Where is your stand in the controversy surrounding the method whereby the search line

[ditch-diver]

We use the Halcyon as our harness unless under ice or diving surface supplied air at which point we use a full dedicated harness. We use a locking Carabineer on the line and only use a quick disconnect when diving in current.

 

[dittrimd]

Our team always dives on line and primarily uses the LGS harness linked above with locking carabiner. When I took the DRI class they were using a quick release shackle. The key part about any harness is that it is complete separate from your BCD harness. If for some reason you had to ditch your BCD you still want to remain conencted to the rope.

Mark D.

 

[DM95]

We use a locking carabiner too for the primary with a carabiner to quick release to locking carabiner for the back-up if he has to trace the line down to assist.

 

[crls]

Thank you guys for your contributions; there are more people using harness than hands.
ditch-diver, can you elaborate why you choose integrate harness?

 

[ditch-diver]

Our federal regulations require a harness that can lift a diver out of the water, which is covered by this harness c/w crotch strap. We use to have a separate harness but went away from it simoply because what we had now suited what the requirement was. One of the big points is like dittrimd stated about ditching gear and still being on a line. We do not train that way..., no diver we train ever deals with removing his/her equipment underwater. If it gets to that point, our safety diver is present in the water and has cutters for the harness/webbing and they cut the diver out. That way the first line (which may also be an issue if the diver is fouled enough to warrant ditching gear) is clear as well and the rescue diver line is still in place.

We do some searches with hand holds only, such as hull and pier searches, but we treat those as search lines, not life lines. From our point of view a diver holding a line is the same as a free swimming diver and is treated as such as far as protocols are concerned. (dive buddies, floats, etc)

 

[bridgediver]

We also use the LGS harness, locking carabiner (if you had to you could "lift" the diver out with this harness so we comply with the regs as far as I understand them).

We used to use a hand loop in the old days but modern training and a little role playing from a good instructor opened our eyes

 

[BladesRobinson]

LGS and Dive Rescue International both sanction the use of chest harnesses. Two examples follow:
J.L. Diving Harness from Dive Rescue International
Chest Harness (w/ stainless steel D ring) from Dive Rescue International

Both harnesses are strong enough to lift the diver from the water in an emergency. Dive Rescue International recommends that a carabiner be used to connect a quick release snap shackle to the chest harness and search line is connected to the quick release snap shackle. The ONLY exception to the quick release snap shackle is working in overhead environments (including under ice). In the case of overhead environments, the quick release sap shackle is removed from the system and the line is attached to a locking carabiner.

The purpose of the quick release snap shackle is to allow the diver the opportunity to free himself if the search line is fouled. We know that a carabiner cannot be released under tension and fouled search lines have been contributing factors in nearly 13% of the PSD line of duty deaths. The quick release snap shackle can be released under tension/load and most in the PSD community are optimistic that a trained diver can save himself in an emergency if his search line becomes fouled.

 

[udtfire]

is it safe, does it make sense and worse case will it work .a diver goes unconsious un responsive while on a hand line how can the back up diver get to him should he (drop) the line, it is always risk vs benefit but the harness allows the diver to fight for his life with both hands if one hand is teathered then he is now fighting with one hand behind his back. my only mission is to bring back what i put in the water. me or another diver and the harness passes that test.