Diving "Etiquette" and the lack thereof

[Potapko]

"Hijack"
Should we start a discussion here about why pull dumps are a bad idea?

 

[Thalassamania]

But that's Buddy Abandonment, of a newbie at that...?

Drift dives, at least in my experince, tend (except for the most experienced divers) toward a cluster f---, with the less experienced hitting the water, sinking like a rock, bouncing off the bottom, finally trimming out and then trying (maybe) to hook back up with their buddies. I haven't dove Jupiter, but at Palancar my buddy and I were the only two who hit the water together, descended together and completed the dives staying within a few feet of each other.

 

[Bratface]

::

I think this thread has played itself out.

 

[Sas]

Drift dives, at least in my experince, tend (except for the most experienced divers) toward a cluster f---, with the less experienced hitting the water, sinking like a rock, bouncing off the bottom, finally trimming out and then trying (maybe) to hook back up with their buddies. I haven't dove Jupiter, but at Palancar my buddy and I were the only two who hit the water together, descended together and completed the dives staying within a few feet of each other.

Yes I find drift diving in groups ends up a big CF also. Locally with the biggest charter, they put groups of about 6-10 on a drift line. Most of the people who remain on the line are new divers and it ends up a disaster as the line is not held straight due to inexperienced people not having great buoyancy control. Some other charters are happy for buddy pairs to drift on an SMB for the duration though, rather than a line. I have been entangled a number of times in the drift line on the ascent. Now I let go of the line the minute I drop under and head off with my buddy. We shoot an SMB at the end of the dive so the boat can come get us, and that seems to be what anyone does who has done more than a few drift dives. I have never lost my buddy that way and I prefer to drift dive this way rather than in groups where you are expected to stay with 6-10 other people.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I lead many drift dives from that area in Florida. If the customers have some clue how to control their bouyancy, and they receive a detailed explanation and dive briefing, these types of drift dives can be done safely with little trouble. It is definitely a local specialty and the divemaster must go slow and carefully lead the divers, but if they want to follow him, it is not too hard. The customers are directed to keep the divemaster pulling the float within sight (if they want to dive with the group), but they MUST follow the leader, it is impractical to expect the divemaster to pull a float ball against or even across a current to render assistance in most cases.

The current is often much stronger than anything I felt in cozumel.

 

[Cave Diver]

I think this thread has played itself out.

I give it at least another 25 posts or so.

 

[DandyDon]

Drift dives, at least in my experince, tend (except for the most experienced divers) toward a cluster f---, with the less experienced hitting the water, sinking like a rock, bouncing off the bottom, finally trimming out and then trying (maybe) to hook back up with their buddies. I haven't dove Jupiter, but at Palancar my buddy and I were the only two who hit the water together, descended together and completed the dives staying within a few feet of each other.

My home bud and I always do a gear & bubble check at 15 ft on descent, while he clears his ears; we descend together, stay together, ascend together. The current usually moves us over the rest who went ahead, but whatever - we get there.

With boat pic buddies, I just try.

::

I think this thread has played itself out.

Oh, you're excused. Stop reading.

 

[Thalassamania]

I wish we'd been diving with you guys instead of the bozos on the bus.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

::

I think this thread has played itself out.

I agree here unless the OP is willing to answer some of the reasonable questions asked by some of the posters.

We are speculating without adequate information about.

1) Exact nature of Gear failure
2) How much weight was Lee carrying (possibly tank and exposure suit info)
3) What occurred between Lee and the "unidentified helpful diver"

I think some valuable information has been exchanged here for current and future readers of this thread. I think further valuable information could be exchanged if people had the answers to those 3 questions.

This is not about beating anybody up.. it is about learning and preventing injuries and deaths.

As I read it
1) "normal" buddy procedures were not followed
2) Gear failure but not catastrophic ie NOT an uncontrolled descent
3) The diver was assisted by another diver who may or may not have seen the problem as significant (felt Lee didn't need further assistance/ felt compelled to stay with their own buddy for a multitude of reasons)
4) The diver managed the problem appropriately and ended the dive safely
5) Honest concern for the diver has resulted in their "buddy" being upset after the event about the "what if's"
6) Honest concern by fellow divers wanting to offer advice in a sometimes blunt manner has cause the OP to refuse to provide further "valuable information"

This thread has had rampant speculation as a result of insufficient information about the incident. The thread is getting long enough that people are not reading enough information before jumping to conclusions and posting which I believe makes the OP less inclined to participate.

Until the OP or the divers involved provide additional information I think I have learned all I can from this thread... thanks folks and thanks JoyfulLee for providing me with a chance to learn

 

[Cave Diver]

This thread has had rampant speculation...

It's what this board is best at.

Welcome to CSI: ScubaBoard!