Capsize training for the nightmare scenario

“People do get both panicked and confused”, said Andy Hamblen of Southampton UK based diving contractors Andark, and this includes even fairly experienced crew. “By their nature these are not situations you encounter every day, so training gives people a much better chance of getting out in one piece.”

Most crew eventually come up against situations that push the boundaries of their competency, but of all that can go wrong, capsizing is probably one of the most scary. It’s easy to get disconcerted if a boat goes belly up, and if you don’t make it outside, you can be caught in truly terrifying conditions. The problem is that the answers are often counter-intuitive. “However tempting it is, you usually won’t get anywhere just by pushing upward”, said Mr Hamblen.

The Andark training capsule is a box set up very much like a cabin, complete with seats and windows which can turn over into a pool, mimicking a capsize. The first phase of training tilts the capsule through 45°, putting the face of the windows under the water. The second phase inverts it entirely.

“We get people to look for the light, as windows are set up to be escape hatches. Even if it’s dark outside you do often have some contrast to help you see where they are.”

The next move might also go against the grain. “If you are strapped in, it’s much better to release the window before you get out of your seatbelt if you have one, as it helps you get some traction. Further, the water inside is often churning like a washing machine, and on top of this the window won’t open until the pressure has equalised, so you have to wait. This delay is usually no more than seconds, but it is still enough time for people to panic”, continued Mr Hamblen.

Then of course you have to swim not directly up, but down through it, in order to get out. Of course, the very last thing you do is inflate your lifejacket, as this would stop you making headway.