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Dive Logs for Vance Stevens PADI open water scuba instructor #64181 Dives 517 October 16, 2003 Abu Dhabi: Ras Gurab (spot zero on my GPS)

Diving with: ADHFC
Dive buddies: Assya and Karim
Others in dive party: just the three of us
Conditions: -
Visibility: -
Wetsuit: -
Weight: -
Diving from: Ashraf driving the sheikh's boat

October 16, 2003

My 517th Logged Dive since 1991

Dive site: -
Training conducted: none, fun dive with Bobbi, Dusty

Interval on computer from previous dive: new
Pressure group in, from tables or wheel: n/a

Time down on dive computer: 9:47
Max depth: 5.0 meters
Time started up from chart: 74 min including a few minutes spent at surface
Dive time from computer: 73 min
Min Temp: degrees 28 centigrade
No-stop time left on computer: 99 min
Nitrox 21% (normal air), no deco

And then, Assya's Emergency Swimming Ascent exercise after a 7 minute interval

Time down on dive computer: 11:18
Max depth: 4.7 meters
Time started up from chart: 2 min
Dive time from computer: 2 min
Min Temp: degrees 29 centigrade
No-stop time left on computer: 99 min
Nitrox 21% (normal air), no deco

image here

Description of dive:

This was Assya's second training dive and Karim's first for pleasure since certification. I thought it might be a good idea if both divers practiced some navigation so I explained how I would navigate the site, gave them both compasses, and invited them to imitate me. I started south over a bommie and found a sandy area on the other side. I marked some spots there and did a little compass and 2nd dive work in that area and then I took them north back to the other side of the bommie, found a pipe I'd marked in the sand, and looked around for the anchor. I didn't see it but didn't give it much thought.

This time I headed east around the bommie and as we turned west came to the spot where we'd practiced before. We played around the area again and then proceeded west till it seemed that to go north took us alongside an interesting point on the bommie. On the far side we turned east again and we passed near where I had marked spots near where we should find the anchor. This time I went looking for the anchor but again didn't find it.

We swam too far in search of the boat and when we surfaced, saw it was way to the south of us. So we took a bearing and I encouraged Karim to lead us there. He glommed on the course and soon went out of sight of Assya and I, a common mistake of beginning divers. There wasn't much to do for it but let him go, and Assya and I held course and eventually came on Karim waiting for us where he'd noticed us missing. We continued until I came to where I thought I recognized the bommie and as we passed over it and still no boat, I signalled we should surface.

We then figured out what the problem was. Ashraf had pulled the anchor and the boat had drifted and no wonder we hadn't been able to find it. No telling why he did that. I had him throw the anchor back in so that Assya and I could practice an ESA but it was in too shallow water now to a really effective practice.

Assya completed all her skills except the u/w compass and removal of tank and weights at the surface.

Pressure group out, from tables or wheel: -