CESA over Shared Air Ascent: Which is Best

[Tigerman]

Most definetly sharing air.
CESA is a controlled EMERGENCY swimming ascent and running out of gas is no immediate emergency. It will become one if there is no optional air source, but if you have a buddy and can share air, youre still safe. If the airshare fails however, youre getting close to an emergency. You shouldnt try TOO long to get him to give you some air before doing a CESA either..

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think a lot of y'all are confusing air sharing ... which is one air source and two second stages that both divers use concurrently ... with buddy breathing ... which is one air source and one second stage that both divers alternate breathing from.

Those are two very different skills ... and the latter requires much more practice to do properly than the former.

FWIW - most recreational agencies don't even teach buddy breathing anymore till you reach about divemaster level ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

One thing that 29 and I were talking about earlier is one genius instructor mentioned he would rather have his students do a cesa before sharing air. Maybe he's confused about what's sharing air and what's buddy breathing, but, he's a genius so........

 

[captain]

One of the things I believe is missed in this discussion is the comfort in the water gained from knowing how to do an CSEA. It may not be the divers first choise in an OOA situation but knowing that being able to do a CSEA is something that adds a degree of confidence that could prevent a rather simple problem from developing into a full blow panic.

 

[BTravlin]

As outlined, I say go with the air sharing. CESA is always available if that doesn't work out.

 

[ReefHound]

All things equal I would choose air sharing over CESA. We can all contrive situations where CESA is the better option but to compare apples to apples we must assume both options are equally available. If you're buddy is 100 feet away and fascinated with a moray eel then head up on your own. Situations vary but a general question like this calls for a general rule of thumb answer, understanding there can be exceptions based on circumstances.

The problem with a CESA is that there's no suspend or abort option. It's not just about a safety stop but what if there is overhead boat traffic? If you hear the whines of boat engines you can't just stop at 15 feet and wait for them to fade away or deploy a marker, as you can with a shared air ascent.

PADI puts a CESA as a higher option than buddy breathing but the instructors at my shop refuse to count it wrong if a student puts CESA second to last (buoyant ascent being last) on the OW final exam. Buddy breathing adds task loading which can be problematic with a stressed OOA diver but that's why the donor must control the situation. He can slow or pause the ascent as needed. Being less stressed he can probably leave the reg in the OOA diver's mouth 80% of the time.

 

[Adobo]

Why do people keep bringing up buddy breathing? The question as it stands now is about CESA vs. sharing gas with a good buddy in an out of gas scenario.

 

[ReefHound]

Maybe because buddy breathing is one method of sharing air?

 

[Adobo]

Maybe because buddy breathing is one method of sharing air?

Interesting.

So you consider good buddy diving to include diving with buddies who are only equipped with one second stage?

 

[24940]

One of the things I believe is missed in this discussion is the comfort in the water gained from knowing how to do an CSEA.

There's a reason that element is missing from this thread: It's off topic.

Since it is here,now......Are you sure you have that right? My ability to CESA successfully from reasonably deep depths was more the result of my comfort in the environment. My comfort developed first, not my ability to CESA. Granted, shallower CESA led to comfort with the deeper executions, but the entire process is something like snake charming. Do it enough and you will get bit. Time and effort would be far better spent developing truly good buddy skills and procedures that don't compromise your safety.


On the (off)topic of PADI and the priority they place on CESA over buddy breathing...

Is buddy breathing taught and evaluated for OW?

I'm betting that skill will just fade away in the not so distant future. I'm not saying that is good, but I don't think it fits well with current trends in OW instruction. I could see why they would place CESA over buddy breathing(two divers, one reg), as buddy breathing requires composure, timing and comfort compared to sharing air via secondary.