BSAC

October 2005 06/255
A diver made a rapid ascent from 7m and was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

October 2005 06/045
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 36m. During the ascent, at a depth of 8m, one of the pair lost control of his buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface missing all his decompression stops. He had been using nitrox 26 and had switched to nitrox 50 for his stops. He was placed on oxygen for 25 min and monitored. No adverse effects were reported.

October 2005 06/044
Two divers commenced a dive to a maximum depth of 20m. At this depth one of the pair was unable to breathe easily and made a rapid ascent to the surface. His buddy tried to slow the ascent. His dive duration was 4 min. Once out of the water he was placed on oxygen. He reported a slight ache in his forearms. Medical advice was sought and he was monitored. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

October 2005 06/013
Two divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 35m. When their computers indicated the approach of the end of no-stop time they moved to the top of the wreck. They then deployed a delayed SMB and started their ascent. They conducted a 3 min stop at 6m until their computers cleared. At this point one of the pair experienced a problem with a tangled SMB line and, whilst trying to sort this out, made a faster than normal ascent to the surface. Once in the boat it was found that their computers showed missed decompression. They were monitored for signs of DCI but none were observed.

October 2005 06/010
An instructor and a trainee commenced a dive to practice the use of alternative air sources. At the start of the dive the student had 180 bar in a 12l cylinder and the instructor had 150 bar in a 15l cylinder. They descended to a platform at a depth of 6m and conducted buoyancy and air checks. The instructor gave a demonstration. The trainee then gave air to the instructor and led an ascent to the surface. They re-descended for further practice. The instructor demonstrated again. The trainee then gave the 'out of air' signal and spat out his mouthpiece. He took the instructor's octopus regulator and they started their ascent. At 3m the trainee spat out the regulator and 'shut down in panic'. They made a rapid ascent to the surface. At the surface the instructor swam with the casualty to a buoy for support. Another instructor went to assist and they were recovered into a boat. The trainee was placed on oxygen and quickly recovered. No subsequent ill effects were experienced. Post dive checks revealed that the trainee's cylinder was empty.

October 2005 06/305
Clyde Coastguard were made aware of two divers on board a diving vessel having made a rapid ascent following a dive to 34m, the dive vessel was requested to make for port where it was met by an ambulance and taken to Cumbrae chamber for treatment, the vessel was met by Cumbrae Coastguard. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

October 2005 06/014
An instructor and a trainee conducted a shore dive to a maximum depth of 15m. The outward leg was uneventful. They then turned and swam on a reciprocal bearing. At one point they stopped to allow other divers to pass in front of them. The other divers' fins cause a lowering of the visibility and the instructor took hold of the trainee to lead him through. Once the visibility was clear again an air check was conducted. The trainee had 70 bar remaining. At this point the trainee panicked and rushed towards the surface. The instructor caught up with him and dumped air from his BCD, even so the ascent was rapid from 6m to the surface. At the surface the trainee got cramp and panicked again. The instructor towed the trainee to the shore and he was placed on oxygen. 15 min later the trainee reported that he was coughing up blood. Medical advice was sought and the trainee was taken to hospital. No problems were found.

November 2005 06/025
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 28m. One of the pair prepared a delayed SMB to make their ascent. He had to untangle the line from the winding knob of the reel. He used the purge on his auto-air to inflate the buoy. After releasing the buoy he lost control of his buoyancy and started to ascend. He threw the reel away from his body but was unable to prevent himself from being carried to the surface. At the surface he signalled for the boat to collect him. He was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. He was taken to hospital where tests were made and further oxygen was administered. He showed no signs of DCI and he was released later that day. He thinks that the SMB line may have been caught on him in some way.

November 2005 06/016
A pair of divers descended a shotline. One of the pair was carrying a fixed SMB and the line of the SMB became tangled in the shotline. The diver abandoned the SMB. In low underwater visibility he could not make his buddy understand that he no longer had the SMB. They dived to a maximum depth of 24m. As they surfaced the buddy realised that they no longer had the SMB and deployed a delayed SMB. She left the SMB clipped to her during deployment. The reel jammed and the diver was dragged to the surface from 10m. Her buddy made a normal ascent. The computer of the diver who had made the rapid ascent had shown no requirement for stops at 10m but it showed an emergency state at the surface. She was placed on oxygen and medical advice was sought. Medical examination revealed no adverse effects and no further action was needed.

November 2005 06/017
A pair of divers entered the water to conduct the use of alternative air source and mask clearing drills. They first dived to a maximum depth of 15m then they found a flat area at 6m and commenced training using alternative air sources. One diver passed his octopus regulator to his buddy, but when it was passed back he failed to secure it in its intended position. This diver then took his buddy's regulator and breathed from this for a while. When he reverted to his own regulator he cleared it by purging it and this caused a free flow. He reached for his own octopus regulator but could not find it because it was not in its normal position. He breathed from his free flowing regulator and ascended rapidly to the surface. His buddy remained at 6m. The diver could not return to his buddy because he now had insufficient air. He signalled distress and the boat approached. The buddy heard the boat and surfaced. Both were safely recovered from the water. Their total dive duration was 16 min.

November 2005 06/027
A diver conducted a series of three dives. The first to 15m for 25 min. The second after a surface interval of 2 hours 20 min to 15m for 37 min and the third after a surface interval of 2 hours to 8m. During this third dive her feet came out of the boots of her drysuit. She put some air into her suit but it went into her empty boots and she started a feet-first buoyant ascent. Her buddy tried to slow her down and helped her to the surface. The buddy then went back down to look after some trainees. The other divers then surfaced and helped the buoyant diver ashore. Later that evening she found a rash on her wrist, hand and leg. She had aching joints and felt dizzy and ill. She sought medical advice and went to her local hospital A&E. She was advised that DCI was unlikely and spent the night on oxygen. The following morning her symptoms had resolved.

November 2005 06/028
Two divers started a dive. During the descent, at a depth of 2m, a fin of one of the divers came loose and they surfaced to refit it. They re-descended and, at 6m, the diver who had had the loose fin lost control of his buoyancy and rose to the surface. They went down again. After 13 min they were at 14m, then they started to drift up, with the diver who had had the earlier problems 2m above the other. The lower diver swam up to his buddy and attempted to dump air; they didn't succeed and both divers made a rapid ascent to the surface. At the surface the troubled diver had a nose bleed; his buddy towed him to the shore and summoned assistance. Once ashore he felt faint and nauseous. He was placed on oxygen. After 10 min he had recovered.

November 2005 06/309
Falmouth Coastguard was contacted by a diving vessel reporting having a diver aboard having made a rapid ascent from 15m due to losing his dive gear, the diver was placed on oxygen as a precaution and monitored, no further action taken. (Coastguard report).

November 2005 06/257
A diver made a rapid ascent from 12m having experienced multiple free flows. At the surface the diver was shocked and breathless. The diver was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

November 2005 06/312
Falmouth Coastguard received a call from a diver who had missed decompression stops some 2 hours 30 min earlier, the diver was medi-linked to a diving specialist doctor at QAH, the diver had made a 39m dive for 40min missing 25 min of stops, the diver explained he had surfaced for another cylinder then went to 3m to decompress, losing his weightbelt, he then ascended. The diver was suffering from a bleeding ear so called the Coastguard as a precaution, the diver was recommended to attend an A&E for 6 hours oxygen delivery, the diver was taken by private car to hospital 10 miles away. (Coastguard report).

December 2005 06/031
Three divers dived down a shotline to a depth of 14m and then followed a drop-off down to 35m. After about 5 min they found themselves in a downwards current. They ascended gradually to the top of the drop-off in a depth of 22m. They pulled themselves along the bottom, against a current, to a depth of 19m. Their dive duration was 17 min and they decided to ascend. One of the three deployed a delayed SMB. The diver with the SMB signalled for the others to let go of the bottom and ascend with him on the line. He let go and took the hand of one of the divers and placed it around the line. This diver then let go of his line and took hold of the pillar valve of the diver with the SMB. The diver had become buoyant, the diver with the SMB was unable to get to him to help and he dumped air to try to slow the ascent. They were carried to the surface missing decompression stops. Their dive duration was 19 min. The third diver surfaced 2 min later. Once back in the boat the buoyant diver was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. The diver was taken to hospital but no subsequent ill effects were reported.

December 2005 06/035
Three divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 36m. With 6 min of decompression stops indicated on his computer one of the three deployed a delayed SMB and began an ascent. At this point one of his weights fell out of its pouch and despite finning downwards to slow his ascent he was carried rapidly to the surface. He gave the emergency signal and was recovered into the boat. He was placed on oxygen and given fluids. Over 12 min later the other two divers surfaced and the boat returned to shore. Once ashore medical advice was sought. The diver was kept on oxygen and monitored for problems. None were found and no further action was reported.

December 2005 06/037
Two divers entered the water to dive to 40m in a quarry. One of the pair was wearing new thermal trousers under his neoprene drysuit. On entering the water this diver was unable to descend due to excessive buoyancy. He added 2 kg to his weightbelt. He was still too buoyant and 'in frustration' added a further 4 kg. He was now overweight and sank quickly. He finned down a slope to 30m. He put a lot of air into his BCD to maintain neutral buoyancy. He went over an underwater cliff edge and started to descend in visibility of about 1m. His poor buoyancy control caused him to hit the side of the cliff and this released a cloud of silt that reduced the visibility to nothing. He lost his buddy and had difficulty reading his computer, which he put down to narcosis. His buddy took his hand and made an 'ascend' signal. They started to fin up, but with no visual reference and lots of air in his BCD he started a rapid ascent. He dumped all the air from his BCD and stopped at 9m. He then started to sink rapidly again. His BCD would not inflate. He then realised that he was still pressing the dump control. He put air into his BCD and stopped his descent at about 23m. He then decided that he needed to be at the surface and made a buoyant ascent. At the surface he spat out his regulator and vomited. His total dive duration was 16 min. He slowly finned ashore. His buddy made a normal ascent. The buoyant diver was placed on oxygen for 10 min. He developed no symptoms of DCI. He was left with the feeling that his ears were blocked. Four weeks later he still had deafness in his right ear which his doctor suggested was due to a blocked eustachian tube.

January 2006 06/038
A diver conducted a dive to a depth of 18m for 38 min with a 3 min stop at 3m. 30 min later he dived again with a different buddy. They dived to a depth of 34m on a wreck. During the dive the diver became anxious that his decompression requirement was mounting and he deployed a delayed SMB. His buddy swam towards the bow where the shotline was situated but the diver thought the shot was at the stern. At this point his dive duration was 25 min and he had 30 min of stops showing on his computer. He had 80 bar in his cylinder. He began his ascent but lost control of his buoyancy and was carried to the surface, missing all stops. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The party included a diving doctor and a recompression technician who monitored his condition. No symptoms of DCI were noted and no further action was taken.

January 2006 06/316
Clyde Coastguard coordinated the recovery of two divers from a diving vessel, the divers had made a rapid ascent from 34m, both divers were transferred to Largs lifeboat for passage to shore and onward transportation by ambulance to recompression chamber. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

January 2006 06/047
Two divers dived to a maximum depth of 36m. During the ascent one of the pair lost control of his buoyancy and made a rapid, feet first, ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 17 min. He was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

February 2006 06/321
Dive boat reported two divers had carried out a rapid ascent in the Sound of Mull, medical advice was obtained, the doctor recommending the divers be taken back to Dunstaffnage, the divers were met by ambulance and Oban Coastguard for transportation to hospital. (Coastguard report).

February 2006 06/319
The vessel ALIKAIE reported bringing in a diver who had experienced a rapid ascent from 30m. No diving sickness symptoms observed. An ambulance was requested to meet the ALIKAIE at St Abbs harbour, where the casualty was embarked and transported to hospital for assessment. EYEMOUTH Coastguard in attendance. SAR operations terminated at 1131 UTC. (Coastguard report).

February 2006 06/055
Two divers were at their maximum depth of 21m when one of their regulators began to free flow. The diver made a faster than normal ascent, and vomited on the way up. Once out of the water he was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

February 2006 06/258
A diver experienced a regulator free flow and made a rapid ascent from 20m. The dive duration was 10 min. The diver was placed on oxygen for 20 min and experienced no subsequent ill effects.

February 2006 06/057
Two divers were at a maximum depth of 20m when one of them lost control of his buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface. He then sank down again. He then surfaced with his buddy using the buddy's alternative air source. Both were placed on oxygen but no further actions were required.

February 2006 06/325
Diver medical. A link call was established between a dive boat and the dive doctor at Aberdeen to receive advice on a diver on board who had made a rapid ascent from a dive. The doctor confirmed that recompression was required and the diver was delivered to the Millport hyperbaric facility by the dive boat. (Coastguard report).

March 2006 06/259
A diver got into difficulties, panicked and made a rapid ascent from 18m. The dive duration was 8 min. The diver ingested water during the ascent. The diver was placed on oxygen for 30 min. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

March 2006 06/072
Three divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 30m. One of the divers was using a drysuit for the third time and she had changed the thermal undersuit. This diver experienced buoyancy control problems at 30m. She became separated from the other divers and made a rapid, uncontrolled, ascent to the surface. Her dive duration was 10 min. She was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

March 2006 06/073
Two divers dived to 32m. At this point the regulator of one of the divers began to free flow. He used his buddy's pony regulator and they made an ascent. They lost buoyancy control at about 20m and made a faster than normal ascent to the surface. Both were placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

March 2006 06/074
A diver made a 28 min dive to 20m with a 1 min stop at 3m. 1 hour 52 min later he dived again. He entered the water with two others. They did a buoyancy check at 3m and then descended to 5m. The diver then had buoyancy problems and descended to 10m, the others followed. He then descended to 19m and again the others followed. They then started to ascend. During the ascent one of the other two drifted away from the group and the third diver went to bring him back. During this time the diver who had had the buoyancy problems made a rapid ascent to the surface. The other divers surfaced safely and they all met up on the surface. The diver who had made the rapid ascent was placed on oxygen and medical advice was sought. After 30 min the oxygen therapy was stopped and no further action was required.

March 2006 06/260
A diver made a rapid ascent after experiencing a regulator free flow at a depth of 18m. The diver was placed on oxygen for 20 min and no subsequent ill effects were reported.

March 2006 06/075
A diver dived to 21m on a training course. 2 hours 34 min later he dived again with two others. During this dive he lost control of his buoyancy and started to rise. The instructor managed to slow the ascent but then they started to sink. They sank to 20m then made a faster than normal ascent to the surface. All divers were placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

April 2006 06/077
Three divers conducted three dives in a day. Their second dive was to 22m for 22 min. On the third dive one of the three's regulators began to free flow. He used one of his buddies' octopus regulator and they made a rapid ascent to the surface. The third diver made a normal ascent. The diver with the free flow was distressed at the surface. He and his buddy were placed on oxygen for 30 min. No further action was reported.

April 2006 06/084
Three divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 22m. At 20m one of the divers' regulators began to free flow. He switched to his pony regulator and one of his buddies turned his main cylinder off. The buddy did not turn the cylinder back on again as the diver expected. The buddy signalled that he should ascend and deployed a delayed SMB which he gave to the diver with the free flow. The diver with the free flow ascended and the other two continued their dive. The lone diver made a fast ascent to the surface missing a safety stop. At the surface the water was choppy and he tried to orally inflate his BCD. While doing so he inhaled water. He shouted for help and he was recovered from the water. He was placed on oxygen for 30 min. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

April 2006 06/327
Shetland Coastguard received a call from dive boat reporting having a diver aboard having made a rapid ascent, the diver was transferred to hospital for observation. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/263
A diver made a rapid ascent after experiencing a regulator free flow at a depth of 18m. The diver was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

April 2006 06/329
Dive vessel called Shetland Coastguard reporting having a diver aboard having made a rapid ascent from 25m, the vessel was met by an ambulance and the diver transferred to Hospital. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/267
Two divers entered the water and commenced a dive on a wreck to a maximum depth of 37m. Once on the wreck the octopus regulator of one of the divers began to free flow. Neither he nor his buddy could stop it. The mass of bubbles in the water made it very difficult for him to see. He reached for his pony regulator and started to breathe from it. He made a rapid ascent to the surface, missing planned safety stops. His buddy followed at a more normal rate. At the surface the diver with the free flow was out of air. He swam to the boat. Both divers were safely recovered. The diver who had made the rapid ascent was placed on oxygen and taken to a recompression facility.

April 2006 06/096
Two divers conducted their second dive of the day. They reached a maximum depth of 18m and deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent after 20 min. The diver who deployed the SMB then used his drysuit direct feed to adjust his buoyancy. The valve jammed and this caused him to make a rapid ascent from 15m to the surface. His buddy went with him, trying to slow the ascent. They were recovered into the boat and the buoyant diver was placed on oxygen. The other divers were recalled and the boat returned to shore. The divers were monitored, but no symptoms were experienced and no further action was taken.
April 2006 06/334
Portland Coastguard received a distress call from a diving vessel, reporting having a diver aboard who had missed decompression stops following a rapid ascent from 15m. Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB airlifted the casualty to a recompression chamber where the aircraft was met by Poole Coastguard and a waiting ambulance. (Coastguard report).

April 2006 06/134
A pair of divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 35m. At a depth of 17m, one of the pair lost control of her buoyancy and made a fast ascent to the surface. During the ascent one of her feet came out of her drysuit boot. She was recovered from the water and placed on oxygen. Her dive duration was 24 min. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

May 2006 06/340
Falmouth Coastguard were alerted by a dive boat of a diver making a rapid ascent from 40m, the diver was administered oxygen, Newquay lifeboat attended the vessel, the diver developed no symptoms, no further treatment was required. (Coastguard & RNLI report).

May 2006 06/125
Two divers descended a shotline to a depth of 35m. At the bottom visibility was very low. After 12 min one of the pair indicated that he wanted to ascend. This diver then began to deploy a delayed SMB, however he had a problem with a clip and was not able to do so. The other diver then deployed his delayed SMB. He inflated the buoy with exhaust air from his regulator. The reel appeared to run freely. The diver then realised that he was ascending rapidly. He was unable to release the reel and was carried directly to the surface. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. His buddy made a normal ascent. The diver subsequently sought medical advice and was given precautionary recompression treatment. The dark conditions prevented the diver from realising that he was being dragged upwards early enough. The reel had been clipped to his BCD and the line had become jammed between two moulded components of the reel.

May 2006 06/135
A pair of divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 35m. After a while they ascended to a shelf at 22m. They then became disorientated, lost buoyancy control and made a fast ascent to the surface. Their dive duration was 20 min. They were placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

May 2006 06/118
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 23m. During their ascent, at a depth of 20m, one of the pair breathed water through her regulator. She started a fast ascent. Her buddy managed to slow the ascent at 6m. The ascent to the surface from 6m was rapid. They gave the emergency signal at the surface and she was towed ashore. She was given oxygen and examined for symptoms of DCI. The troubled diver complained of feeling sick. Medical advice was sought. The troubled diver developed stomach cramps and was put back on oxygen and taken by ambulance to hospital. 40 min after surfacing the buddy developed a tightness in his thighs and calves and he was placed on oxygen. A few minutes later his symptoms resolved. He too was taken by ambulance to hospital.

May 2006 06/119
Two divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 28m. They were unable to find the shotline to ascend so they settled on the bottom and deployed a delayed SMB. One of the divers became agitated that they were incurring decompression stop requirements. The agitated diver reeled in the line and they ascended. The other diver's computer indicated that they needed to complete a 1 min stop at 10m plus a 10 min stop at 3m. During the 10m stop the agitated diver did not engage the ratchet on the reel and they started to descend. The agitated diver then signalled that he was out of air. The other diver gave him his pony regulator. The agitated diver took two breaths but the regulator was not properly in his mouth and he spat it out and made rapidly for the surface from a depth of 16m. The other diver surfaced alone making a 10 min stop at 3m. The agitated diver was recovered into the boat and the boat then started a search for the second diver, not realising that he was conducting stops. The Coastguard was alerted and a lifeboat was launched to assist. When the second diver surfaced he was some way from the boat and it was a while before he was spotted and recovered. When the second diver surfaced it was realised that the first diver had missed stops. He was given oxygen and monitored for signs of DCI. No symptoms developed.

June 2006 06/126
Two divers conducted a dive to 27m for 35 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 5 hours later they dived to 31m. They deployed a delayed SMB and started their ascent. At 10m one of the pair lost control of his buoyancy and made an uncontrolled ascent to the surface, missing 7 min of stops. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. His buddy was concerned for his safety and he surfaced a little later having missed 2 min of stops. He too was placed on oxygen. Both were monitored for signs of DCI. No symptoms developed and no further action was taken.

June 2006 06/189
A pair of divers prepared to make a dive to a depth of 34m. One of the pair found that her cylinder had somehow lost air and was at 70 bar. She used another cylinder. Her normal cylinder was 10l and the replacement was 12l so she removed some of her weight. They descended to the wreck and, after 25 min, they deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent. The diver who had swapped cylinders was too buoyant and she was carried rapidly to the surface, missing decompression stops. Her buddy went with her. Their dive duration was 29 min. They were placed on oxygen. No symptoms were reported but the divers did seek hospital advice.

June 2006 06/128
Two divers descended a shotline to a wreck in a maximum depth of 18m. At the bottom one of the pair put some air into her BCD to achieve neutral buoyancy. The inflator valve jammed and she became buoyant. She alerted her buddy and attempted to dump air. Her buddy held on to her and slowed the ascent. The diver disconnected the direct feed hose but was unable to prevent a buoyant ascent to the surface. Both their computers indicated a fast ascent warning. Neither suffered any subsequent ill effects.

June 2006 06/343
Solent Coastguard were alerted by a dive boat of a diver having made a rapid ascent from 25m following difficulty deploying a delayed SMB, following medical advice the diver was airlifted to recompression chamber for treatment by Coastguard rescue helicopter. (Coastguard report).

June 2006 06/345
Liverpool Coastguard were alerted to a diver having made a rapid ascent from 19m in Coniston water, a medi-link call was established with a diving doctor to pass medical advice, Liverpool Coastguard requested Helimed 63 and Cambrian ambulance service to attend. The casualty was airlifted to hospital for treatment, the helicopter was met by Hoylake Coastguard on landing. (Coastguard report).

June 2006 06/344
Portland Coastguard were alerted by diving vessel of a diver aboard having made a rapid ascent from 25m following a dive to 43m. The diver was airlifted by R-WB to Poole hospital where they were met by Poole Coastguard and a waiting ambulance for onward transportation to recompression chamber. (Coastguard report).

June 2006 06/265
A diver made a rapid ascent from 24 m. The diver was placed on oxygen for 20 min and no subsequent ill effects were reported.

June 2006 06/122
Four divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 46m. Three of the divers were using rebreathers with trimix and the fourth was on open circuit air with nitrox 50 for decompression. During their ascent they made a 2 min stop at 27m, a 2 min stop at 18m and a 2 min stop at 9m. They were at 6m with 2 min of stops remaining when they were caught in a down current and quickly carried down to 30m. The rebreather divers all experienced high oxygen partial pressures and they bailed out onto open circuit. Three of the group then re-ascended to 6m where they deployed a delayed SMB and conducted a further precautionary stop. One of the rebreather divers had been swept deeper than the others and had not been able to equalise his ears quickly enough. This diver ascended directly to the surface missing 2 min of decompression. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. Blood was seen to be coming from his right ear. The Coastguard was alerted. The three other divers were recovered; their total dive time was 40 min. The boat returned to the shore. The diver who had missed stops was then airlifted to a recompression facility where he was given precautionary recompression treatment. He did not develop any signs of DCI but was diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum.

June 2006 06/123
Two divers descended to a maximum depth of 35m down the face of a reef. They then ascended to 25m. At this point one of the pair lost control of his buoyancy and made a feet first ascent directly to the surface. His buddy followed at a normal rate and surfaced about 12 min later. The buoyant diver was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was informed. There were no subsequent ill effects and no further actions were reported. The buoyant diver was using a drysuit but did not have ankle weights. His total dive duration was 12 min.

June 2006 06/141
A diver was ascending from a dive. At 16m he noticed that he was ascending too fast, he raised his hand to dump air from his drysuit cuff dump but no air was released. He rose rapidly to the surface. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

June 2006 06/144
A pair of divers conducted a dive to a wreck. They took 5 min to descend to the deck of the wreck in a depth of 26m. They briefly dived to the seabed, at a depth of 32m, to place the shot weight for easy recovery. After 42 min they deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent. They took 8 min to ascend from 26m to the surface, making a 2 min stop at 10m and a 3 min stop at 5m. Upon surfacing, one of the divers' computers sounded a warning and indicated that a 9 min stop at 9m had been missed. He was placed on oxygen. No subsequent symptoms were reported. The diver believes that he must have mis-read the computer during his ascent.

June 2006 06/143
Two divers completed a dive to a maximum depth of 25m. Towards the end of the dive the dive leader deployed a delayed SMB from the top of the wreck at a depth of 22m. They took 9 min to ascent to 6m. They stopped at 6m for 1 min. The other diver's computer showed that he needed to stop at 4m for 1 min. However, at 4m he lost control of his buoyancy and ascended directly to the surface. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. He developed no symptoms and no further action was taken.

June 2006 06/142
A diver was at 35m engaged in a deep diving course. Her regulator began to free flow and she made a fast ascent to the surface. At the surface she was briefly unconscious. She was recovered from the water and placed on oxygen. She was taken by ambulance to hospital from where she was discharged later that day.

June 2006 06/286
A diver conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 30m. He was using nitrox 36. His ascent from 16m to 11m was too quick and he went back down to 15m. His ascent back to 10m was normal then he ascended to the surface in 2 min, missing 3 min of stops on his computer which was set for air. Back in the boat he was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. Medical advice was sought. No symptoms developed and no further action was taken. It was later found that the function of the diver's drysuit cuff dump was impaired by his undersuit.

June 2006 06/146
A diver was engaged in a deep dive as a part of a training course. At a depth of 32m she took the regulator out of her mouth and rushed for the surface, pulling herself up a line. Her total dive time was 3 min. At the surface she was helped by other divers. Once out of the water she was placed on oxygen. She made a quick recovery.

June 2006 06/130
Portland Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel of a diver aboard who had made a rapid ascent from 45m feet first!! The casualty was airlifted to Poole by CG R-WB where it was met by Poole Coastguard and an ambulance. The vessel was met by Lyme Regis Coastguard on arrival in harbour. Partly caused by lack of dive fitness and familiarity with kit on a deep dive with no work up dives. (Coastguard Report).

June 2006 06/350
Brixham Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel of two missing divers, the divers made a rapid ascent from 36m having become separated at depth, the divers were recovered by parent boat and returned to shore, where they were met by an ambulance, the divers were transferred to an air ambulance for transportation to DDRC Plymouth. (Coastguard report).

June 2006 06/162
Two divers conducted a 27 min dive to 37m including a 6 min stop at 6m. 2 hours 30 min they dived again. Their second dive was a drift dive to a maximum depth of 18m. As they descended one of the pair felt his weightbelt was loose. He tightened it and they began the drift. The other diver held a reel connected to an SMB. The reel had a lanyard connected to it and the diver who had had the weightbelt problem held onto this lanyard. 10 min into the dive the weightbelt fell away from the diver and he started to ascend. He was unable to grab the belt and he pulled himself down with the lanyard. This pulled the other diver upwards. The other diver was able to make himself negatively buoyant and to turn the buoyant diver into a vertical position. They sank back down to the seabed. They then made an ascent to the surface together. The ascent was slightly faster than normal. Both divers were placed on oxygen as a precaution. Neither suffered any subsequent ill effect and no further action was needed.

June 2006 06/147
A trainee diver and his buddy dived to a maximum depth of 21m. During the dive the trainee experienced difficulties with his regulator. He signalled that he wanted to ascend. During the ascent he lost control of his buoyancy and made a fast ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 12 min. He arrived at the surface alone and was recovered by others into a boat. Once in the boat he started to recover. He was placed on oxygen and appeared to make a full recovery. The mouthpiece of his primary regulator was perished and this may have allowed water to enter as he breathed in.

July 2006 06/156
Three divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 26m. One of the three was diving with a manifolded twin cylinder system that was relatively new to him. The system had two separate regulators and he normally dived with the manifold open. On this occasion the manifold valve was left closed in error and the diver was not aware of this. As the dive progressed the diver noticed that his two contents gauges read differently; one was falling and the other was constant. He assumed that the gauge was stuck. He noticed that his low gauge had reached 50 bar but did not alert the others. He subsequently believes that he was suffering nitrogen narcosis. After a dive time of 35 min this diver suddenly ran out of air. He signalled 'out of air' and attempted to get to one of his buddies' octopus regulator. He was unable to release it from its clip. He then grabbed the buddy's pony regulator which was on a cord around the buddy's neck and he breathed from this. He struggled to keep this regulator in his mouth because of the way it was secured to the buddy. The troubled diver could have used his own second regulator but, at the time, he did not think of this. The two divers began to ascend but then sank back down to the bottom. The third diver then took hold of both of them and brought them to the surface. They made a rapid ascent missing decompression stops. The first two divers needed assistance to get back into the boat. The diver whose pony cylinder was being used was coughing blood. He was placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and all three were airlifted to a recompression facility. They all received recompression treatment and were released later that day. No symptoms of DCI were experienced by any of the divers. The diver who was coughing blood was found to have cut his inner lip by biting too hard on his mouthpiece.

July 2006 06/157
A pair of divers conducted a wreck dive. They descended a shotline and arrived on the wreck at a depth of 21m. They swam to the stern of the wreck at a depth of 27m and then headed back to find the shotline. Visibility was poor and they were not able to locate the shotline. The dive leader's computer indicated 2 min of no stop time left. They moved higher on the wreck and the computer indicated 6 min no stop time. They were still unable to locate the shotline and they deployed a delayed SMB to make their ascent. The dive leader's computer now showed that a 2 min stop was required. The computer was relatively new to him and he mistakenly thought that the stop was 6m, when it was actually 3m. They stopped for 2 min at 6m but because of the stop depth error the computer still showed a 2 min stop requirement. The dive leader now had 25 bar remaining and his buddy had 15 bar. They could hear the boat engine near them and the dive leader did not want to try to make a stop at 3m so they surfaced. Their dive duration was 34 min. The dive leader's computer went into an error state. The divers were recovered from the water and placed on oxygen. A lifeboat was already on its way to the boat because of another incident that had happened concurrently. The divers were taken to a recompression facility. Neither showed signs of DCI and no treatment was required. (Incident 06/158 relates).

July 2006 06/443
A diver made a rapid ascent from 9m. The diver was placed on oxygen and suffered no subsequent ill effects.

July 2006 06/266
A diver made a rapid ascent from 18m. The diver inhaled some water during the ascent. The diver was placed on oxygen and no subsequent ill effects were reported.

July 2006 06/168
Three divers entered the water to conduct a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 27m. After a few minutes one of the three surfaced in distress. His dive duration was 9 min. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. He stated that his regulator had flooded and this had led to him aborting the dive and making a rapid ascent. He was transferred to the shore. No symptoms developed and no further action was reported. The boat was in a party of two that had travelled from the mainland to a group of islands. The additional boat journeys made led to the use of the boat's reserve fuel earlier than planned. They set out to return to the mainland but the sea conditions worsened, fuel consumption increased and they realised that they would run out of fuel. They sought shelter in a safe anchorage off one of the islands and contacted a local commercial dive boat by radio. This vessel towed the two boats safely to the mainland.

July 2006 06/358
Brixham Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel of a diver having made a rapid ascent from 18m following a dive to 30m. (Coastguard report).

July 2006 06/179
Two divers dived to a depth of 22m. At this point one of the pair experienced a problem with air in his drysuit boots and he made a rapid ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 14m. No subsequent ill effects were experienced.

July 2006 06/169
Two divers were taken to a recompression facility for treatment after surfacing too quickly. (Media report).

July 2006 06/181
A pair of divers dived to a maximum depth of 13m. One of the pair lost control of her buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface. Both divers then made several ascents and descents before aborting the dive. Their dive duration was 13 min. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

July 2006 06/250
Two divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 29m. There was a current flowing and when they were dropped into the water one of them missed the shot buoy. This diver was towed back to the shot buoy while the other diver descended alone. They conducted separate dives on the wreck. One of the pair was intent on completing a task on the wreck and did not monitor his air. When his buddy signalled that is was time to ascend he stayed on to complete his task, extending the dive plan. They then had to swim against the current to get back to the shotline. As they began to ascend the shotline one of the pair had 11 min of decompression requirements and the other had 8 min. At 6m the diver with the lower decompression requirement gave his buddy the 'out of air signal'; the buddy had 100 bar remaining. The buddy's octopus regulator, which had been working when checked before the dive, was found not to be working. They began to share the buddy's main regulator. The diver who was out of air then let go of the shotline which created a pull on the regulator hose. Both began to panic and they made a rapid ascent to the surface. They were recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the boat returned to the shore. An ambulance arrived and the divers were then airlifted to a recompression facility.

July 2006 06/221
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 29m. After about 32 min one of the divers was down to 75 bar and they agreed to ascend. The diver with 75 bar deployed a delayed SMB and they started their ascent. The diver reeled in the line but, at a depth of 13m, he became aware that he was spinning round in the water. He thought that the line was snagged somewhere behind his head. Whilst trying to resolve this problem he made a rapid buoyant ascent to the surface over the following 30 seconds. His buddy conducted a normal ascent. Both were recovered from the water. Once ashore the diver who had made the rapid ascent developed a headache and complained of chest and back pain. The diver was placed on oxygen and medical advice was sought. After a further 1 hour the symptoms resolved and no further action was taken.

July 2006 06/272
Two divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 35m. One was using nitrox and the other was using air. When the air diver had 5 min of stops showing they deployed a delayed SMB and started their ascent. The air diver followed the SMB line and the nitrox diver held the reel and wound in the line. The nitrox diver indicated that they should speed their ascent, to avoid further decompression penalties. At about 8m the air diver's computer malfunctioned and cleared all decompression requirements. She continued directly to the surface without conducting any stops. Once back in the boat she explained that her computer had cleared and that she thought that her buddy had signalled that they needed to surface quickly because of a problem. She was placed on oxygen and given fluids. Advice was sought from a recompression facility and the Coastguard was alerted. The diver was airlifted to the recompression facility and although she had no symptoms of DCI she was given a precautionary treatment.

July 2006 06/367
Falmouth Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel of a diver having made a rapid ascent from 12m suffering bleeding from the ears, a medi-link call was made to the INM recommending treatment. Rescue helicopter R-193 was tasked to recover the diver and buddy and airlift for treatment to the DDRC in Plymouth. The dive vessel was met by Mevagissey Coastguard to obtain details. (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/372
Solent Coastguard were alerted by a diving vessel of a diver having made a rapid ascent from 33m, the casualty was airlifted to decompression chamber for treatment by rescue helicopter R-IJ, Hillhead Coastguard team responded to establish the helicopter landing site (HLS). (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/278
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 32m. At the end of the dive they attached a reel to a piece of wreckage and deployed a delayed SMB. One of the divers held the buoy open while the other filled it. As the bag ascended it dragged the diver who was holding it open upwards. She was carried to the surface. She released the clip attaching the line to the buoy and it sank back to the diver holding the reel. This diver made a normal ascent reeling in the slack line. During his ascent he met another diver and completed his stops with that diver, using his buoy. The diver who had made the rapid ascent was placed on oxygen. It was not known how the SMB caused the diver to be dragged upwards. She suffered no subsequent ill effects.

August 2006 06/274
Two divers dived to a maximum depth of 37m. One of the divers was using a pony cylinder and had not reduced her weight accordingly and was thus heavy underwater. She became tired during the dive and, during the ascent, she made an unintended sudden descent from 25 to 33m when she released air from her BCD. Her buddy assisted her to re-ascend. They made a rapid ascent to the surface, missing a decompression stop due to low air. The diver was exhausted at the surface and she was assisted from the water. She was placed on oxygen and the Coastguard was alerted. Once ashore she was taken by ambulance to hospital for tests. She developed no symptoms of DCI and was discharged 3 hours later.

August 2006 06/279
Two divers conducted four dives over a three day period to depths of about 40m. After a 22 hour surface interval they made a fifth dive. They descended a shotline to a wreck in a maximum depth of 42m. One of the pair felt too heavy and added air to her drysuit but it escaped through the dump valve. She then added some air to her BCD. The diver then noticed that she was light and kept having to dump air from her BCD. She realised that the inflator to her BCD was continually leaking air into the bag. She disconnected the inflator and they deployed a delayed SMB. She showed her buddy that she had disconnected the hose and he mis-understood and tried to reconnect it for her, which she prevented. The reel of the SMB jammed and dragged them both upwards. The buddy was holding the reel and also the buoyant diver. They managed to stop at 20m at which point the buoyant diver was having difficulties with staying down. Not wishing to drag her buddy up she let go of him and was carried to the surface. The buddy followed at a slower rate. The buoyant diver had missed 24 min of decompression stops; the buddy had missed stops too. Both were recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The Coastguard was alerted and the divers were airlifted to a recompression facility where they received precautionary treatment.

August 2006 06/374
Shetland Coastguard was requested to have an ambulance standing by for a diver who had surfaced missing decompression stops. (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/183
Three divers dived to a maximum depth of 32m. At this point one of the three panicked and made a rapid ascent to the surface. One of the other divers went with her and the third made a normal ascent. Their dive duration was 6 min. The divers who had made the rapid ascent were placed on oxygen. Neither diver suffered any ill effects and no further action was taken.

August 2006 06/202
Two divers descended a shotline to conduct a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 30m. The shotline was not on the wreck and they attached a distance line and moved in the direction of the wreck. The line ran out and they left the reel and continued on. They did not find the wreck and returned to the reel. At this point one of the pair had only 80 bar remaining in his 12l cylinder. This diver signalled that he wanted to ascend. At 24m the diver's contents gauge was in the red area and he switched to his 3l pony cylinder. He was starting to panic and his breathing rate rose. He soon used the air in his pony cylinder and took the alternative air source of his buddy. The buddy was using twin 12l cylinders. The divers had ascended and descended a number of times during the air switching process. They stopped for about 2 min at 6m and then surfaced. They were recovered into the boat. The diver who had donated air complained of a headache. Both were placed on oxygen for 10 min and given fluids. Medical advice was sought and the divers were monitored for further problems. None occurred and no further action was taken.

August 2006 06/379
A party of three divers dived on a wreck to 30m, the plan was to ascend at 100bar, however the party could not find the shotline so had to ascend up the delayed SMB line, two of the divers ran very low on air, the third shared with one of the divers, during the ascent at least one diver made a rapid ascent. As a precaution all three divers were airlifted by Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB to recompression chamber, the helicopter was met at the HLS by Poole Coastguard team and an ambulance. (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/383
Diver made a rapid ascent from 21m, Dover Coastguard made a medi-link call as a precaution, no symptoms were present, no further medical attention required. (Coastguard report).

August 2006 06/385
Clyde Coastguard received a call from a dive vessel reporting having two divers aboard having missed decompression stops following a dive to 34m, a medi-link call was established and the divers were met by Oban Coastguard team and a waiting ambulance for transportation to chamber for treatment. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).

August 2006 06/227
Two divers conducted a dive to a maximum depth of 30m. They planned a 3 min stop at 6m. During this stop one of the pair lost control of his buoyancy and rose quickly to the surface. His dive duration was 30 min. He was recovered into the boat and placed on oxygen. The other diver completed the stops and surfaced normally. The diver who had missed the stops was kept on oxygen for 90 min, no symptoms of DCI occurred and no further action was taken. The dive had been planned as a no-stop dive but the divers did incur stops and this caused them concern during the ascent and is thought to have precipitated the buoyant ascent.

August 2006 06/447
Two divers conducted a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 33m. With a 6 min decompression stop requirement showing on their computers they deployed delayed SMBs to make their ascent. One of the divers was initially pulled up by the ascending buoy but he then seemingly started to ascend normally. His buddy turned to observe two other members of his team and when he turned back the diver had gone. The diver had made an uncontrolled ascent to the surface in 1 min, missing about 4 min decompression. The buddy made a normal ascent. The buoyant diver arrived at the surface tangled in his buoy line. He re-descended to 8m for 1 min but the tangled line pulled him to the surface. He was placed on oxygen and medical advice was sought by phone. The diver was monitored but no symptoms developed and no further action was taken.

August 2006 06/229
A diver dived to 36m for 39 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. Nearly 24 hours later she dived to 30m for 35 min with a 3 min stop at 6m. 5 hours 16 min later she dived to a maximum depth of 30m. During the descent she noticed that one of her BCD straps was twisted and the right shoulder dump cord was twisted into the strap but still working. Some time into the dive she signalled to her two buddies that she was unhappy and wanted to ascend. She started to rise. She tried to dump air from her BCD but nothing happened. She attempted to dump air from her suit. She rose from 23m to the surface in 90 seconds. Her dive duration was 20 min. She was using nitrox 28. Once out of the water she drank water and breathed nitrox 40. No symptoms were noted and no further action was taken.

September 2006 06/231
An instructor entered the water with a trainee and another diver. As they descended to a platform in a depth of 6m they became slightly separated, with one diver descending slowly because of previous ear clearing problems. The instructor then saw the trainee sinking face upwards attempting to refit a fin that had come off. He signalled the other diver to stay at the surface and followed after the trainee. He reached her at a depth of 10m. The trainee appeared to have regained control but then she overinflated her BCD and made a rapid ascent to the surface. The instructor followed. At the surface he assisted the buoyant diver out of the water. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

September 2006 06/209
Two divers, using nitrox, descended to a maximum depth of 33m over a 12 min period. One of the pair experienced problems with his mask. They made their way back up, following a sloping contour. At 20m the diver with mask problems started to become buoyant. He picked up some rocks to help him retain control and, with the help of his buddy, they continued their ascent to a depth of about 9m. At this point the rocks were dropped and the diver made a rapid buoyant ascent to the surface. His buddy followed at a slower rate. The computer of the diver who had made the fast ascent indicated an ascent warning and he was placed on oxygen for 20 min. The buddy's computer was clear. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

September 2006 06/213
Two divers were diving at a depth of 22m. The fins of one of the divers came off and his buddy helped to refit them. They then started a fast ascent. They managed to make a 1 min stop at 4m. Their dive duration was 21 min. A little later the diver whose fins had come off became concerned and sought assistance. He was placed on oxygen and made a recovery. No subsequent ill effects were reported.

September 2006 06/211
Two divers were diving to a maximum depth of 20m. One of the pair became disorientated, lost control of his buoyancy and made a rapid ascent to the surface. His dive duration was 10 min. He was placed on oxygen. No subsequent ill effects were reported.
September 2006 06/402
Following a rapid ascent Portland Coastguard connected the vessel with a diving doctor, the doctor recommended the diver be kept under observation, no symptom developed. (Coastguard report).

September 2006 06/448
A diver made a rapid ascent from a wreck dive to a maximum depth of 32m missing decompression stops. He thought that a new combination of drysuit and undersuit may have been the root cause of the problem.

September 2006 06/442
Two divers planned a descent to a maximum depth of 50m. One of the pair was over-weighted and he descended quickly. He put air into both his BCD and his suit to regain neutral buoyancy. His buddy followed. They reached the bottom at 20m, exchanged 'OK' signals and set off down an underwater rock face. At about 27m the buddy indicated that he had a problem with his regulator which was free flowing. The other diver turned his cylinder off and on a number of times but this did not resolve the problem. The cylinder emptied of air. The other diver gave him one of his alternative air sources. The donor diver wanted to deploy a delayed SMB to aid their ascent but the diver who was out of air started to ascend. The donor diver was concerned about his need to dump air from both his suit and BCD but he over dumped and they sank back down from 17m to 22m. The donor diver's computer indicated that they should make a 3 min safety stop, but the diver who was out of air took them both to the surface. No subsequent ill effects were experienced. The donor diver reported that he had failed to correctly adjust his weighting for the use of a twin cylinder system in fresh water. He found that he was 3kg over-weighted.