Attracting buddie's attention?

[Boris]

Hi,
I was wondering if there is a good way to attract the attention of a buddy. I recently was in a situation where my buddy was finning away and I could not get his attention by banging the tank or using DiveAltert underwater (yes, it makes a sound underwater; no, not very lound). I finally was able to fin like crazy, catch up and grab his fin.

Is there a better technique then physically getting to the buddy or getting into his field of vision (which might be tough)? Any users of those "underwater signaling devices"?

And a side question. In a situation like this when you dive with a buddy; buddy goes somewhere where you are not comfortable going (too far or not enough air), and you can't get your buddie's attention in let's say thirty seconds - do you try to catch up with the buddy or would you just say *&*&^*, I am not following him?

 

[Walter]

I call their name.

 

[ffestpirate]

Golf ball on the tip of a speargun?
Seriously, though,
I've found that the metalic pinging of a brass clip on a tank carries a long way

 

[vox]

I've found that the metalic pinging of a brass clip on a tank carries a long way

Brass clip? Like a D-ring?

 

[clarissa1]

yes I would also like to know the answer to this question! I have been in numerous situations where my buddy is so busy admiring a fish (or something!) that I am unable to get his attention!

 

[Tollie]

IMO no underwater device is as sound (pun intended) as a strong team. Before you go down talk to your buddy about the dive plan including team formation. Keep within two arms lengths of your buddy in a side by side position. Dont be fooled by clear water. If you cant get your buddies attention in short order you are really diving solo. A buddy with poor team skills is really not a buddy you want to continue to dive with.

Oh... grabbing a fin is less that optimal... you could pull the fin off or if the strap is frayed... break the strap.

 

[Adobo]

The best method for doing so may depend on the environment you dive in.

Personally, I wear a pretty thick hood when I dive so things like tank bangers haven't been all that useful.

What does work incredibly well for me and the folks I dive with are high intesity lights. I've been working with my dive buddies so that we can signal our status to each other using our lights. So as an example, if I am leading a dive, I expect my dive buddy's light to be in a particular place (within my field of vision). For as long as his light is there, I know he is okay. If he needs to get my attention, he moves the light side to side in a slow and steady fashion. This tells me that he needs something. If he for some reason goes out of gas, he moves the light in a rapid fashion. If the light is not in my field of vision, I put my light where I expect him to be looking. If he does not respond, then I know to turn around to check what is going on.

The light system works pretty well if both you and your buddy have good lights. Sometimes, it doesn't work as well if vis is particularly good and you are diving a shallow profile.

As to your second question, "when do you ditch your buddy?", it really depend. In the diving I do, it is understood that I will not take my buddy outside his comfort zone on purpose. And vice versa. If it happens that the leader of the dive is doing something that the other does not like, then the other signals for the leader to hold and then we communicate to hash out the issue.

In the style of diving I am trying to do, ditching my buddy is not really an option. But I suppose since I only dive with a fixed set of people (who see eye to eye with me on diving), ditching my buddy has never been an issue I have had to consider.

 

[ffestpirate]

Brass clip? Like a D-ring?

Yes. That's exactly what we use. I've found the sound carries about 40-50 ft.

 

[Charlie99]

And a side question. In a situation like this when you dive with a buddy; buddy goes somewhere where you are not comfortable going (too far or not enough air), and you can't get your buddie's attention in let's say thirty seconds - do you try to catch up with the buddy or would you just say *&*&^*, I am not following him?

At that point, it's time to call the dive. Hopefully, he will execute whatever plan the two of you agreed upon for lost contact. Of course, if he is the sort of diver than fins off oblivious to you, more than likely he won't bother to look for you.

A difficult, but important skill, is learning how to communicate your concerns with him once you are both back on the boat or shore in such a way that he behaves as you desire on the next dive.

OTOH, if this was the last dive of the day with an insta-buddy, it feels better to just go ahead and scream and berate him.

 

[dive_lover88]

i carry a metal pointer with me on all dives...most of the people i dive with carry that too. So when i cant get his/her attention,i would bang it on my tank or fin up to him/her and give a prod...works most of the time except in currents when i use it to anchor myself to the bottom(sandy bottom,no anchoring on corals)