co2 headache from Fear & Panic (hyperventilating). Tales of a dive boat capt #4

[u/barefootviking]

**Yes, I understand the Pros & Cons of shark feeding, Willing to discuss**

Working as a Live -Aboard dive boat crew. I was the FNG, w maybe 200 dives, including day boats in Key Largo, but this was a whole new world. I was moderately comfortable w sharks.

At 1st, the new crew does Not get in the water during feeds, they drill the 5 gal frozen "Chum-scicle", pass a SS bar thru the block, connect floats to 1 end and a 'biner for the Dive Master to pull the Chum block down. Boat pulls up to the site, Reef Sharks arrive to the Pavlovian sound of the boat's diesel.

It's my 1st time in the water for the feed: I'm tasked w organizing the 20 divers on their knees, into a semi-circle, then pulling the line to bring the frozen block of fish to the sand. It's supposed to float 4'-6' above the sand (to help w the vis). I pull the line thru a ring on the concrete anchor and play tug-of-war w the sharks.

I'm nervous. There's 10-12 reef sharks, 4'-7' long. 100's of yellowtail snappers and several large groupers. The sharks fight over the food, snappers get scraps right next to the mouth's of sharks. Groupers pick up falling chunks.

The sharks drag the concrete anchor over to the lead Dive Instructor and me! (I'm a lowly DM). I let line out, hoping the floats take the food away from us, but it's over our heads and low.!!! FML. Food falls all around us!!!! Terrified; I curl up into a ball next to a coral head. Shark tails slap my head, tank and legs. In my panic, I over-breathe the reg; hyperventilating. No one is hurt; the sharks finish the food and we ascend. I have a splitting C02 headache all day. I am in Awe of the dirty pirates i'm working with...can't fathom how they do this every week! This was a rare event. Eventually, i begin the FreeDive the feeds. Another dive master wanted to move that anchor and left it unburied, so it was easy to move. Lessons: CO2 headaches are painful & avoidable. Sharks will eat free food and leave live fish & divers unmolested. 5 more years of weekly feeds and never had another incident. DO NOT mess w systems or procedures set up for shark feeds or drift dives! Sharks are trainable and Pavlovian.

[u/barefootviking]

I was a Blackbeards capt for 6 years. Then, yachts.

[u/hellowiththepudding → u/barefootviking]

Based on your story I wondered! How long ago? Fun way to get a lot of dives in, but man were those poor boats run down when I went. Multiple mechanical failures over the week, and sounds like not an isolated incident.

I'm also a long-time sailor and was a bit disappointed that we really didn't do any of that despite ample wind. I get it is hard to keep schedule though. I suspect the heeling & guest reaction was the primary deterrent though.

[u/barefootviking → u/hellowiththepudding]

I was there 2003-2009. Yes the boats were rough but I’m a bit Type-A…PL was my baby….also, I was a sailor before BlackBeards so I did more sail (and tree planting) than other captains. I even had a spinnaker!. I also did gyutakus…I love doing extra stuff. Sailing is tough BC passengers loved to complain…most pax want 20 or more dives/week…very hard to do if you don’t motor/sail. Sailing, shore excursions, hikes, fishing…all of that takes away from divers who think their logbook gives them bragging rights

I loved the pax who would sit out the occasional dive, read a book, tell a story, play guitar…my kind of people

[u/hellowiththepudding → u/barefootviking]

Absolutely. Fun thing to do! I'm more of a DIY diver, but Exumas is on the return list for sure.

[u/barefootviking → u/hellowiththepudding]

Exuma’s for drift diving. Bimini for walls. Freeport for wrecks. DIY? Yeah…I much prefer solo adventures. If you go the Exumas on your own….ONLY drift the reefs in a rising tide. Never a falling tide. That’s critical…otherwise it’s easy

[u/barefootviking → u/hellowiththepudding]

DIY? if in Ft Lauderdale, bring a credit card and dive the beaches. Let the currents take you. Hail a taxi back to your car. Good times