DM (PADI) Equipment swap with buddy breathing

[scarefaceDM]

Tired diver/unconscious diver tow is a speed event. Consider it as such. Fastest to shore wins sort of.

...for the diver tow...try not to use open heal fins and booties. Switch to the closed heel fin. These are lighter and work way better for speed . Since this is a TIMED event. I went from a 3 the first time to a 5 the second go around because I switched fins. they worked for me. I was the more athletic dude in my class.so had to set a good example to follow..... Mind you I was wiped out after that tow.

And use a lighter buddy. Work together and tell your buddy to tighten up so as to create less drag.

And at each turn - really muscle your turn and do not be afraid to shove your buddy around. and yank them into position. Makes sure he /she has a reg in there mouth...that muscled turn may cause them to swallow some pool water...

And this is to be a fun EVENT. So have fun, make it a competition...looser buys beer or whatever.

 

[AndyNZ]

I actually agree with Walter here - if you are having to pre-think through the equipment exchange, you are simply not ready.

Part of the problem with the equipment exchange is that it's become a whole lot more known about thanks to discussion forums like SB. The intent of the equipment exchange is to not give you time to think about it and pre-plan your course of action.

The purpose of the exercise is to see how you identify and resolve unforeseen problems. The emphasis here is on unforeseen.

Personally, I am of the opinion that PADI should remove this exercise from the DM course and instead allow instructors much more flexibility in setting exercises that can be used to gauge reactions and problem solving. I already "don't care" about the equipment exchange - I do it, but it is essentially a rubber stamp exercise. My DMTs have already done other, unexpected activities that have the same purpose.

If you decide to pre-plan the equipment exchange, then you are essentially missing out on a learning opportunity. Remember that the purpose of the DM course isn't just to tick the boxes to get the card - it is to prepare you for situations where you are supervising divers or assisting with divers in training. I would strongly suggest that you enter in to it with virtually no-preparation and see what you learn about yourself as a result of the exercise.

 

[TMHeimer]

We were told in class that day that today we'd do the Equip. Exchange. Then we were given some time at the pool before to plan it. So that's what we did. I'm not sure about the advice to chose a lighter buddy. Our instructor paired the 4 of us up the way she wanted to. Isn't that the way it must usually work? Re the stamina skills--our one and only 25 metre pool is closing for 3 months and I will likely do them all in a 11.6 metre pool. That will be interesting. Figured 65 lengths for the 800 and a whole lot of turns for diver tow. Hope time lost on those turns will be taken into consideration. Would be nice if every place had the tests done in a standard size pool, or everyone in salt water, etc. But that's life.

 

[Jang]

We did our equipment swap with blackout'd masks. We were told to solve our problems. My buddy was revealed to us just prior to the swap. We almost finished the drill and were one mask away from completing when my buddy bolted, leaving me with no idea where my buddy went with the only working tank. We were told to redo the drill and more emphasis was mentioned on solving your problem. Problem = blackout mask with duct tape, Solution = remove duct tape. The rest was a breeze.

 

[Hawkwood]

We did our equipment swap with blackout'd masks. We were told to solve our problems. My buddy was revealed to us just prior to the swap. We almost finished the drill and were one mask away from completing when my buddy bolted, leaving me with no idea where my buddy went with the only working tank. We were told to redo the drill and more emphasis was mentioned on solving your problem. Problem = blackout mask with duct tape, Solution = remove duct tape. The rest was a breeze.

ya gotta love how the big budda thinks!

How are things up north? Thinking at all about Turks and Caicos?

 

[DBailey]

The purpose of the exercise is to see how you identify and resolve unforeseen problems. The emphasis here is on unforeseen.

To be fair, the candidates are supposed to get 5 minutes to plan the exchange, so it isn't completely unforeseen, but I get your point.

 

[DBailey]

Isn't that the way it must usually work?

Depends on the instructor and the number of DMC present. Our dive master program is not a scheduled class. The candidates are responsible for making sure they get all of the skills, exercises, and evaluations completed during the dive season. Tyipcally, there will only be one DMC around at any given time.

 

[iztok]

Just had my exchange today. Took us 8 minutes to complete the task. Stamina tests behind me, equipment exchange is behind me. Now for the rest of the DM class.

 

[SubMariner]

We did our equipment swap with blackout'd masks. We were told to solve our problems. My buddy was revealed to us just prior to the swap. We almost finished the drill and were one mask away from completing when my buddy bolted, leaving me with no idea where my buddy went with the only working tank. We were told to redo the drill and more emphasis was mentioned on solving your problem. Problem = blackout mask with duct tape, Solution = remove duct tape. The rest was a breeze.

Bravo for solving the problem. However, to put this into the right context, by blacking out your masks & forcing you to perform tasks additional to the equipment exchange, the Instructor was violating standards:

Equipment Exchange
In confined water, have divemaster candidates demonstrate the ability to solve unanticipated problems underwater by exchanging all scuba equipment (except exposure suits and weights) with a buddy while sharing a single regulator second stage, earning at least a 3 as described in the evaluation criteria.

Orient candidates to procedures for sharing a single regulator second stage, including exhalation between breaths and not covering the purge button as the regulator is passed back and forth.
Give buddy teams less than five minutes to discuss the exercise. Have candidates begin sharing a single regulator second stage in water too deep in which to stand, exchange equipment and continue sharing air until they reach shallow water.
Equipment

There is nothing in this description about "solving additional problems".

 

[short72]

Hello, just finished my DM equipment exchange and found it to be extremely easy with a three minute rehearsal with my DM candidate buddy. We found out through the exercise to have each other kneel on the right knee with the left leg for support of equipment when talking off BCD. Started off with BCD first supported on our left knee and simply passed it to each other from the knee and put it on. A couple of times we took longer breathing in the regulator as the other put on the BCD. Next we hit the fins one at a time and the other after. The last thing was the the mask and simply had one individual remove and replace quickly while the other had regulator and also put on mask. Relaxed for several rotations of regulator and did a controlled ascent to the shallow end of pool while continuing buddy breathing.

Key points: Do not use weight belt system use intergrated BCD with weight systems (its better anyway) Ensure you take your time, breath, and relax before exchanging masks. Ensure once this is complete again relax before doing the buddy swim.

My DM buddy and I completed this exchange in 3 1/2 minutes and received a five rating for our performance on the task.

Was by far the most challenging, demanding, and fun skill set learned thus far because it makes you think, plan, and execute on the fly with only one air source. Two thumbs up and feel is necessary skill necessary for any certified DM, no matter what certifying agency. By the way I am a PADI DM candidate.

Almost done, two discover scuba internships, one more advanced open water internship, and three more written exams after two months of hard work and dedication. Good luck on your DM endeavors.