DaleC
Contributor
On the other hand two 10lb pouches is better than a 20lb belt.
Why? I don't here people complaining about how complicated it is to release them.
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On the other hand two 10lb pouches is better than a 20lb belt.
... as there was a fatality in Norway last summer where the victim was able to surface, but lost consciousness, and since his buddy wasn't able¹ to drop his weights or otherwise secure positive buoyancy, the victim sank and drowned.
I think that the next time I'm buddied up with another person than my regular buddy, I'll check that I really can release his weights before we splash.
With all due respect, that's stoopid. First you heave the BC onto a tailgate or a bench, then you load it, then you don it and jump in. Or, if there's no tailgate or bench near you, load the BC while it's on the ground, sit down with your back to the BC, don it, get up, jump in. Heaving a loaded BCD from the ground and up is a pretty effective method for pulling a muscle or three. I needed only one or two dives with a weight-integrated BCD with 5kg in each pocket to understand that. It's not rocket science.this is what I see all the time at our training sites. People load the BC, heave it onto a tailgate or bench, then put it on and jump in. And the instructors say nothing because they are doing the same thing.
I see you believe in good and constructive pre-dive buddy communication.I run a Ranger with a ripcord and if my 'buddy' pulled it for practice he would end up with a groin injury.
As I said in the OP, there was a bit more to the story. Most pertinent: The guy who didn't drown wasn't certified and probably hadn't drilled weight release/securing positive buoyancy before they splashed. But still, when I read the story as a newly certified OW diver it made me really understand how important it is not only being aware of where your buddy's weights are, but also knowing how to release them. Something those never-erring guys with 1000+ dives of course know, but a less experienced diver - perhaps not so much...I don't have the details but Did BOTH BCD's fail??? Otherwise I can't imagine a situation where I have to see my buddy sinking.
AFAIK, there's only one way to release a standard issue weight belt. No problem there. The (potential) problem comes when your buddy has a weight-integrated BCD and you aren't intimately familiar with the release system. Of which there - again AFAIK - are at least a half dozen different flavors. Are you always 100% sure that you know how to operate the specific flavor of your insta-buddy's quick releases?I certainly wouldn't like you to release my weight belt once I managed to put on my whole gear
Are you always 100% sure that you know how to operate the specific flavor of your insta-buddy's quick releases?
Which is why I consider dumping weights on the surface more relevant than dumping weights below water, and that's what I'm drilling. In an emergency, if I - G*d forbid - had to handle an unconscious buddy, s/he would have to be grossly overweighted for me not being able to bring him/her to the surface using my and/or my buddy's BCD and/or dry suit inflator. On the surface, however, I probably wouldn't think twice about dumping weights in an emergency.if I saw a buddy having his/her BCD failing I'd just grab him/her, add some more air to my wing and carry up to the surface. That would save her/him a chamber ride and possibly further dives on the day. Floating ON the surface is another question - however, my wing is a bit oversized and enough to float 2 divers...
All in all, I don't see many reasons to dump the weight other than saving the life of a seized diver.
I can see your point but I feel in more control of the ascent and the other diver when I use just my BCD to raise either type of diver. There certainly are plenty of things to think about even in a thread like this. I guess you are right though. No reason to make two oneself another victim. It would be just as easy to just use the other diver's BC.It is a hazardous approach, to raise an unconscious or unresponsive diver using YOUR BC. If, for any reason, you lose control and contact with the other diver, you are immediately extremely positive. It is much better to use THEIR BC. If their BC has failed, they should be able to swim up or ditch weights -- and they should know how to ditch their OWN weights!
we had agreed to do a couple of drills at the end of the dive.