Discussion
Yesterday we had to do some Helicopter escape training, to work offshore in Canadian waters. It involves riding in a 'mock up' helicopter, strapped into your seat with a five point harness, which plunges into the water, spins upside down, and you then have to release your seatbelt and knock out windows and make your escape.
I can handle that, but the thing is we have to use this sort of mini-scuba mouthpiece thing, a small bottle of air.
Simples, people scuba dive all day long, I tell myself.
But it scares the holy bejeezus out of me. I don't know why, as I've done it before several times over the years, but the concept of breathing underwater, strapped into something, has me literally quaking in fear.
To top it off, the first bottle I had to wear was faulty, and wouldn't deliver enough air. I nearly soiled myself (inside this big 'gumby suit' we have to wear that covers you in heavy rubber apart from your face) literally, I could feel my sphincter about to malfunction.
We had a quick test breathe by dipping our head underwater for a moment, then we are strapped into a small 'witches chair' device, which flips us upside down and holds us under, inverted, trying to breath through this mouthpiece thing. Hold Mary Mother of God, the only reason I didn't give up and walk out the door is because I'd lose my job.
Anyway, I didn't die, didn't soil myself and by the time we moved onto the big helicopter underwater rig I had calmed down enough to actually enjoy myself a little.
The thing is, I go through this every time I do it, which is every few years. I know I'm not going to die, but this red hot panic feeling that crawls under my skin and pours ice cold water down my spine is pretty awful. is this a phobia, or just a normal sensation?
Seriously, I don't ever recall feeling this sort of fear at any other time in my life.
If ever I was threatened with 'water-boarding' torture I'd be singing like a bird before they even turned the tap on.
A bit like this video, but with eight of us inside.
http://youtu.be/1ikn3_xsbSc
I can handle that, but the thing is we have to use this sort of mini-scuba mouthpiece thing, a small bottle of air.
Simples, people scuba dive all day long, I tell myself.
But it scares the holy bejeezus out of me. I don't know why, as I've done it before several times over the years, but the concept of breathing underwater, strapped into something, has me literally quaking in fear.
To top it off, the first bottle I had to wear was faulty, and wouldn't deliver enough air. I nearly soiled myself (inside this big 'gumby suit' we have to wear that covers you in heavy rubber apart from your face) literally, I could feel my sphincter about to malfunction.
We had a quick test breathe by dipping our head underwater for a moment, then we are strapped into a small 'witches chair' device, which flips us upside down and holds us under, inverted, trying to breath through this mouthpiece thing. Hold Mary Mother of God, the only reason I didn't give up and walk out the door is because I'd lose my job.
Anyway, I didn't die, didn't soil myself and by the time we moved onto the big helicopter underwater rig I had calmed down enough to actually enjoy myself a little.
The thing is, I go through this every time I do it, which is every few years. I know I'm not going to die, but this red hot panic feeling that crawls under my skin and pours ice cold water down my spine is pretty awful. is this a phobia, or just a normal sensation?
Seriously, I don't ever recall feeling this sort of fear at any other time in my life.
If ever I was threatened with 'water-boarding' torture I'd be singing like a bird before they even turned the tap on.
A bit like this video, but with eight of us inside.
http://youtu.be/1ikn3_xsbSc
Done the HUET lots of times and it's actually much easier with the rebreather once you get your head round the idea.
Last time I did the course, it had gone all "touchy-feely, caring & sharing" with the instructors giving the less confident types lots of time to practice and acclimatise to the equipment unlike in the early 80's when it was a bit like the SBS selection course
Last time I did the course, it had gone all "touchy-feely, caring & sharing" with the instructors giving the less confident types lots of time to practice and acclimatise to the equipment unlike in the early 80's when it was a bit like the SBS selection course
King Herald said:
Yesterday we had to do some Helicopter escape training, to work offshore in Canadian waters. It involves riding in a 'mock up' helicopter, strapped into your seat with a five point harness, which plunges into the water, spins upside down, and you then have to release your seatbelt and knock out windows and make your escape.
I can handle that, but the thing is we have to use this sort of mini-scuba mouthpiece thing, a small bottle of air.
Simples, people scuba dive all day long, I tell myself.
But it scares the holy bejeezus out of me. I don't know why, as I've done it before several times over the years, but the concept of breathing underwater, strapped into something, has me literally quaking in fear.
To top it off, the first bottle I had to wear was faulty, and wouldn't deliver enough air. I nearly soiled myself (inside this big 'gumby suit' we have to wear that covers you in heavy rubber apart from your face) literally, I could feel my sphincter about to malfunction.
We had a quick test breathe by dipping our head underwater for a moment, then we are strapped into a small 'witches chair' device, which flips us upside down and holds us under, inverted, trying to breath through this mouthpiece thing. Hold Mary Mother of God, the only reason I didn't give up and walk out the door is because I'd lose my job.
Anyway, I didn't die, didn't soil myself and by the time we moved onto the big helicopter underwater rig I had calmed down enough to actually enjoy myself a little.
The thing is, I go through this every time I do it, which is every few years. I know I'm not going to die, but this red hot panic feeling that crawls under my skin and pours ice cold water down my spine is pretty awful. is this a phobia, or just a normal sensation?
Seriously, I don't ever recall feeling this sort of fear at any other time in my life.
If ever I was threatened with 'water-boarding' torture I'd be singing like a bird before they even turned the tap on.
A bit like this video, but with eight of us inside.
http://youtu.be/1ikn3_xsbSc
Not seen any of your posts on here for a while KH, I trust all is well.I can handle that, but the thing is we have to use this sort of mini-scuba mouthpiece thing, a small bottle of air.
Simples, people scuba dive all day long, I tell myself.
But it scares the holy bejeezus out of me. I don't know why, as I've done it before several times over the years, but the concept of breathing underwater, strapped into something, has me literally quaking in fear.
To top it off, the first bottle I had to wear was faulty, and wouldn't deliver enough air. I nearly soiled myself (inside this big 'gumby suit' we have to wear that covers you in heavy rubber apart from your face) literally, I could feel my sphincter about to malfunction.
We had a quick test breathe by dipping our head underwater for a moment, then we are strapped into a small 'witches chair' device, which flips us upside down and holds us under, inverted, trying to breath through this mouthpiece thing. Hold Mary Mother of God, the only reason I didn't give up and walk out the door is because I'd lose my job.
Anyway, I didn't die, didn't soil myself and by the time we moved onto the big helicopter underwater rig I had calmed down enough to actually enjoy myself a little.
The thing is, I go through this every time I do it, which is every few years. I know I'm not going to die, but this red hot panic feeling that crawls under my skin and pours ice cold water down my spine is pretty awful. is this a phobia, or just a normal sensation?
Seriously, I don't ever recall feeling this sort of fear at any other time in my life.
If ever I was threatened with 'water-boarding' torture I'd be singing like a bird before they even turned the tap on.
A bit like this video, but with eight of us inside.
http://youtu.be/1ikn3_xsbSc
TheHeretic said:
Du1point8 said:
I sometimes wonder how my father does this (knocking 60 this year) so he can go on the rigs, but refuses to do something like scuba diving with me.
He cannot stand the sight of you, which is why he leaves for the rigs, and refuses to go swimming with you.HTH
Still does it now, but bit more company man rather than roughneck now.
roadman said:
out of interest what do you do for work? becuase it sounds freaking awesome.....would love to do that
pick any job on the rigs and you too can play the part of escape from the helicopter game...If you want to read more of the kind of s
t that used to go on, get Paul Carters books:'Dont tell my mother I work on the rigs, she thinks Im a piano player in a w
e house'there are a few more that he wrote.
TheHeretic said:
Du1point8 said:
Its ok... I figured that when he spent 6 months of the year away in places like lagos in the 80s/90s rather than be at home with me...
Still does it now, but bit more company man rather than roughneck now.
I worked in Nigeria for a while. Lovely place. Still does it now, but bit more company man rather than roughneck now.
Hes settled down now and is usually found in one of the following countries:
Cameroon
Congo
Gabon
Tanzania
Kenya
Mostly at the moment he is drilling in a volcano in Kenya, what they expect to find in the volcano that resembles oil is something only the seismologist can answer, assuming he was not off his rocker when they persuaded the company to drill there.
TheHeretic said:
I've been to Gabon. Used to fly into Port Gentil and head out there. Massive logging operation in the bay there.
Yep... thats what I have been told...The old man is the multilateral drilling when hes on-site, I never did get in the industry as he told me the oil would run out and stop wasting my time.
A few years ago, a client wanted me to visit some rigs as part of a big assignment (I'm a consultant specializing in behavioral change.)Of course I said yes, important client and all that.
But when I read about the training I had to go through first, and specifically the inverted helicopter plunge thing, I had to say no. Client not impressed, never walked away from an mportant assignment before, but it was the very definition of horror as far as I was concerned....
But when I read about the training I had to go through first, and specifically the inverted helicopter plunge thing, I had to say no. Client not impressed, never walked away from an mportant assignment before, but it was the very definition of horror as far as I was concerned....
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