Helo Dunker

Underwater Disney World. Easily the most fun you can have while being drowned. That was my Friday.

When helicopters go down, the world becomes a mess for those inside. The aircraft quickly inverts, and it falls to the ocean floor with great haste. We can't change those facts, but we can prepare for them. Hence the training.

Through progressive steps, the swimmers prepared us for various exit procedures from helicopters. Operate these door handles, some don't work. Find a reference point. Use your hands (not your eyes) to guide yourself towards the exit. It's a great bit of fun, but scary too - knowing that so many have been through this training and needed to use it.

It culminated in the full-on dunker. They have a simulated helicopter on a cable. Six of us climbed in, strapped in. Then, they made the water more than a distant friend. Within seconds, we were upside-down, under water, in relative darkness. Let those straps go. Hand over hand, and exit that sucker. Live to fight another day.

I enjoyed it lots, and the thing definitely made me more comfortable with helicopters. Still not my first pick, but they have some perks.