Bubbletrubble
Contributor
How often do you check your own gas supply during a dive?
(Every minute, 5 min, 10 min, during safety stop, other intervals)
For simplicity's sake, let's restrict the discussion to back gas (no pony bottles/stages/deco bottles).
I check mine at the surface, once I arrive at operating depth, and then about every 5 min thereafter with a couple of extra gas checks near turn pressure.
How often do you check your buddy's remaining gas supply...
...if your buddy is an insta-buddy who told you on the boat that he's "experienced" and has "great" air consumption?
...if your buddy is an insta-buddy who says he "sucks air like there's no tomorrow"?
...if you know your buddy very well -- let's say you've done hundreds of dives with said buddy -- and you can estimate her remaining gas supply based on your own?
I'm spoiled. With my regular buddy (200+ dives together), I only ask for her SPG reading during our pre-dive check. We usually have a default agreed upon turn pressure at our regular local dive site. We agree to monitor our own gas supplies and know not to violate the turn pressure or NDLs. If either of us hits any of the specified limits or just wants to head in for whatever reason, that diver will give the "turn-around" signal, the buddy will confirm, and we'll head back to shore.
Bad habit? What do you guys think?
When I'm buddied up with a beginner diver with unknown (possibly high) SAC rate, I'm far more attentive and will do a few random spot-checks on gas supply during the course of the dive. During pre-dive checks, I'll ask him/her to let me know when half a tank is left, and we'll talk about Rock Bottom limits for the planned depth profile.
(Every minute, 5 min, 10 min, during safety stop, other intervals)
For simplicity's sake, let's restrict the discussion to back gas (no pony bottles/stages/deco bottles).
I check mine at the surface, once I arrive at operating depth, and then about every 5 min thereafter with a couple of extra gas checks near turn pressure.
How often do you check your buddy's remaining gas supply...
...if your buddy is an insta-buddy who told you on the boat that he's "experienced" and has "great" air consumption?
...if your buddy is an insta-buddy who says he "sucks air like there's no tomorrow"?
...if you know your buddy very well -- let's say you've done hundreds of dives with said buddy -- and you can estimate her remaining gas supply based on your own?
I'm spoiled. With my regular buddy (200+ dives together), I only ask for her SPG reading during our pre-dive check. We usually have a default agreed upon turn pressure at our regular local dive site. We agree to monitor our own gas supplies and know not to violate the turn pressure or NDLs. If either of us hits any of the specified limits or just wants to head in for whatever reason, that diver will give the "turn-around" signal, the buddy will confirm, and we'll head back to shore.
Bad habit? What do you guys think?
When I'm buddied up with a beginner diver with unknown (possibly high) SAC rate, I'm far more attentive and will do a few random spot-checks on gas supply during the course of the dive. During pre-dive checks, I'll ask him/her to let me know when half a tank is left, and we'll talk about Rock Bottom limits for the planned depth profile.