DiverBuoy once bubbled...
Ok, as you know there is often more than one way to solve a rescue problem. It wasn't a zodiak, and was actually quite useless (illegal though it may be). We didn't use it to get over to the diver. Here's what we did:
Step 1. Victim orally inflates bc. And climbs out of it.
Step 2. Victim secures his light (leaving it still turned on) to the bc using the lanyard to one shoulder strap, and attaches his secondary light (also turned on) to the other shoulder strap. Then deflates the bc - which then sinks. It was a weight integrated, however if the diver was wearing a weight belt he could have easily secured it to the equipment.
Step 3. Victim crosses the kelp by crawling over the top. It's not difficult to do if you've ever tried it, and when it's thick like this bunch it's even easier. Diver makes it safely back to the boat - with all personal gear.
Step 4. Equipment rescue buddy pair goes and easily retrieves all the gear in about 35 feet of water.
May not be elegant, likely risked the gear in several ways, but it's how it happened, and it was a fun solution.
