How to keep track of your buddy in low visibility?

[Kris69]

Hi,

Just done my dive no 20 and I'm still struggelig with lots of things. One of the major issues is how to keep track of my buddy (in most cases my girlfriend). It seems to be less of an issue when the visibillity is good (more than 10m). I have been doing most my dives in the Oslofjord (Norway) and visibillity has been from 10cm(!) to maybe 5m. We have lost eachother completely a couple of times. Thankfully we both remembered the lessons from the course and surfaced after a minute or so...

We both did the OW course in Sharm in Egypt where the visibility was more than 20m. I guess if we had done the OW course in Norway, we would have been better prepared.

So my question is:
How to keep track of you buddy in low visibility? Would rather not use a line between us. We have agreed that she should always be on my left side but it is still pretty difficult.

Any thoughts from the experts? I guess when I have done enough dives, I will not feel that this is such an issue.


Kristian

 

[Doc]

An oft discussed and old topic

Buddy lines work well- contrary to horror stories (that are about to follow)

I have tied flourescent fiberglass flagging tape, about 8' of it, to our fins.

Hold hands?

 

[RJP]

Both of you should carry lights. Bright lights.

Lights are as much for BEING SEEN as the are for seeing.

 

[Kris69]

Thanks!

Lights seem like a pretty good idea! We've been holding hands several times when the vis has been really bad. Still it limits what we can do...

Kristian

 

[Blackwood]

proximity... don't get so far apart that you can't see eachother.

We often dive here with viz in the 1 to 1.5m range.

 

[Kris69]

"proximity... don't get so far apart that you can't see eachother."


Yes, that is alway the plan when we start but then, 30 min or so into the dive we cant see eachother anymore!

Maybe we will try a buddyline next time (and lights)!!

 

[sabbath999]

"proximity... don't get so far apart that you can't see eachother."


Yes, that is alway the plan when we start but then, 30 min or so into the dive we cant see eachother anymore!

Maybe we will try a buddyline next time (and lights)!!

I am no expert, nor do I claim to be, but I dive regularly in water with visibility less than 3 meters, often the 10cm you are talking about is about what we have.

Honestly, when I am diving with my wife in those conditions we often just hold hands. POWERFUL lights also work.

We have adopted the DIR tactic of buddy eye contact every 20-30 seconds, and we have an agreement that we will never stray more than 1/2 the distance of visibility from each other.

Again, I am a NOOB and don't pretend that my answer is correct in any way, that's just what we do.

 

[Kris69]

Hi Sabbath999,

Awesome photos! My photos looks like complete crap!

I really like the idea of lights. Will buy some flourecent green lights (glowsticks).

 

[RJP]

Again, I am a NOOB and don't pretend that my answer is correct in any way, that's just what we do.

Sounds like you're doing it right to me!

 

[NvScubaSteve]

In addition to the above comments when diving in low vis my buddy and I will agree on a leader and follower. The follower is responsible for keeping the leader in sight at all times while the leader guides the team. This role can be switched during the dive with simple hand signs. When and if the responsibilites change during the dive the team must be disciplined and always do the job that is expected of them in order to avoid separation. The follower must avoid the desire to stop for a second to see something cool without confirmed contact with the lead buddy that they are stopping. A couple of seconds in low vis without visual contact can result in separation that can require an ascent or terminate the dive.

Safe diving

Steve