How to stay w your buddy in murky water

[MXGratefulDiver]

While somewhat off-topic to this area, being a newly minted deco diver, what's the general idea if this happens once you're into decompression obligation?

My inclination would be to look around for my buddy but stay on my plan in terms of depth and time.

Would that be the right course? Or would I be more correct to surface early (of course doing the deco stops as planned to make sure I'm not being rescued).

If I'm in deco and suddenly realize my buddy's not with me, I would do a search and then begin my ascent as soon as I decided that we probably weren't going to find each other ... unless we had discussed a "solo contingency" as part of the dive plan.

The assumption being that my buddy's doing the same thing ... which all my tech dive buddies would do ... and that we will most likely meet on the upline ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Kingpatzer]

If I'm in deco and suddenly realize my buddy's not with me, I would do a search and then begin my ascent as soon as I decided that we probably weren't going to find each other ... unless we had discussed a "solo contingency" as part of the dive plan.

The assumption being that my buddy's doing the same thing ... which all my tech dive buddies would do ... and that we will most likely meet on the upline ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

*nod* my initial thought as the question came into my head was that one of two things is the case:

1) we're just separated, at which point we'll either meet on the way up the line or on the surface
2) he's in trouble, and since he can't go straight up, if I spend the remainder of my planned time looking for him I can perhaps prevent a disaster.

In my mind I think I'd have a hard time going up unless I was absolutely forced to give up the search. Not because I'm particularly pessimistic about which of the two is probably the case, but because I don't know that I'd be able to accept having decided I should ascend early in the event #2 was the case.

But I can see the argument that going up once you think you're past the point of likely contacting the buddy. It certainly has the advantage of limiting the ways I could get myself into trouble.

I also do note that it needs to be part of the dive plan for those sorts of dives.

 

[redacted]

I find a light works well in most cases but simultaneous moments of inattention still can lead to separation. Again, the lights can help. Shine you lights in the direction you think your buddy is and play lighthouse over the angle of maybe. My wife/buddy and I still carry a buddy line in an unused pocket of her weight belt for when things get bad. About 6 feet long with velcro loops on each end. We got it many years ago when first certified, used it a few times, and have not had need to use it in a long time now.

 

[crd_kats]

If I'm in deco and suddenly realize my buddy's not with me, I would do a search and then begin my ascent as soon as I decided that we probably weren't going to find each other ... unless we had discussed a "solo contingency" as part of the dive plan.

The assumption being that my buddy's doing the same thing ... which all my tech dive buddies would do ... and that we will most likely meet on the upline ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

*nod* my initial thought as the question came into my head was that one of two things is the case:

1) we're just separated, at which point we'll either meet on the way up the line or on the surface
2) he's in trouble, and since he can't go straight up, if I spend the remainder of my planned time looking for him I can perhaps prevent a disaster.

In my mind I think I'd have a hard time going up unless I was absolutely forced to give up the search. Not because I'm particularly pessimistic about which of the two is probably the case, but because I don't know that I'd be able to accept having decided I should ascend early in the event #2 was the case.

But I can see the argument that going up once you think you're past the point of likely contacting the buddy. It certainly has the advantage of limiting the ways I could get myself into trouble.

I also do note that it needs to be part of the dive plan for those sorts of dives.

What line? I'm not as yet a technical diver, but if it's a drift technical dive / hot drop and you had planned to use your smb's on ascent, which line do you speak of?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

What line? I'm not as yet a technical diver, but if it's a drift technical dive / hot drop and you had planned to use your smb's on ascent, which line do you speak of?

Depends on the dive ... most of my local tech dives are wrecks, where we descend/ascend on a line attached to a weight on one end and a buoy on the other.

If you're diving from an anchored boat, it could be the anchor line.

Of course, if you're doing a dive from shore or a drift dive, there won't be a line. If deploying an SMB, you're carrying your line with you ... but not much chance your buddy will find that one if you're separated ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[timegan]

Surprized no one has mentioned the good ol buddy line / tether. When we dive the local river (3>4 knot current 100%) and vis is < 10' we just use a 6>8' line....with a wrist lanyard on each end. It works just fine, NO separation at all. Sucks a little to use it ...but it does work, We mainly comb the bottom for treasure, and drift with the current.

 

[dbulmer]

KingPatzer,
And NWG too.

I'm not a techie but I was wondering what happens if the separated diver needs to swap to a stage cylinder at 21m breathing perhaps EAN50. Do tech courses teach you how to manage this on your own in the event of a lost buddy? (same goes for a 6m gas switch)

 

[crd_kats]

Surprized no one has mentioned the good ol buddy line / tether. When we dive the local river (3>4 knot current 100%) and vis is < 10' we just use a 6>8' line....with a wrist lanyard on each end. It works just fine, NO separation at all. Sucks a little to use it ...but it does work, We mainly comb the bottom for treasure, and drift with the current.

Post #13

I find a light works well in most cases but simultaneous moments of inattention still can lead to separation. Again, the lights can help. Shine you lights in the direction you think your buddy is and play lighthouse over the angle of maybe. My wife/buddy and I still carry a buddy line in an unused pocket of her weight belt for when things get bad. About 6 feet long with velcro loops on each end. We got it many years ago when first certified, used it a few times, and have not had need to use it in a long time now.

I imagine the tether line comes in handy during rescue of a disoriented/panicky diver in low viz as well?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

KingPatzer,
And NWG too.

I'm not a techie but I was wondering what happens if the separated diver needs to swap to a stage cylinder at 21m breathing perhaps EAN50. Do tech courses teach you how to manage this on your own in the event of a lost buddy? (same goes for a 6m gas switch)

Managing it on your own is fairly simple if you only have a single bottle. You just switch. If multiple bottles, the main thing your dive buddy does is confirm you are switching to the correct one ... since it's difficult to see the markings on the bottle while you're wearing it. And it would truly suck to switch to O2 when you think you're switching to EAN50.

But if I were separated and had to confirm my own bottle, I'd unclip at the waist and swing the bottle around where I could read the markings before making the switch. It's not at all difficult ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Surprized no one has mentioned the good ol buddy line / tether. When we dive the local river (3>4 knot current 100%) and vis is < 10' we just use a 6>8' line....with a wrist lanyard on each end. It works just fine, NO separation at all. Sucks a little to use it ...but it does work, We mainly comb the bottom for treasure, and drift with the current.

I haven't used a buddy line in years, but back when I was much less experienced I did carry one in my BCD pocket for lo-vis days. Mine was made out of 3/8" bungee with large loops on either end. Bungee's better than rope because you can keep it tight (reducing snag potential) and still have a degree of freedom to move around without pulling at each other.

One thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn't put the loop on your wrist ... especially in current ... because if the line becomes entangled in something you want the option to let go. You hold it in your hand ... across the palm ... so that if you have to release it all you have to do is straighten out your fingers.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)