#28736
RAWalker - 9/17/2014 10:12 PM
I used the gear provided by a dive operator contracted by a cruise line in Aruba a number of years ago. it was my lifetime dive #5. My first dive after my open water certification. The dive was on the wreck of the Antola which rests at 60’. As I descended at 42’ as the wreck was coming into view I tugged on the inflator to actuate the shoulder dump valve. Instead the inflator came apart in my hand and left me with no buoyancy control, requiring me to swim to the surface. At the surface I was lucky enough to come up near another dive boat and was assisted aboard. All was well but might not have been. I was provided with another BC for the second dive of the day and got back on the horse right away. That was the last trip that I used any reg or BC that was not my own other than during skills exercises.
One further note:
The Divermaster was my divebuddy on those dives and just kept diving while I was forced to surface.