably should done is gone back down the ladder, taken my bc off inflated and resecured it to the tank.

Live and learn.

People, what part of Oil Slick did you miss? Of course tanks will slip. That's what the oil will do to them