Buddy formation for 3 divers?

[60feet]

When I dive with one buddy, I use the side-by-side buddy formation. This seems to work well – easier to keep track and communicate with each other. A few days ago, I dove with two other divers, and we used the front-back linear buddy formation. An incident occurred during that dive that has made me realize the inherent weaknesses of this 3-diver buddy formation - incident.

1) Is there such a thing as the best 3-diver buddy formation? If so, what is it? Side-by-side? Triangular (one lead, two followers side-by-side)? Something else?

2) For 2 divers, is there a formation better than the side-by-side?

 

[Lofty88]

Never done it myself... but at a guess a triangle shape would be best?

If one of the back people has an issue, then the otehr back person should see, and be able to stop the front person. Front person has an issue then both the back people will be able to help.

I would have thought anyway.

 

[Saskia]

Triangle i find best, because with a linear formation the last person may get lost behind, which won't happen if there is someone next to them. It's easier to keep an eye on someone if they are still somewhat inexperienced, it's easier to read someone when you can actually see their face, and see what they are doing, from behind, it's a lot more difficult to see.

 

[WarrenZ]

I have done both the 3 in a row and triangle they both work well but what I have found worked better for me was the roving group where you stay in sight each other but not right together. Guess it is whatever you feel comfortable with is best.

 

[Charlie99]

I find that the time that it really counts is when transiting/swimming along at a pretty good speed. If you have sudden failure of your reg while trailing behind somebody finning away at a good speed, you will have a very hard time catching up with them.

The one lead diver followed by the other two side by side avoids that problem.

My other rule when swimming along in a 3 diver team is that the two trailing divers must always keep in sight of each other. Then the lead diver need only look back over one shoulder or the other and see one or the other of the two trailing divers to know that everyone is OK.

When just slowly ambling along checking out the reef, no particular formation is needed and it's generally better to spread out a bit more in order to have a better chance of spotting any elusive little critters. A good test of buddy awareness is to see how long it takes the others to come on over to check out something interesting that one diver has spotted.

Buddy distance needs to be adjusted for both speed of travel and viz. Although not quite kosher, I also adjust buddy distance according to depth. I'll be a lot closer to my buddy at 120' than when at 40 or 50' and within easy CESA distance of the surface.

 

[Adobo]

I find that the time that it really counts is when transiting/swimming along at a pretty good speed. If you have sudden failure of your reg while trailing behind somebody finning away at a good speed, you will have a very hard time catching up with them.

The one lead diver followed by the other two side by side avoids that problem.

My other rule when swimming along in a 3 diver team is that the two trailing divers must always keep in sight of each other. Then the lead diver need only look back over one shoulder or the other and see one or the other of the two trailing divers to know that everyone is OK.

When just slowly ambling along checking out the reef, no particular formation is needed and it's generally better to spread out a bit more in order to have a better chance of spotting any elusive little critters. A good test of buddy awareness is to see how long it takes the others to come on over to check out something interesting that one diver has spotted.

Buddy distance needs to be adjusted for both speed of travel and viz. Although not quite kosher, I also adjust buddy distance according to depth. I'll be a lot closer to my buddy at 120' than when at 40 or 50' and within easy CESA distance of the surface.

In this formation, have you figured out a way for diver2 and diver3 to communicate to the diver1(lead) if diver2 and 3 both have to stop due to a problem?

In my case, this formation works quite well also but generally, I dive with people who use lights to signal their status. I look a little to my right and if I see a steady spot there, I know that guys is okay. Same with the left side. If diver2 has an equipment problem or is tangled in kelp thus requiring assistance, he can signal to me using his light. If he is unable to, diver3 can also signal me to stop. Again, this stuff works quite well assuming you have specific equipment, each person in the group understands what is expected of them and sufficient conditions to allow the use of lights as communication devices. It's definitely a struggle without those pieces being in place.

Edit: One thing I might add.. With lights, single file works okay too particularly when diving against a wall. Each diver points their light beam at the wall within the field of vision of the diver in front. The lead guy can communicate and ask status to the guys in back without having to turn around by using his light as well.

 

[TSandM]

When I took my Rec 2 class from Joe Talavera, he talked about this. Which formation you use depends on the dive you are doing. Three abreast works great if you're cruising over a broad reef, but isn't a great experience for the outer two if you are moving along a wall. Single file, wing on wing, or delta formation can all be useful, but require clear protocols for communication.

For example -- in a single file formation, each diver needs to keep his light where the diver in front of him can easily see it. If the diver in front wants to okay the team, he gives the signal, but has to wait, because the middle diver has to pass it to the rear diver and then echo it forward. This is all much more cumbersome if you don't use lights, or in situations where ambient light is able to drown out even the powerful HID lights we use.

I guess the bottom line is that formation is dependent on the nature of the dive, and the important thing is that you have a communication protocol that works with the formation you are using.

 

[Charlie99]

In this formation, have you figured out a way for diver2 and diver3 to communicate to the diver1(lead) if diver2 and 3 both have to stop due to a problem?

The same sort of light signals used for 3-in-line work in this situation also. The same sort of 1st diver looking back to see the other two works the same as in 3 inline. In the case of the poster that started this thread, the weakness of the 3 in a line formation was that they had a relatively weak diver in the center, and he wasn't aware of the status of the 3rd diver.

The other dynamic about the delta/triangle formation is that a sudden out of gas emergency by either of the trailing divers is easily taken care. If the lead diver has a problem, he simply stops and the others will just naturally end up on either side of him.

I do a lot of diving in groups of 3 with unknown divers, usually because I've shown up on a boat without a buddy and end up joining an existing buddy team. I've found that the delta formation is by far the easiest way to dive, particularly when moving along at a pretty good speed.

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Another thing to consider is where to put the weakest diver. Perhaps somewhat counter-intuitively, many times I have had better dives with the weakest (or slowest) diver in the lead. This is particularly effective when diving with couples where the husband is used to finning rapidly in every which direction while never looking back, expecting his wife to follow. After a 1st dive like this, I'll suggest that she lead the second one. (Yes, this is a sexist remark, but I've never experienced a case where the wife was oblivious to the husband)

New divers sometimes have to work very hard to keep up with a more experienced diver. It just adds to their general level of anxiety, and makes them hoover down their tank even faster. A useful alternative that I sometimes use is to allow the new diver to lead and set the pace. I remain responsible for knowing where the boat/exit is, and will give indicate the proper general direction of travel occasionally and also control the overall dive for things like turnaround and ascent, but the new diver gets to "follow his nose" and wander back and forth as he desires.

 

[KMD]

It should also be dynamic during the dive depending on the conditions and resources in the team.

Ie. We start the dive in a star formation as you decend, then the leader signals a direction and go in to a V formation. Passing through the kelp with rock channels we fall back into line on line and then back into V. A team mate's light dies, so we reorder the V by putting him in the middle, then we hit the wall and fall into a line formation.... and so on.

 

[60feet]

... In the case of the poster that started this thread, the weakness of the 3 in a line formation was that they had a relatively weak diver in the center, and he wasn't aware of the status of the 3rd diver.

... I do a lot of diving in groups of 3 with unknown divers, usually because I've shown up on a boat without a buddy and end up joining an existing buddy team. I've found that the delta formation is by far the easiest way to dive, particularly when moving along at a pretty good speed.

... Another thing to consider is where to put the weakest diver. Perhaps somewhat counter-intuitively, many times I have had better dives with the weakest (or slowest) diver in the lead.

New divers sometimes have to work very hard to keep up with a more experienced diver. It just adds to their general level of anxiety, and makes them hoover down their tank even faster.

Charlie, you're VERY perceptive. You hit all the nails on their heads with your post! the diver in the middle (Beta) was the slowest, weakest, least experienced, and biggest air consumer of us 3. And he spent most of the dive looking ahead and at the lead diver (Alpha) rather back to see how I was doing. However, Alpha our lead did look back towards me and flashed the OK sign frequently, getting the OK sign back from me each time. Also, where we dive (usually in the morning), even when it's murky (sand kicked up by surge), the sunlight/ambient light penetrating the water is too strong and drowns out flash lights. It seems that the triangle/delta formation is superior to the straight line formation for us and under our dive conditions.

Your suggestion for the weakest diver to lead is a good one. On our return leg, our lead DID swim quite fast, and the middle diver struggled to keep pace and sucking down his air tank (keep in mind that it was our first dive with the lead diver, and we didn't know he was going to swim that fast). Switching the lead and middle divers' positions would have taken care of that. However, the decision on who was to lead was based on Alpha being the most knowledgeable of the underwater terrain at the chosen dive site. Next time, I'll suggest the delta/triangle formation with the weakest diver as the lead. Very helpful tips. Thanks!!