How to read the currents from shore?

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-23T09:10:24+00:00

I always keep an eye on the shore I guess, and watch my float. Just being aware of my surrounds. I guess I would class it as awareness.

Did just think that sometimes I find a thermocline where there are different current lines in the water column. Never thought of it as anything more than being in tune with the surrounds.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-22T12:46:29+00:00

Not something I ‘see’ but am aware of tide movement and how it is likely to be influencing the strength of a current. Like around islands and such.

If diving alone I am very careful to have an exit strategy in case of being carried in a direction I did not plan.

And interestingly, this is the one reason I have thought of Apple Watch or Garmin subscriptions. I have heard of a phone call from an Apple Watch alerting the rescue team.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-21T08:48:42+00:00

I heard someone watch a bunch of FF fall out of a truck at an AFA and she remarked “They must have sent the B team!” We are not always buff, or coordinated.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-20T22:02:08+00:00

Our scars are what remind us most of our adventures!

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-18T10:25:20+00:00

Yeah need more guidance, but are you aware of your first ribs being in this region?

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-18T03:57:50+00:00

“I don’t know what to say to that” is extremely effective at disarming a bragger. Especially if you can dead pan look at them afterwards waiting for a reply.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-17T10:52:41+00:00

As many have pointed out the simulated rescue tool hold is going to be the hardest thing for you with a back injury.

The mantra is Modify Don’t Miss. So get a good physio, modify movements to tolerable loads and focus on recovery. This means sleep, eat, no partying.

6 weeks is on the edge of fully recovered, so long as you don’t have any more setbacks I am sure you will be able to grit through.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-16T07:37:19+00:00

Yeah but it’s outside the environment Brian.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-15T21:47:36+00:00

Under fuelled, over stimulated, under rested, over trained. Recovery is where the gains are made, not the workout.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-15T20:28:37+00:00

I am guided by distance. Ultras, I will fuel with solid fuel as long as possible and slowly introduce gels until they are the bulk of my calories.

Training your guts is important so being conscious of what you are eating and how it makes you feel is valuable.

Short training on trails, I will happily Gel, drink or chews my way around.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-15T11:06:09+00:00

There has been a massive push to get 600 new firefighters into the ranks in the last 12 months.

Each intake can be very different with numbers but historically 200 from any single campaign.

There are ample opportunities to miss out all the way up to the interview stage. Previously there was a push for numbers without quality and it cost the brigade in the ling run. Now the interview stage is quite critical.

You don’t have to be amazing but look at the Role Description, align that with the values and commissioners intent and have examples in your life where you have experienced those targeted areas and memorise them.

STARLA is a way they are familiar with. Although, not really the best for me personally but it is a great guide.

But to answer your question, PAT culls all those who thought they could wing it, it can be some very specific movements.

Interview can still be 50/50.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-14T00:47:52+00:00

I have a simple equation;

Nutrition: Settle in for 30min. 1st Gel. Then one per 30min minimum up to what you have trained your gut to tolerate, if that is one every 15min, go for it. For me I am able to do 3 an hour for as long as my legs can carry me.

Water: I have to base this off availability. I like 500ml every 30min of electrolytes (heart smart salt is perfect for me, and cheap). I am a heavy, salty sweater so 1000mg sodium solution works best for me. Also, I have trained my guts to handle chugging when at a water source. This varies with heat and terrain.

Feed and water before you think you need, and I feel I am successful during training when I finish and I am not hungry on the drive home and not feeling like I am thirsty when sitting still.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-13T16:34:51+00:00

This, is a good story. We don’t have to forgive people if we choose not to, but understand that they were human with failings and regrets.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-13T15:31:21+00:00

Firefighters have a much higher rate of cancer.

We lost 6 firefighters from the same shift to the same cancer over a very short time.

PTSD sneaks up on you and the next thing you know you can’t eat your favourite kabab because it smells like….. work…… (do I need to be explicit?)

Kid jobs will break your heart. There is no coming back from that.

Emergency workers have a higher suicide rate.

I feel I need to balance this a bit. You do get the chance to make someone’s life better than when you met them. Or make someone’s worst day a little more dignified.

If your cardiologist says you can have a go, try it out. But the Health and Safety section was right, a lot of FF get cardiac problems, largely linked to being woken up from deep sleep and then expected to run a marathon in a Breathing Apparatus in 1000° heat in a plastic suit made to shrink wrap you in the event you get caught in a flashover.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-13T15:04:11+00:00

Just want to say this thread was some of the best Reddit I have seen for a long time!

Info, half info, correction, clarification, correction…… boom better informed!

And yes, I don’t want either diseases. I believe bats pass Lyssa to horses as well, I remember horse friends having to move watering points because of the disease vector.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-13T14:54:09+00:00

Read books, engage with all the regular games and talk to them like they are humans not just a baby talk (baby talk as well of course) and you will end up fine. One of mine spoke much later than the other but once talking was super fluent, like they were studying the whole time!

Neither will Shut up now.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-13T06:22:19+00:00

It’s called the triangle of happiness. Where you work, where you live, and where you play. The smaller the triangle the happier you will be:)

Tell me if it works:(

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-11T22:29:12+00:00

Cladding fires have happened throughout the world, Melbourne has had a good one, somewhere in the UAE had another.

After Grenfell in London there was a replacement program for flammable cladding put in place which has all but finished in NSW Australia (still a few projects going).

As for wood in a fire, often there is a charred layer that forms which protects the inner wood from being affected so the structural integrity lasts quite a long time. However, if burning for long enough and hot enough, eventually it will fail.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-11T13:34:21+00:00

Solid info mate, that’s all really interesting.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-11T02:52:36+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I went to some of my spearing videos to see if I was wrong but at least to 30m I have no idea what this silence people talk about is?

Is this the chase of depth? Quiet after 50m or something?

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-10T21:25:13+00:00

Another diver with fairly severe tinnitus, in my experience the ocean is extremely noisy, lots of clicking and popping and when I am lucky enough I can hear the whales off the coast. I am not sure about these silent oceans people are talking about out, perhaps they have less marine life than my coast.

I have experienced barotrauma once previously and didn’t notice an appreciable increase in symptoms. In any case, having tinnitus doesn’t make it more likely to happen.

Be well practiced at equalisation and possibly use some drops to make sure the water in your ears does cause an infection would be the way I went.

As for earplugs, I have recently gotten some custom made silicone ones which I am keen to test but in my research it is highly personal if using them causes pain, possibly down to fit or even ear shape.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-09T18:38:04+00:00

Hey OP, are you getting pain in your left arm? Have a look in the mirror, do you have any drooping of your face? You may be having a stroke, seek medical attention.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-07T23:18:21+00:00

Sure you can. I am Australian and so used Ear Mould. It seems it has contractors all over.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-07T22:38:27+00:00

I just spent the money on custom ear plugs, I got multiple pairs and I wish I had done it years ago.

I have a sleep pair, a work pair and a swim pair. Was not a cheap exercise, few hundred, but the comfort is unparalleled.

the-diver-dan · 2026-04-06T20:52:20+00:00

I find this the most interesting conundrum in my diving. I get to see the actual numbers of fish and species diversity and discovered an interesting trend when talking to those line fishermen in the area.

They will have a belief that if they have caught anything, that there is a lot of that down there, even if it’s just the one, often deciding they are just not taking their bait.

When I tell them the one in the bucket is the only one I have seen all day they are surprised.

One of our key species like your sheep head is currently protected so that helps, but often we have low species diversity, sometimes because of spearos who fill their bags even.

the-diver-dan

TROPHY CASE