Underwater Vortex from Hell? Socorro Island Scuba Diving
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2021
- Underwater Vortex from Hell? Socorro Island Scuba Diving
This video was sent to me by a channel viewer for feedback. Divers stuck and struggling in an underwater vortex. If this video is genuine, I’ve never seen a more hellish underwater current pattern. The whole event takes place off the west coast of Mexico, near the island of Socorro, a spectacular dive area featuring every bucket list creature I can think of.
Original video:
Socorro Vortex May 4, 2013 • Socorro Vortex May 4, ...
Videos referenced and used in this video:
Socorro Vortex - Mexico Liveaboard • Socorro Vortex - Mexic...
Scuba Diving The Revillagigedo Islands (Socorro) in Mexico, December - Quino El Guardian • Scuba Diving The Revil...
Safe diving!
Jim
Big Dog, DDT
DiscoveryDiversTokyo.com
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What do you think about his event...Emergency or just video of the vortex with divers inside (non-emergency). Has anyone been to dive this area...incredible!
Was there in May. Didn’t see a vortex at Roca Partida but it doesn’t surprise me. We were told to stay on one side of the rock because otherwise you would just get swept away in minutes. Someone told me before I did it that it wasn’t an advanced dive. Maybe. Maybe not. But it definitely has that potential.
I been guide there and I have seen it and toke away my group from it but 2 divers from the other group got caught and my friend she take them out of there.
Dive site Roca Partida ocean Dive site(oceanic 2 currents meet there)
And the video is true and we use the video to explain what's a vortex how to get out of there's
And the boat I think it was name after that current vortex
I saw it was already stated in the comments, but my guess was also Roca Partida.
We just returned from Socorro, dived the site and we didn’t see this.
In the dive briefing we were told that there can be strong currents present.
So this vortex somewhat makes sense considering it is a pinnacle out in the ocean, it was still blowing my mind seeing this and there was no word about anything like this mentioned by the crew.
The Socorro Vortex ship sank in May 2022. The crew all fell asleep and the ship ran right into the Socorro rock face while traveling at a speed of 16 knots on autopilot. Thankfully there was no loss of life. Everyone made it out on a life raft and had to be rescued by the Mexican Navy. The ship and passenger possessions are a total loss. Just something I thought I'd share after this video inspired me to do some research.
The site is Roca Partida, near to Socorro. We dived it from the Solmar V on 11/5/2013, 7days after this video. The vortex stretched across the rock, rising from about 25 meters or more depth to about 7 meters depth. At that depth, it had run out of force. If you look at when the diver is free, the vortex has lost its strength. But he is still breathing very, very heavily, as he does all the way through the video. His entrapment is genuine, and he is never rationally thinking about his situation, with no obvious attempt to inflate BCD or use strong fin movements.
When I jumped in the vortex was below me, I initially thought it was a trail from a sea scooter. I looked up to my left and saw 2 divers who'd jumped in from the other skiff, 15 minutes before us, twirling around in the current. They had got trapped in the vortex, about 15-20 meters depth, somewhat handicapped by large SLR cameras, and were freed spontaneously at about 7 meters, at which depth it had lost its power. They were pretty shaken back on the liveaboard.
We saw a diver, not very fit, also from the other skiff, caught in the vortex and struggling, about 20 meters. She could not get out. The dive guide swam into the vortex and grabbed her. He went to inflate her BCD, could not find it, it was a Russian BCD, inflation valve down at bottom right. He inflated his BCD fully, and they did not escape. He then finned with ALL his strength, he said he was lucky to be wearing longer, more powerful fins, and he broke free with the other diver. Back on the boat, he was shaken as I've never seen an experienced professional dive guide shaken before. No more diving that day. Check my posting Doonfoto Socorro Vortex. Jeff Horak, a very strong diver, swims into the vortex, video camera all set to go, twirls around and shoots out of it.
Meanwhile, the Solar V video-pro came up pleased as Punch. Way down at 25 meter or more, the Vortex was present but very, very weak. He was pleased to get. video of the weak current trapping 2 puffer fish, then he found out he'd missed the dive of the century.
The peak season for the vortex is May. We returned on 14/5/13 and the vortex was weak and barely visible. So the vortex was possible stronger on 4 May. Socorro Vortex, the upmarket live aboard was named after the current.
Damn thank you so much for the info! I've read about vortexes, but never seen one before. I'd be absolutely TERRIFIED. Glad everyone was okay that day you and the other divers got pulled in.
I believe the dive site is Roca Partida which is West of Socorro. I believe you are correct about the currents and pinnacle. Roca Partida is a Pinnacle about 120; wide. The current is very strong there, and dives take place in the protected eddie formed by the Pinnacle. A vortex often forms at the eddie line.
RC...thanks for the local info! Must have been beautiful. I'm envious. Hope to see your comments more around the channel 👍
From an observer perspective and thinking about helping a diver in this situation, I thought about "hooking" the diver by unrolling my spool with a boltsnap from distance (obviously the boltsnap wouldn't hook by itself, but helps the cable to sink and the diver to grab). Once he/she grabs or gets tangled by the line, I inflate my BCD to get some lift and take them from the vortex.
Good observations, Gabriel. Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍
Interesting channel, I just found it. I'm anticipating learning from it...It seems to me that the oceans below have "their own" environment. Thanks for all of your efforts and collaboration's Sir.
Thanks, B600! Look forward to seeing you around the channel 👍
A stunt within a real phenomenon. No doubt.
Put me in the 'I think it's staged' team. As some other commenters mentioned, their movements, to me, look more like 'look at me I'm stuck ha ha weeee splash' than actual panic. With enough gas and not too deep, it actually does look like fun 😁
I"m with you..thanks for chiming in, Ron!
That vortex, I read in other places, they mentioned to be jut at the beginning of the dive to 25m but it can be as shallow as 10 m
Had some ripping currents at South Tip, Racha Noi Island, in Phuket a couple days ago...but still no Manta 😭
In the San Juan Islands, I often saw vortexes from the surface and wondered what it would be like, as a diver. Are there places where divers have to deal with these?
Agree, it somehow lacks some "urgency" to "get free". Not just from the divers seemingly caught but from the divers around them as well, At some stage as you indicated a guy is getting closer and gets seemingly an ok sign. Not attempting to help - something you would expect from a real diver in a distress situation. I do get it that a diver in distress can panic and forget the seemingly oblivious like to "inflate a BC". But I somehow do not see and hear panic behavior. So there are some serious questions...
Thanks, thought it was just me!
@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo: Definitely not just you.
The more I evaluate this, the more real i see it.
The way the distressed diver was recovered by the safety diver at the end...
Also the knife... I thought abut it for awhile...the Diver, in panic, probably felt tangled, trapped. Taking his knife out was instinct.
I Googles 'Diver caught in vortex' and this was top of the list. I think it's the original: ruclips.net/video/jX7z5A8HPQs/видео.html
I think it's clear this is a genuine and fairly strong vortex, not something I've ever seen underwater, and I'd imagine it's due to current coming around that wall.
Are they just messing about? I don't know, but judging by their body language in the water I'd say they are newbies with only a basic level of skills and experience. If they did go into that thing as a joke I bet they didn't find it funny for long. This looks like a great dive site with a wall to explore and lots of wildlife. They are burning gas at a vast rate. Would you spend all that time messing about, taking a huge chunk out of your dive duration, just to get tumbled? Maybe, but I suspect not. Remember many cheap rental regs don't work that well upside down!
I'll set aside the split fins debate because there is a lot more paddling with the hands than use of the fins, and a few proper strong kicks in any direction at right angles to the axis would likely have got them clear, despite their choice of gear. Again very typical for a disoriented new diver.
A think the shiny object the guy is holding is a selfie stick. I can't construct any chain of decisions which would lead to them holding a knife.
Assistance! Where is the dive leader to get this under control? Newby divers are especially noted for lack of situational awareness so I'm not surprised to see others just hangin in their own little worlds but there should be a responsible adult to get in there and sort it.
Use of the BC? Could work but with their obviously limited skills, combined with disorientation, I can see that changing straight into an uncontrolled ascent.
The OK signal? I've seen new divers run out of air and give an OK signal. He does not look OK. He looks panicked and breathing hard.
Lessons? Well if it was staged - don't! You don't know what you might be getting into and at best you'll shorten the dive for everyone. If they just got caught up in it, as the OP says, swim out a right angles to the roll. Use powerful strokes using the whole leg, not a bicycle motion. If you use your BC, think about it first. The average jacket can easily give you a 40 lb lift and you're going to have to dump that quickly, so be ready. I certainly wouldn't drop weight.
Dive leaders: I know it can be like herding cats but you have to stay close and watch like a hawk, especially newbies.
Interesting to see though and at least we can all now sit and think about what we might do, before it actually happens!
Good grief, Tim, excellent feedback! Ah, yes, that is the same link I have in the description.
I genuinely laughed at “like herding cats” ahhh yes that’s exactly what it’s like now that you mention it lol!
Tim! You da man! Excellent points and thank you for being genuine vs sarcastic… this is such a serious situation! Freaks me out and for someone considering diving here AND a newbie I need to figure this out and what I’d do, or *should* do shall I say!
How to have the frame of mind to stay focused and not get confused would be a chore but if you know ahead of time what is best & safest that would make all the difference. Inflating and having your wits to prevent ascending too fast could be tricky. Swimming perpendicular to a circular motion I’d imagine hella confusing to figure out perhaps. Any words of wisdom?
Ps this is Dans wife, lol
Thank you for your take on this! Inflating your way out seems like a good option. And with the guy flailing the knife, I think it would be hard to help from the outside.
You're right about that!
If you want to help you can get trapped by it too
@@danielheribertozamorarange28 what is the best way to get out of a vortex? I’m sure you can not tell up from down! Close your eyes & Inflate?
It has to be a pointer stick or a lobster tickler…I can’t imagine that diver going in with a sea hunt knife already unsheathed
I think they are beginners, also dude was flopping around with a knife or machete, I’m sure they wanted to help but was scared to, plus that knife flying around
He's clearly not trying to escape the Vortex, and if he was really having a hard time he would signal 4 help (this person obviously did not) and was in all likelihood enjoying it. but take my word for it this person was clearly NOT trying to escape.
maybe his split fins created the vortex🤣
Ya... Looks like they purposefully went into the vortex for the video, then played it up.
Yes, Wes!!!
It's been 3 weeks Jim. Where you at! We miss you lol.
Hey Steve, I hear you. Getting a book ready for print and took a bit of a break...See you real soon.
@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo I saw that on FB. I had no clue it took up that much time!
I wish you the best of luck with that.
@@scubasteveandunderwaterroc3547 Ping me on facebook messenger or email...
@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo message sent.
I got caught in a vortex at Sandy's in Hawaii and was stuck down there so long that I almost drowned. My eyes were wide open but my oxygen levels were so low that I was blind.
OMG...glad you made it out!
What did you try in order to get out? So scary! Glad you’re here to talk about it
@@danquarles9895 Just had to wait it out as my oxygen levels went down so low that my eyes were wide open but I could not see a thing. My will to live was strong though and that is why I am here.
i am pretty sure they are just playing
they just landed this boat on the rocks. total lose
I’m not sure this video is worth broadcasting. People livelihood is dependent on diving that location, which you obviously haven’t been to. Totally hot air. Go scuba diving.😢
Lol it must be a very inexperienced diver because that was a pretty pathetic attempt to get out of that.