What do you think about the one who lived?

[piikki]

So reading Trace’s http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/technical-diving-specialties/320745-what-if.html thread .. What would be your first judgment if you heard someone left their buddy to die and got our themselves? Briefly:


You hear that two divers made a dive into overhead environment. From the short accident report you read that they went in as a buddy team but at one point they got into bad trouble, and finally one diver ran out of gas. Only one diver made it out.

The report says the surviving diver had barely a measurable amount of gas left on him when he surfaced. The survivor says he had decided that he could not save his buddy, and had left him to drown at the last moment he still thought he could make it out himself.


What do you think about the one who lived?

 

[deepstops]

No sense in two people dying.

 

[LiteHedded]

accidents lately are tending to be solo divers. but when there's a buddy involved I guess it depends on the specific circumstances.

 

[mafiajoe]

Given the scenario you described he made the right choice.Anyway,even in different circumstances I certainly wouldn't condemn him or treat him as a pariah.I'd rather feel sorry for him.

 

[DarkCoffee]

Unfair question. You can also ask: What do you think of a buddy who places his buddy in the position of having to make such a choice.

Ultimately, we all dive alone. If I get in a jackpot, I want to go alone, not take someone with me.

 

[rjack321]

None of the above. Has not happened as postulated in recent memory (last decade). There are bigger fish to fry on why people are dying (its not due to having only enough open circuit gas for one diver to exit).

 

[ajduplessis]

It's all about circumstances! At the end of the day there is nothoing you can do if it is to late. Must be awefull to see a diver not make it.

 

[jphelps9196]

It's important to also consider this from the victim's POV (which, admittedly, sucks :depressed.

There was a very thought provoking thread that I came upon shortly after joining ScubaBoard titled "If I should die while diving."

After much consideration I decided that I agreed with the sentiments expressed, and as such have left my family instructions as to my desires should the worst occur whole diving (excerpts below. Text was borrowed heavily from the original poster, Uncle Pug, with permission):

"Please understand, as I already do, that [the accident] will most likely involve fault on my part to some degree or another ...

... Some of the fault may belong to my buddy and that needs to be honestly assessed as well, though I must admit this is one area where I hope that compassion will be in the mix. I specifically ask that you not sue my dive buddy or his/her survivors ...

... Gross negligence should not be exempt from law suits."​

In my mind, the scenario outlined in the "What if" thread does not constitute gross negligence by anyone other than myself.

I certainly hope that I'm never involved in this scenario (from either POV). That said, if it's a choice between you and me, and I've got the gas... I'm going home to my wife and daughter.

 

[mdb]

Well, since none of us will really know until the moment occurs, it is all conjecture. I hope I would not judge someone who made it out solo not really knowing the actual circumstances.

I do believe that Trace's "What if...?" post is a valuable exercise for thinking about would you might/could/should do in the event that the moment does befall you.

I have learned from the original thread, particularly from those such as Andy from NZ who have actually had to make such decisions.

 

[Blackwood]

An interesting followup question would be:

"would dive with the one who lived?"