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RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] escape from sub





Hi Frank,
 
I just remembered that the account Kittredge gave in his book of him exiting a sub off Hawaii in about 128 feet of water, with no decompression stops and him not mentioning breaking his ear drums and being fully functional after he surfaced going so fast he breached the water up to his knees.  He then proceeded to tell the crew of that sub that they could also do an escape at depth, but at a lesser depth.  If he had broken his ear drums I would think he would not be staying around to manage all but a few of the crew to do escape training.  You can compress up at a pretty good rate while controlling the water flow valve and keep clearing your ears with out braking your ear drums according to the hyperbarisist and diving instructors I've spoken with, and still not absorb to much nitrogen for a free accent from some depths.
 
One of the mixed gases I was told would be better to breath while your compressing up and ascending. I'll have to find where I put that data. 

Regards,

Szybowski



 

From: alanjames@xtra.co.nz
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] escape from sub
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:14:29 +1200

Thanks Frank,
Sounds fun.
Just found this diver air consumption calculator. http://www.ukdivers.net/science/aircalc.htm
On an average consumption of 25 litres/minute that 40 cu. ft. tank would last 5 minutes at 210 ft.
Alan.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] escape from sub

Hi Alan. We have discussed this in the past, and we even had a simulator at the convention three years ago, although it never made it into the water. ( too cold )
We have some very experienced guys that will have something to say on this, but here's what I remember from the past discussions.
People usually die when trying to exit a sub. Practice and a LOT of good luck may help.
Scuba tanks ready to go need to be on hand inside and used during the flood stage. It's going to hurt and you will break your ear drums if you're lucky.
The air pocket in the sub must be released through a valve at the top, or the hatch will "BLOW" open when pressure is equalized. Stay away from the hatch when you open it.
Have a light ( or two ) because it's going to be dark, cold, and scary.
Use scuba tanks large enough to supply the air volume for filling the sub, blowing the hatch, fumbling around in the dark, waiting for the guy ahead to get out, decompression stop on the way up, and some extra. The tank needs to be small enough to get through the hatch with you. I'm looking at the 40 cu. ft. ones as they are narrow and long, with a harness that mounts them to your chest for getting through the hatch, and an inflatable "horse collar" when you get to the surface to keep your face out of the water. You'll most likely be unconscious by then.
Those little "spare air" things are worthless. You might get two breaths out of one.
Doesn't sound like much fun, but MAYBE you live.
Frank D.