Had a close call with a silt cloud in a New Orleans canal last week

I was working on a simple hull inspection, about 15 feet down, when my fin kicked up a huge silt cloud from the bottom. Couldn't see my hand in front of my face for a solid minute. I froze for a second, then remembered my training and just grabbed my guideline back to the shot line. Followed it up hand over hand, slow and steady, until I got clear. It was a basic mistake but staying calm and using the line got me out safe. Anyone else have a simple trick that saved you when visibility went to zero?

3 comments

3 Comments

parker_price5d agoProlific Poster

Yeah, that guideline trick is a lifesaver. I read about a guy who always ties a small, cheap compass to his wrist when he's in murky water. He said if he ever loses his line and can't see, he just holds it flat and follows the north arrow back toward shore or the boat. Seems like a good backup for when you can't even find the line to start with. What do you do if you lose contact with your guideline completely?

rubyshah5d ago

Seems like overkill for most dives. Murky water isn't the same as a cave. Just swim up slowly and you'll hit the surface.

susan6495d ago

Honestly that compass trick sounds smart but what if you're diving somewhere with strong currents? Following a straight line back might not work if the water's pushing you sideways the whole time. Do you just add some extra distance to account for drift or is there a better way to handle that?