Thread: 2 embolisms
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Old 09-23-2015, 09:10 PM   #1
Mobile Diver
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Location: Key West, FL
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2 embolisms

A Tale of 2 Embolisms. A friend & I suffered Arterial Gas Embolisms (AGE) almost exactly a year apart, on very similar dives, on the same boat, in almost the exact same location, while we were diving together. Both dives:
1) @185fsw
2) Back gas was air
3) Short bottom times because the anchor was dragging
4) No computer violations
5) Onset of symptoms within 3-4 minutes
6) Paralyzed on 1 side – his left, my right
7) Fully resolved on surface O2 within 30 minutes
8) We both walked up on the dock when we got back
9) Both took a level 1 chamber ride as a precaution
10) Both have resumed diving with no aftereffects
A few differences:
1) My dive had 3-4 minutes bottom time; his was a true bounce dive
2) My ascent was slower due to the amount of scope on the anchor
3) I switched to 50% O2 @ 70fsw even though I didn’t need to as I wasn’t sure I could use the O2 hang reg because of the current. I was able to use it so I had quite a bit safety margin.
Posted for information purposes only. Informed, thoughtful comments are welcome.
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