Big surprise on the dive.
This is going to be a strange article for me to write. So I will start by saying last Saturday afternoon I met my advanced students at the dive boat around 4 p.m. We were scheduled to make three dives with the last dive being a night dive. We loaded our equipment on the boat then the captain gave us his briefing and we where off to the first dive site, the Red Sea.
The water was a little bumpy but once we got to the site it settled down to 1 foot swells. I want to mention that one of my students was my oldest grandson so he was very excited to go diving with his Opah. I too was excited for him, now both of my grandsons are certified divers. We put our gear on and slipped off the boat into the water.
My grandson and I went last because he has a little trouble clearing his ears. As we descended down the anchor chain he was having trouble getting his left ear cleared so I sent him back up the chain to get on the boat while I went down to be with the rest of the students.
The visibility wasn’t the best it was about 25-30 feet but the water temperature was about 87 degrees and felt great. The wreck was awesome and while the other divers where swimming around I saw the motherland of intact sand dollars on the bottom away from the wreck. They were the size of a saucer. I picked up a couple of them to give to my grandson.
I always swim around the wreck to make sure that everyone is going back to the boat, as I came around the port stern of the wreck and I see one of my students on his knees on the bottom. It was my grandson, he was able to clear both of his ears, when I got to him I noticed he was having trouble clearing his mask. I got his attention and motioned for him to stop because we had to be on our way up to the boat.
I got him started up with one of my dive masters as I stayed for my safety stop. Once I got back on board I went through mask clearing and he said he had a brain fart. I am proud of him because he made it to the bottom and he did not panic.
During our surface interval the boat moved towards inshore to our next site, the Dan Safety Barge for the next two dives. After about an hour we geared up and descended to the wreck. This time I let my grandson dive with one of my dive masters and he really enjoyed it.
Now the surprise: While on the boat waiting for it to get dark I was standing on the stern starboard side of the boat hosing some of the saltwater from my head when all of a sudden a rogue wave hit the boat and I fell into the ladder handrail with my right side of my back and then hit the deck on my left side. I hit the rail very hard but at the time I thought it was good but as the interval my back right shoulder blade muscle started to get real sore and started cramping up bad.
My grandson had a great night dive but I stayed on board. After we got back to the dock we went to my friend’s house for the night and around midnight I ended up in the ER. Fortunately there where no broken bones but one heck of a bruised muscle and ego.
I’m healing up and look forward to another dive with my grandsons. Until next week keep making bubbles.
Russell Miller #59999
