Christian Daehler
Spearo - Instructor - Freediver
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Christian Daehler
Spearo - Instructor - Freediver
As a PFI freediving instructor based in Palm Beach, Florida, I recently shared an eye-opening experience about my first blackout rescue during a dive in North Florida. This encounter profoundly impacted my perspective on freediving safety and highlighted essential lessons that every freediver should internalize.
I was diving with friends in a spring featuring a deep underwater cavern. During one dive, my buddy successfully reached the cavern's back wall but experienced a blackout during his ascent. At that time, being inexperienced, I initially struggled to grasp the severity of the situation.
When I finally reached my unconscious dive partner, panic overwhelmed me. Instead of calmly guiding him to the surface, I mistakenly collided with the cavern ceiling, further heightening my anxiety. Upon reaching open water, my immediate reaction was to shake my buddy and repeatedly yell at him to breathe—a response driven by panic rather than proper training.
Fortunately, after nearly a minute, my dive partner regained consciousness on his own and was unharmed.
Reflecting on this experience, I recognized my critical error: allowing panic to override my training and causing me to forget standard recovery techniques. Although I correctly protected my buddy’s airway, preventing potential water inhalation, I failed to execute critical steps taught in basic freediving courses. These include laying the diver flat, removing their mask, and performing the "Blow, Tap, Talk" method to stimulate consciousness.
Moreover, I realized my panicked response—particularly handling my buddy's face with wet hands—inadvertently signaled his unconscious brain that he was still underwater, delaying his recovery.
1. Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast: I learned the importance of remaining calm and methodical during emergencies. Although pausing to recall the rescue checklist might seem counterintuitive in a crisis, it significantly enhances the effectiveness of the response.
2. Regular Practice: Regularly practicing rescue procedures with my dive partners has since become a priority. Making these responses second nature helps prevent critical mistakes when adrenaline spikes.
3. Avoid Dangerous Environments: I now understand the heightened risks of diving in caverns or caves, especially for inexperienced divers. These environments significantly complicate rescue efforts and timely detection of emergencies.
Sharing my story serves as a powerful reminder of the critical importance of freediving safety protocols. I believe that openly discussing these experiences helps foster safer practices within the freediving community. Preparation, ongoing training, and maintaining calmness under pressure remain our best defenses underwater. Stay safe and dive responsibly.