Calling a dive

[Sam Miller III]

Clint Eastwood the Hollywood movie star in the 1973 movie Magnum Force as "Dirty Harry Callahan" uttered in his monumental classic movie
"A Man has to know his limitations"

In 2018 I decreed
"A diver's has to know their limitations"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SDM

 

[smudge13]

Some of the previous statements in this thread really reinforce my proclivity to dive solo.

That being said, on the occasions that I do dive with a buddy, I tend to adjust my expectations accordingly. If the buddy needs to call the dive for whatever reason, no matter how trivial it seems at the time or in hindsight, I'd much prefer they call the dive to any alternative.

 

[ScubaBunga]

While everyone always says that anyone can call a dive for whatever reason, in practice, there’s definitely pressure not to. I’ve called the dive twice, both times was with a private DM so you would figure they wouldn’t mind and willingly oblige. While they did oblige, both times, the DM’s reaction was one of utter disappointment.

I fully agree that anyone should be able to call a dive if they are not ready/comfortable/able/etc. But as I love diving, I will ALWAYS be disappointed in missing or shortening a dive and probably won't be able to hide it. Not disappointed in the people, just the missing of a dive. I've luckily never had to call a dive myself, but have had several buddies not dive or call a dive early. It happens, and as many have said it's better/safer to call it if needed. On cases where it was a buddy in a group, I've always been able to join another buddy group - it's never been an emergency just a diver that was tired, uncomfortable, unprepared, etc. In one case, I just did a solo dive while buddy rested on the boat with crew. I've had a couple cases with my boys after they got their OW where they just weren't comfortable for one reason or another. They know I'm disappointed in not diving but proud of them for not getting into a bad situation. I've covered this with them from the start - they are not to dive to keep me happy!

Things happen, things get rescheduled, dives get missed. I don't think anyone needs to enjoy missing a dive and being disappointed is not fatal....doing a dive when you are not comfortable, feeling well, or any number of other reasons just might be.

 

[Divegoose]

I have called dives on numerous occasions, such as:

1. getting to the site, conditions were what I felt to be unfavourable, and not safe to be in the water
2. gearing up, getting ready to go in from shore, then cancelling my participation as I did not feel comfortable, even though the rest of the group did the dive
3. getting in the water, and visibility was so bad I couldn't even see my partner or a big wall, even though they were very close by
4. starting a dive, checking air of my partners about 10 minutes in, and discovering they are already low on air

Divegoose

 

[TMHeimer]

I only called a dive during the dive once--at King's Beach in Newport, RI. I was a Newbie. Fairly rough surf and very low viz. We walked out, descended and almost immediately I lost sight of our group of 4 or 5. Too eerie a feeling. Ascended right away. Interesting that none surfaced to look for me.
I think I still would've cancelled even after being more experienced. Maybe they knew the area well and knew the viz would improve with depth.

 

[Colliam7]

It would be nice in such situations to have a commonly accepted communication that basically says 'I'm calling the dive, but can head back on my own, you do what you want' vs. 'Having some trouble, please let's go back together.'

Good point. There may be a sharp decision edge, even then. On one hand, chances are the diver who has signaled that they are OK and ending the dive will do just fine on the ascent. On the other, what do we feel is our obligation to our buddy. And, I don't have a right answer.

Some 17 years ago, my son and I were diving one of the 3 dive-able U-boats off the NC coast. We were buddied, while on the boat, with a third diver, who we didn't know much about, but who was part of the shop charter. He just didn't have a buddy. We got down to the U-boat - at ~115ft - and the conditions were remarkably, and unusually, clear and current-less that day. But, 10 minutes into it, the third diver signalled he was low on air and needed to go up (sure enough, he only had 500 psi left in his cylinder). We still had 2000+ psi in our HP120s. The thought crossed my mind, 'Do we let him go alone?' Not knowing much about him, I elected to end our dive and accompany him to the surface. My son wasn't particularly happy (he gave a definite 'WTF' signal when I indicated we were going up), but ascended with us. On the boat, the diver acknowledged that he was an 'air hog'. I assured my son that it wasn't a big deal, we did the 'right thing', and we were scheduled to dive the U-boat again the next day. The next morning, the weather had turned, the seas were up and the dive was cancelled. I have never made it back to that particular wreck.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I have never made it back to that particular wreck.

I can live with and sleep at night over a lost dive vs lost diver that I was "responsible" for on a dive.

I hope your son understands the importance of such things... Had you had a specific discussion on being an air hog and he being comfortable finding his way back then a different course could have been taken in my opinion. But without that conversation your actions are admirable.

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

Colliam7 you absolutely did the right thing. That diver might be alive today because you did what every buddy is supposed to do, and that is no exaggeration. The very definition of being a buddy is that you put your buddy's safety ahead of the dive itself. What you did can make the difference between someone seemingly OK to ascend being found on the bottom later, and that person diving another day.

Even I, though, would recognize the difference between a diver ascending because they reached the "normal" end of their dive (ie, reaching gas pressure reserve to ascend, or NDL) and "aborting" a dive. If that diver had come over, showed 800psi left, or 1 min NDL, and signaled he was ascending, that would signal a planned dive end. I would not necessarily consider that an aborted dive that needed special attention if he signaled he was OK to ascend.

But, for a truly aborted dive or a risky end-dive situation (say, he showed 400 psi or was at risk for going OOA in my judgment), I would accompany to the boat no matter what the other diver said.

 

[drrich2]

I can live with and sleep at night over a lost dive vs lost diver that I was "responsible" for on a dive.

That diver might be alive today because you did what every buddy is supposed to do

Another interesting point you guys highlight; there's no clear consensus on what 'duty of care' (a.k.a. what being 'responsible for' means) one has towards a buddy. Is it to be fairly close during most of the dive, and willing to offer assistance if asked or the need is blatant (e.g.: octopus for out of air)? Or does it require pretty closely monitoring the buddy, watching for anything out of the ordinary, etc... (my buddy's keeper)? When an adult indicates he's aborting & heading back but okay, go ahead & go do your thing, conditions are benign and the boat's right there, is it okay to respect his adult decision/autonomy or is there an obligation of paternalistic supervision to accompany him, and if so is that to the surface, to the ladder, or making sure he made it to his seat on the dive deck without slipping & falling?

Over and beyond our individual views and choices, the reality that there are a range of views in active practice is worth being mindful of. If you've ever had 'back to back' instabuddies with different ideas, it can be a little jarring.

Richard.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Another interesting point you guys highlight; there's no clear consensus on what 'duty of care' (a.k.a. what being 'responsible for' means) one has towards a buddy. Is it to be fairly close during most of the dive, and willing to offer assistance if asked or the need is blatant (e.g.: octopus for out of air)? Or does it require pretty closely monitoring the buddy, watching for anything out of the ordinary, etc... (my buddy's keeper)?

I think "duty of care" is pretty clear. You are responsible - from the moment you step into the water until you step out - to do everything you can to prevent a fatality.

I have different roles with my dive buddies (regular divers that I know and trust) and someone that I am diving with the first time or infrequently. I will not dive with someone that I think is a hazard to themselves or myself. It is not worth my effort, my life or my anguish if something bad happens to them. I do not dive deep with anyone without having dove with them previously. I need to see how you care for yourself and how you pay attention or react to me...

I also enjoy solo diving for many dives...