Keeping up with Buddy in Low Visibility

[luckydays]

Bob has it right. I have lost buddies in 50 foot viz because of poor buddy skills. As I have improved my diving and become a better buddy, I have been able to stay with my buddies (or even find them when I temporarily displace them) in little to no viz.

As for why I dive in low viz, sometimes low viz is all you get for weeks on end. If I want to dive, that is the only way I can dive on a given weekend near my house. Low viz is a great opportunity to practice dive skills, especially navigation since you cant see where you are going.

My worst dive I have ever had was in over 100 ft viz. Some of the best dives I have had were in less than 10 ft viz.

 

[lowviz]

Seems like a few of my fellow "viz is over-rated" (aka lake travis) peeps have about the same thought as me - 10' is freakin' good viz for us!
..........

My favorite quarry sells "Night-diving all day long" t-shirts.

 

[Nylorac]

Wow Bob!! Pictures really do speak more than a thousand words! Totally awesome - thanks for sharing that and giving me the best answer. I will practice and practice and look for the hidden beauty.

 

[Doc Harry]

My favorite quarry sells "Night-diving all day long" t-shirts.

Now THAT'S funny!

 

[muddiver]

I think that a number of folks misunderstand the concept of a buddy line. I have seen the term "tag line" and what I am reading leads me to think that many have been told, or think that a buddy line is a long (like 5' or longer) rope that you tie yourself to your buddy with. This is far from the original intent.

A buddy line is simply a 1 1/2' to 2 1/2' rope or strap with loops on each end to grab. You don't clip, tie or wrap it around you and I really have a problem trying to understand why any diver, even a new diver, would get such a short line fouled on anything in visability above 12" to 24".

I agree it is not a replacement for experience and trainging, but it is useful when one or more divers in the team do not have the experience for the conditions. Avoiding the conditions of the dive only reduces the chance to "become" experienced, so what's the point in avoidance?

 

[Walter]

Although I have never been trained in the use a buddy line, I have serious questions about tying myself to someone else in zero viz. I am much more comfortable with touch contact.

I do understand how to use a buddy line. I do use them. I never tie myself to someone else.

The only way to avoid loosing sight of your buddy avoid low vis diving

That's not an effective method. Buddies are routinely lost in 100' visibility. There are effective methods being discussed in this thread.

I cannot understand how anyone could enjoy as you can not see anything?

What I see is merely part of what I enjoy about diving. The feeling of weightlessness is a big part of the experience as is feeling water over my entire body. I enjoy finding fossils. Visibility where I look for fossils is anywhere from zero (black water) to 15 ft. Averages about 6 feet.

 

[Nylorac]

[What I see is merely part of what I enjoy about diving. The feeling of weightlessness is a big part of the experience as is feeling water over my entire body. I enjoy finding fossils. Visibility where I look for fossils is anywhere from zero (black water) to 15 ft. Averages about 6 feet.[/QUOTE]

I have been wondering what to look for with such limit visibility (I do get the part about basically flying - weightlessness and the freedom that comes with it is such a big part of my enjoyment) - now I can't wait to find fossils! How cool - where can you do that?

 

[Walter]

Venice Beach, Florida and the Cooper River in South Carolina. I've heard of places in North Carolina as well, but I have no details on that.

 

[lowviz]

I think that a number of folks misunderstand the concept of a buddy line. I have seen the term "tag line" and what I am reading leads me to think that many have been told, or think that a buddy line is a long (like 5' or longer) rope that you tie yourself to your buddy with. This is far from the original intent.

A buddy line is simply a 1 1/2' to 2 1/2' rope or strap with loops on each end to grab. You don't clip, tie or wrap it around you and I really have a problem trying to understand why any diver, even a new diver, would get such a short line fouled on anything in visability above 12" to 24".

I agree it is not a replacement for experience and trainging, but it is useful when one or more divers in the team do not have the experience for the conditions. Avoiding the conditions of the dive only reduces the chance to "become" experienced, so what's the point in avoidance?

Buddy lines are the real test of an effective buddy system.

All the above, and If done correctly, they are mostly used for communicating via tugs. PSD's use them all the time, but one of the buddies is the PSD tender on the surface.

It is much less stressful to signal 'I need help now' vs. mugging your good buddy in blackwater to get his/her air supply. The next step is to grab hands and the needy buddy will pull your hand to his/her reg., entanglement, injury, etc. (in theory). In practice, you are about to get mugged, but this time you're ready for it...

Agree on a simple communication code that both will remember:

1 tug, OK? buddy returns OK.
2 tugs, reorient face-to-face or shoulder-to-shoulder (previously agreed upon) then continue.
multiple tugs, I need assistance NOW! switch to hand contact signalling.

Requires practice:
air donation in blackwater.

 

[Guba]

now I can't wait to find fossils! How cool - where can you do that?

In my neck o' th' woods, Lake Texoma (part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma) is a good place to find some large ammonites as well as tons of pelycepods, gastropods, bryozoa, etc... Not exactly blackwater diving, but pretty darned close!

Also, in another lake my friends and I enjoy "treasure hunting". There are a couple of coves that are considered "party spots" where large number of boaters anchor together, mostly on holidays. subsquently, lots of things get dropped overboard. vis is pretty low (4-6 feet) but we always seem to have a good time collecting the sunglasses, fishing gear, etc that has been lost. We've even found cell phones, masks, snorkels, and our anchor collection is up to about ten. It doesn't take much to entertain us, I guess.