Solo Ascent

[Damselfish]

You guys are making me feel guilty. My wife and I were diving in 18-20 feet of water this past weekend. She was feeling nauseous and wanted to go up early in the dive. Last thing I wanted to do was sit on a bobbing boat for 40 minutes. So I ascended with her to 6 feet then watched from below while she got on the boat. An instructor and 3 experienced divers were below taking pictures and taking turns on a DPV—riding right around the group. After she got on the boat I joined that group. Was that reckless?

maybe not reckless for you, but if my spouse wasn't feeling well I would have wanted to go up with him.

 

[charlesml3]

sucks up a bunch of water and drowns

Isn't that what the 500 lbs of air in his tank is there to prevent? Why would he be any more likely to "suck up a bunch of water" at the surface than he was at 40 feet?

I really don't think you're understanding the situation. I can see him all the way to the surface. I can see him get on the boat. I just don't think it's a big deal for him to surface solo.

-Charles

 

[Rick Inman]

Colombia Shallow in Cozumel. You'd have to bring a shovel down with you to go down more than 30 feet. 100' of visibility. Your air consumption is really good, your buddy is an air hog. Do you really bail out of your dive when he burns his tank in thirty minutes?

How about Palancar Gardens? Max depth there is 70 feet or so but you're up around 45 feet when your buddy is low. He has 50 dives under his belt. Very little current, no chop and the boat has been orbiting above you the whole time. Still going to cut your dive short?

I did these dives a couple years back with my buddy, Tony. Even though the DM allowed for us to go up in singles, Tony and I agreed we would go together. BTW, after the DM's got to know who had what air consumption, they would attempt to buddy people together with similar consumption.

 

[Matt S.]

Matt, I agree that groups of three can be problematic, but if you train to use them, they work very well.

I don't doubt it. I'm just saying that the ad-hoc teams I have been on have never been as good as a buddy. I either try to keep both buddies in view, which interferes with looking at pretty fish, or I get tunnel vision on one buddy.

I really don't think you're understanding the situation. I can see him all the way to the surface. I can see him get on the boat. I just don't think it's a big deal for him to surface solo.

I understand perfectly. I just disagree.

 

[alchemist117]

IMHO, there should be no need to ascend solo, just come up as a 3, or swap buddies for the last few mins of the dive. Due to air usage, I have been split from my buddy(wife) and have ascended with another diver low on air- I was next lowest. Although I found it irritating at the time, the logic and safety aspect of it was inescapable

 

[paradicio]

I’m not one for the solo ascent… If we went down together, we’re coming up together.

I recently had to reinforce this with my dive buddy (my wife). On our first dive in Maui I went LOA before she did. The DM escorted me back to the line then swam off. I was at safety stop depth and to LOA to go back to get her and bring her to me. After I surfaced I put down my BC, and then jumped back in the water with just mask, fins, and snorkel so I could keep an eye on her from the surface. I wouldn’t be able to get down deep enough to help if something went wrong, but at least I’d be able to raise an alarm…

When she surfaced I pulled her aside (still in the water) and let her know, privately and in no uncertain terms, that she was to surface with me on every dive regardless of how much air she had remaining. Her immediate response was “yeah, but I was with the rest of the group and the dive master”. To which I replied, “yes, and none of them were personally responsible for you – I am.” I saw the light bulb come on above her head at that point and she agreed I was right. We've been fine since.

 

[bolantej]

I offered to do a solo ascent during one of my advanced dives, but the DM insisted on coming along. I didn't want to spoil the dive for everyone else, but I guess it's his job to make sure I get back to the surface safely. Do what you're comfortable with, and never be forced by anyone to do otherwise if you can help it.

 

[markfm]

Err.. this is odd. I didn't write that last part after the smilie. Board acting screwy?

Welcome to being a DMC -- not only Instructors, but SB itself, get to mess with you

 

[Web Monkey]

Err.. this is odd. I didn't write that last part after the smilie. Board acting screwy?

Sorry, that was my writing. I must have whacked the "edit" button instead of reply.

It's gone, so I'm assuming you fixed it.

Terry

 

[anytime]

I would be much more worried about going down without a watch, bottom timer, or computer than doing a solo ascent.