hypothetical scenario 4 our Monday morning quarterbacks 20 miles out & boats gone

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Since it is cold hear and will be a while before I get back in the water, I wanted to present a hypothetical scenario for all of our Monday morning quarter backs and see what you think you would do if you unfortunately ended up in the following situation.

You are in a group of 4 divers diving off shore about 20 miles. You and a regular buddy and two other divers you have met on the boat. You agree to dive together, have a nice dive and surface with 750 psi each

The boat is gone. Pick any reason you want--they forgot you, emergency and had to go to shore, boat sank and on your way up, you didn't see it going down. pirates--whatever the reason you don't why it is gone, it just is. This was your second dive. It is 4:00 pm in the summer you have another 5 hours of light and the prospect of a very long surface interval.

You do not have a personal locator beacon or handheld water proof marine radio. Just you and 3 other divers.

Everyone has a snorkel, spool with 100' of #24 line, sausage, compass and two of you have pocket backup flashlights.

Everyone looks to you and says what do we do? We will do whatever you say. What do you do to increase your group getting out of this one.

You can't see any other boats.

What other equipment do you carry on a dive? If you didn't have anything else other than the above, what would you do? What is your typical land plan that if you aren't home by a certain time and you are diving abroad or far from home.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

1. Stay together.
2. Conserve the lights. Use them to light up sausages when you think there would be a chance of them being seen.
3. Swim torward shore. (In it for the long haul so not fast)

 

[onfloat]

Wait for them to make "Open Water 2"

 

[sbrooks]

Wait for them to make "Open Water 2"

But seriously..
I agree with Submariner. Maybe you've done some local research and know theres a shipping lane somewhere close. Get their attention with a light/smb/mirror (i know that one wasn't listed). They may not be able to get you out but would alert the GC & give coordinates.

S.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

a little more info:
the water is 75 degrees
no one has hoods or gloves

you didn't know it at first since everyone seemed calm, but about 30 minutes into it one diver begins to panic and starts crying


As far as gear not listed, you can have one if you carry one now or plan to buy one soon. So if you dive with a mirror, you have a mirror. If you don't dive with one, you don't have one. The only things you can't have is a radio or personal locator beacon or other gear that a would be unreasonable to carry--like a 6man life raft with food and water.

 

[H2Andy]

1. Stay together.
2. Conserve the lights. Use them to light up sausages when you think there would be a chance of them being seen.
3. Swim torward shore. (In it for the long haul so not fast)

yup... except i would not start swimming. i would conserve all my energy, and the boat will give your last known location to the Coast Guard, so they'll look for you where you were, not where you're heading (of course, factoring in any currents).


get bouyant. ditch weights.

get a secure line from each member to each other member so there's no possibility of drifting apart (do this immediately).

deploy and inflate all safety sausages (the boat may be looking for you but can't spot you).

save the flashlights for buddy checks throughout the night and for signaling if you see possible recue craft (their lights).

about 30 minutes into it one diver begins to panic and starts crying

touch is pretty important. get your hands on the diver, calm him down. tell him it's all going to be ok, the CG know where we are and it's only a matter of time before they find us (even if you don't believe this).

 

[Teamcasa]

Agreed, Since we don't know what direction the currents flow staying togeather, conserving energy is very important.

Dave

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

How do you know that anyone is coming to look for you?? You don't know why the boat is gone. They might not even know they left you. How would someone know to look for you? One of you thinks the captain might have been high as a kite. Who knows if that is true or not, but your dive buddy's minds are running wild. You still have it together.

The dive site was in 70 feet of water and there was 1 knot current below up top seems a little more

 

[onfloat]

Because I always tell my wife;
a) What boat I'm on
b) the time I'm supposed to be back

And if I'm 5 minutes late the National Guard is getting called.

 

[beautybelow]

The odds of four divers making a 20 mile swim to shore at night with nothing but a dive compass are not very good, so you better hope someone is looking for you. I would stay put also.