50 feet down, the helo lies canted on a reef shelf.
the chief props up the co-pilot's head. gulps air. ducks underwater to grope through wreckage. only now do we see that "questionable leg" he was talking about: it's snapped at mid-calf, blood rivering out.
again the chief goes below water. he finds a small breach in the fuselage.  sticks the flare launcher through.  and pulls the trigger.
reaching the downed helo, mccool and cortez wedge their oars under the fuselage and leverage hard until.
mccool's air craps out. he abandons his oar and swims for the surface. that leaves only.
cortez's air goes dead. he gives it three more seconds, eyes riveted on the underside of the helo, knowing they have to come out.  right.  fucking.  absolutely.