Buddy Separation - Safety Stop??

[Charlie99]

You should execute the safety stop, if you need to ,emphasis added.

On most tables the safety stop is optional, and on the PADI RDP, a safety stop is mandatory only if one is right near the NDL. In other words, unless it is right at the end of your dive, the safety stop is NOT needed.

A rational diver will take the whole situation into account. Viz, buddy separation distance before getting separated (if you have been pushing the edge of losing each other then losing one another shouldn't be a big shock and surprise), experience level of the missing buddy; as well as the nitrogen loading and all factor into the decision.

If I do intend to pause at a safety stop, then I'll pop a DSMB to the surface --- if the other diver surfaces first, he'll probably see it and can come down the line to rejoin me.

 

[HowardE]

On most tables the safety stop is optional, and on the PADI RDP, a safety stop is mandatory only if one is right near the NDL. In other words, unless it is right at the end of your dive, the safety stop is NOT needed.

A rational diver will take the whole situation into account. Viz, buddy separation distance before getting separated (if you have been pushing the edge of losing each other then losing one another shouldn't be a big shock and surprise), experience level of the missing buddy; as well as the nitrogen loading and all factor into the decision.

If I do intend to pause at a safety stop, then I'll pop a DSMB to the surface --- if the other diver surfaces first, he'll probably see it and can come down the line to rejoin me.

I should have said, "if you need to (or feel the need to) do a safety stop"

Personally, I would do a safety stop on a deep dive regardless (with or without a buddy - but then again, I'm comfortable solo diving). If it's a shallow dive (less than 50') I probably would just ascend to the surface. (but this thread isn't about me)

For new divers, it's better to have them just do a safety stop on every dive

 

[limeyx]

For a recreational dive, even if it's the 7th of the day, I blow off the "safety" stop and ascend at a "reasonable" rate to the surface to look for them. My usual buddies are really good friends to me, and I would rather go to the chamber than have them drown.

ascent rate would probably be 30 fpm and then a bit slower from 20 feet up.

if it were a deco dive, for the range of deco I do, I would probably do 1 min stops 70-30 feet and then blow off all the shallow deco (20, 10 foot stops) and do a direct ascent (slowly). This is probably 50/50 you are going to the chamber (maybe a bit higher) which is why you have to make more contingencies for those kind of dives (where is the chamber, whats the #, carry O2 on the boat etc) If I blew off all that deco I'd probably go on O2 back down to 20 feet until we could get moving to the chamber.

Definitely something to think about *before* getting in the water!

 

[Meng_Tze]

My usual buddies are really good friends to me, and I would rather go to the chamber than have them drown.

I hear you. But by the time you get to the surface and it IS a matter of drowning.... it would be done by then...... Now you have two divers in trouble: one drowned and the other bent.

 

[plot]

Depends on the buddy, where I was, what kind of diving I was doing, the conditions, etc.

Would surfacing, looking for bubbles, yelling for someone, then immediatly going back down to 15 feet and doing your safety stop be bad practice? Would that still prevent getting bent, or would you just be wasting your time going back down at that point?

 

[daniel f aleman]

After you've lost your buddy, and after you've completed the one minute circular search, and you still don't see your buddy... well, you are now a solo diver, and you should act accordingly. Dive is over. And, if you feel that you may NEED the safety stop, do it.

 

[limeyx]

I hear you. But by the time you get to the surface and it IS a matter of drowning.... it would be done by then...... Now you have two divers in trouble: one drowned and the other bent.

that's as maybe, but i'm not going to be the one to explain to my best friend's wife why he was on the surface drowning (where I *may* be able to help him) while I was underwater looking after my own hide.

 

[Charlie99]

I hear you. But by the time you get to the surface and it IS a matter of drowning.... it would be done by then...... Now you have two divers in trouble: one drowned and the other bent.

Look at the old pre-doppler USN table limits. Those were 60 feet per minute ascent, straight to the surface.

Are you not willing to accept even the risk of the old USN tables to improve your chances of assisting someone?

 

[serambin]

I respectfully disagree. After seperation, my main concern is my safety. Assuming you have no reason to believe that your buddy is in trouble, that is to say you became seperated due to a deviation in the dive plan due to visibility or other non emergency reason, then assuring your own safety would include a 3 min. stop at 15 feet. Given the above, you would consider that your buddy is doing the same.

Having said that, if your total bottom time was short and/or shallow, then you could make an exception.

My reasoning is that your buddy will also do a seperation accent and that the safety stop will ensure you both a standard continuation of your dive plans.

Stan

 

[gregmontalbano]

I'm going to have to step in here for one second about a post on the first page regarding sub ducks and underwater "sonar". It doesn't work. Please...Please don't rely on it, any sound underwater sounds like it's coming from every direction, it's just the way the water carries the waves.