Superstitions, Rituals and Talismans

[inverted_bear]

Last time I got my tanks hydroed/VIPed I marked them beforehand as to where the cam band was and where the lower clip was. I realized I might have to adjust the lower clip to allow for the valves not being reinserted to the same orientation. What I did NOT notice was the L/R valves had been reversed, so my left hose-clamp and clip were now on the right tank, and vice versa. This meant the handles were facing the wrong way if the regs were on as I usually put them on, or the regs were facing the other way if the handles were right. As usual, we got to Ginnie kind of delayed after a 12h drive, and rigged everything quickly and got in the water. In the water, I realized the problem, so got out and fixed it while my buddy went off and did a shore dive on his own. So, I called my dive.

My question is, how many errors did I have so I can compare to the magic three? Was it (a) one error, i.e. the valves reversed, or (b) two errors, since both valves were reversed, or (c) or four errors since I did not notice the problem on either side, or (d) five errors because I got in the water with everything screwed up, or even (e) six errors because I was at Ginnie on a 3-day weekend?

The rule of threes is stupid. If you get the bad feeling in your gut, call the dive.

[PfcAJ]

government funded study????

I have always heard the rule of 3s, and have to say there is some sound advice there. Many accidents are a compounding of issues, and each issue causes distraction and loss of focus. If there is some hypothetical limit to the number of issues that occur,then perhaps it stops a continuation of a dive, where more compounding issues could prove fatal.

I just fix whatever the problem is and carry on with my life.

Scuba trinkets break sometimes. No big deal. Fix it or grab a spare.

[FW]

...Talismans? Well I have thought about trying to get a lock of Forrest's beard to carry in my drysuit pocket, but that may be a little creepy.

Hey, it has always worked for me.

[Squirrel Girl]

I had one dive, in particular, where MANY things went wrong while kitting up. Then I had a BEAUTIFUL dive. Super nice.

The only time I've had a series of clusters, I was already at the entrance on the way out.

I can't think of anything I'm superstition about. Hell, I even dove Ron Simmon's tanks. What did that guy call them?
And Ian Rolland's rebreather. I'm still alive to tell the tale.

I try and be logical and not stupid. That's about it.

[Kelly Jessop]

Scuba trinkets break sometimes. No big deal. Fix it or grab a spare.

The most important scuba trinket is a mixture of white and grey matter that is encased in the cranium. When someone is very distracted and has lost focus then accidents can and will happen. For example, incidents where people have breathed off the wrong gas mix because they are dealing with multiple problems that have occurred. Wet rocks, are wet rocks and will be there tomorrow. If enough has gone wrong, eg 3 things, then perhaps enough mental acuity has been lost to facilitate an incident.

[PfcAJ]

The most important scuba trinket is a mixture of white and grey matter that is encased in the cranium. When someone is very distracted and has lost focus then accidents can and will happen. For example, incidents where people have breathed off the wrong gas mix because they are dealing with multiple problems that have occurred. Wet rocks, are wet rocks and will be there tomorrow. If enough has gone wrong, eg 3 things, then perhaps enough mental acuity has been lost to facilitate an incident.

But not two or one.

I think it's bad practice to suggest some sort of a threshold based on an abritraty number. One failure might be enough for some people, but this teaching of three (which I've heard a bajillion times) can instill confidence (or doubt) where it shouldn't be.

[MichaelAngelo]

you don't need Superstitions Rituals or Talismans when you hear voices

[CHartmann]

The more things that I notice have gone wrong on the surface, the fewer things I will have go wrong in the water since I will have already addressed the issues. If I have more than a few things that I catch it might make me slow down and go through everything again to be sure I am all set so in a way- if 3 things go wrong, I might be safer than if "nothing" went wrong (until I was in the water).

I have had days where I woke up at the ass crack of dawn and was half asleep when packing my kit. When I get to the dive site I could call either call it for having multiple issues or I can say "wow, what was I thinking?" and address the problems as they arise and use the event as a reminder to slow down and double check everything.

One thing I do is meditate while waiting on my buddy. Breath in for 3 seconds and out for 8. Repeat and think of nothing but the cool air as it comes in and the warm air as it exits. This relieves stress so I don't strangle my buddy when he tells me he forgot something in the car and needs me to doff my gear to get the key for him and it lowers my sac rate. Win-win.

[patpicos]

some of my best dives have been the ones i was tempted to call on the way to the dive site. Then as i surfaced, i think to myself, damn didnt i ever need this.

then other days, I wake up at 4PM and think, hey we are late to go scooter little river...then realize i am still drunk and pass out again..

[kensuf]

I text Ted and Travis while I'm at the Racetrack taking care of business.