Keeping up with Buddy in Low Visibility

[Doc Harry]

Low viz is a really challenging.

Lately cwilson and I have been doing some really low viz diving (viz is measured in inches) down at depths of around 100-105 feet.

When the viz gets really bad we go to touch contact. The leader attempts to use the compass to navigate, but it is very difficult to do when you have to hold onto your buddy and you can barely see your compass in 3 inches of visibility.

If I am leading, I switch my light into my right hand (the same hand I am using to grab my buddy's left arm) and illuminate my compass for 15 seconds. This gets the compass to glow for a while. Then I press my mask to the compass and read the bearing in the glow. Usually I pull right, so I make a correction to the left to get back on track. (Everyone pulls one way or the other when the lights go out, it's nice to know which way you pull.)

Touch contact signals must be practiced because you can't see lights or hand signals.

Eventually really low viz diving with a buddy is big exercise in frustration and we signal to start ascending and get out of the muck.

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.

 

[David_57]

Take a Solo Diving course Happens to me in low vis with current although I have over 300 dives and my buddy closer to 500. The only way to avoid loosing sight of your buddy avoid low vis diving which I cannot understand how anyone could enjoy as you can not see anything?

 

[James R]

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 gf and I have a system that is pretty simple and works for us. Keep in mind that she has less than 50 dives, and is a bit uncomfortable in lower viz conditions (but is getting much better). There are a few guidelines that we follow, too.
1) low viz dive = ALWAYS take primary and backup light, and a tank marker light.
2) Either of us can call the dive, request we ascend to a shallower depth, or anything else with no pressure to continue from the other. Ever. Never push your dive buddy go past his or her comfort level.
3) Avoid free decent if at all possible. Follow the mooring line or lake bottom.
4) Avoid free ascent if at all possible. Follow mooring line or bottom back up, or I will send up a SMB with my reel.

Because my gf is a bit nervous when viz is under 6-8 feet, she likes to hold on. I attach my SMB to a d-ring on my right side back near my wing that works perfectly for this - she just hangs on to the SMB. She is on my right, holding on with her left hand, with her primary light in her right hand. I then have both hands available to control the compass if needed and my own light. The key is to move slowly and deliberately, and communicate often with hand signals and/or slate.

When I dive with others that are more comfortable in lower viz, we usually just swim side by side, keeping each other in sight and communicating often. Lights make this much easier.

However, there have been times when I've become separated from a very experienced dive buddy in 2-4' viz on a night dive - it happened just a couple days ago actually. We surfaced about 6' apart, but couldn't see each other or our lights at depth. Just a pause to clear a mask is all it took. The important thing to remember if you do get separated is to stop and relax, then move forward with your lost buddy contingency plans.

 

[carrielsal]

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!

 

[oldschool]

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tag along with a local instructor and a student making his last dive for his O/W. The viz in our local lake that day was two feet at best. The following technique was used. The instructor had a 5 ft piece of pvc pipe. He held on at one end and the student had the other end. They swam side by side with the pipe in front. This was much better than a tether. The pipe can not get tangled around debris. When one dive turned, it was obvious to the other diver. I followed slightly behind and above them and observed. The pvc pipe technique worked perfectly keeping both divers together and providing a sense of comfort knowing the other diver was just a few feet away at the other end of the pipe.

 

[jjhill]

A couple of thoughts on this...I have done more than my fair share of low vis diving. In many areas around here we are talking about how good the visibility is if we can see 10 feet.

Buddy lines do have a purpose in low vis diving. In conditions where you have 10 ft vis, I wouldn't use one as it wouldn't be needed. If you do use one as others have mentioned be aware for entaglement hazards with the line.

Dive lights also have a place in low vis diving, however if the low vis is due to a lot of suspended sediment as is often the case in some of our local reservoirs then lights can also cause a lot of back scatter as they reflect of the suspended particles in the water.

The best option for low vis diving is simply practise. Underwater navigation is a learned skill and is not easy with no natural features to serve as clues. Swimming a straight course in open water is a challenge enough let alone in poor vis conditions. I suspect this is more the reason you were swimming in circles as opposed to the fact you were holding hands with your buddy.

When navigating in open water, it is more than just taking a bearing and swimming in a certain direction. Doing so alone, you will find yourself veering off course in no time. I like to have my compass on my SPG console and on a retractable clip where I can pull it out and hold it at arms length. Then swim using the side window on the compass. Your job as lead is to focus on the compass bearing making sure you are holding steady on your bearing by constantly watching your compass. (Don't forget to occasionally glance at your other depth NDL and gas pressure though) You buddy if conditions allow can swim by your shoulder, or if vis is really poor can grab you by the right elbow. (Touch also allows the use of touch signals ie 1 squeeze for ok ect if vis is too poor for conventional signals) Your buddy to make things easier can also serve to keep track of fin kicks or time (if swimming certain patterns) and also keeping track of depth to ensure that a constant depth is achieved.

It is common for new divers who are task loaded or concentrating hard on a task to subconsciously hold their breath or breath shallower keeping more air in the lungs which can cause you to ascend without noticing while focused on other tasks. Try to keep the normal inhalations and exhalations as you navigate.

Navigation in low vis conditions is not easy and will not be perfected on the first few attempts. Keep practising, practise navigation in good and poor visibility and you will see improvement. Despite what a lot of divers might say, low vis diving can be quite fun.

 

[Buoyant1]

Lots have said it, but a good strong light goes a long way! We routinely dive in very low visibility, even in broad daylight, but we always take our lights.

This past Sunday, it was a struggle at time seeing the guy I was diving with, but I just kept the beam on the yellow band on his cylinder (Nitrox sticker) since he was leading, and I was following.

Some of the guys that have darker colored fins, put reflective tape on the bottom, which makes it easier to see as well.

Low viz diving doesn't have to suck! We do what we need to do!

 

[Nylorac]

Many thanks Don - I really appreciate the advice! I found Rock Bottom and your advice on communication very helpful - nothing better than additional safety measures to add confidence. At least I don't have difficulty with the buoyancy factor. What I find difficult is not the darkness but the murkiness. I dove cenotes in Mexico - they were pitch black but with dive lights it was crystal clear and beautiful - you can't get that up here with any dive light.

After reading some other posts though I have to wonder at what point is it really worth diving in dark murky water - what do you get to see at really low viz (I keep hearing 5 to 8 ft or less)? At that point is it just the challenge to complete the dive or will I really see more stuff when I am less stressed?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Take a Solo Diving course Happens to me in low vis with current although I have over 300 dives and my buddy closer to 500. The only way to avoid loosing sight of your buddy avoid low vis diving which I cannot understand how anyone could enjoy as you can not see anything?

The bolded part is decidedly not true ... the only way to avoid losing sight of your buddy is to develop the proper skills for diving in low-vis conditions. Those skills are a combination of awareness, positioning, communication, and swimming speed. My buddies and I will routinely dive in teams of three ... sometimes with cameras ... in far less than 10 feet of vis without getting separated. Mostly what it takes is the will to learn how to do it and the discipline to stick together.

In any condition, diving with a buddy is all about predictable behavior. If your buddy knows what to expect of you ... and you of him ... you can dive in virtually any condition without losing each other.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

After reading some other posts though I have to wonder at what point is it really worth diving in dark murky water - what do you get to see at really low viz (I keep hearing 5 to 8 ft or less)? At that point is it just the challenge to complete the dive or will I really see more stuff when I am less stressed?

Click on the link in my signature (below). Then select the Photos tab and the Pacific Northwest Inverterbrates folder. At least half of the pictures in that folder were taken in 10 feet or less visibility.

Being less stressed just comes with practice ... the more you dive in any given conditions, the easier it becomes.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)