S Drill Etiquette

[spectrum]

OK I'll begin to confess that in my world we don't make S drills nearly as often as some consider essential, but I'm looking to change that. (S drill = Air share drill)

I also don't subscribe to the bungee'd alternate, donate the primary configuration but dive with some that do.

So to those of you doing frequent S drills how do you handle a situation where you simply don't want the primary that just came out of someone's mouth?

1) never mind it getting rinsed between their mouth and yours

2) never mind the open water contaminants that any alternate is exposed to

The same question applies to not wanting to have to take a primary back from someone else.

Thoughts?

Pete

 

[fdog]

...do a Mod-S only?

There's enough going on with a full S-drill, that to make it work you kinda have to take it and breathe it. And not breathing the donated reg burns in the wrong behavior, anyway.

Suffice to say, if someone really needs gas, and won't take the primary I donate, they're gonna die.


All the best, James

 

[Jax]

Train as you will fight . . . says the military.

Train as you will live -- you're out of air, bud. Get over the modified c***.

(yes, I don't have many dives, but a whole load of years training people for stressful environments.)

 

[Wookie]

I like to be self-sufficient. I'll donate my primary. If you don't want it, that's OK, I'm headed up on my pony. I'd like you to be self-sufficient too. We can head up on our ponies together. If you're not self-sufficient, you might drown, because I'm probably not paying much attention to you.

 

[spectrum]

For the record:
1) The question is out of curiosity
2) Has nothing to do with a genuine need for air

 

[fdog]

Ah ha! I understand.

In that case, I can genuinely say I've always accepted a donated reg during an S-drill. Also, I've never had a buddy that wouldn't take it.

If I had someone that had the heebee-jeebies over sticking the reg in their mouth, I'd do a Mod-S. And cross them off my list of potential buddies for an overhead-restricted dive, too.


All the best, James

 

[redacted]

If you don't want my primary, then you don't need my gas. I have never seen a beggar that insisted on new bills.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

spectrum,

I understand what you are getting at.

But I guess I've never seen sticking someone else's reg in my mouth as a big deal.

When I was certified, actual buddy breathing was still taught and practiced (octos were just beginning to appear, but were not widespread). If you were squeamish about something like that, well, you didn't pass the course.

My feeling is that we need to practice in the same way we actually plan to share air in an emergency. If you donate the primary, then that is the way to practice.

And for the record: I don't practice nearly enough. Next dive I'll practice with my buddy... maybe a little buddy breathing just for old time's sake too

Best wishes.

 

[diverrex]

Deleted post on second thoughts.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I suppose you could always keep a few sanitary wipes in your pocket for emergencies.

Frankly, I'd suck a fart out of a donkey's ass if that's what it took to make it to the surface alive ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)