Not nearly so dramatic. And not on every dive. If we have the same mission goal then we will plan the dive so that there is adequate gas for an emergency. But when the goal is not the same I don't.
So it goes kinda like this. Mate or captain gives the briefing. Which really is not much as we already know what the wreck is, how deep, how cold, and what we plan to do on it. The briefing is more or less for those who are directionally challenged. Bow is that way, stern is that way. Water temp last week was 40 degrees on the bottom with 40 ft vis min.
From there on it's pool is open. As we enter we tell the mate what expected run time is.
As for the "buddy teams" they may be diving as proper teams in whcih case they have planned for that and all that goes along with it. Others may have the goal of descending together to the wreck then splitting up. And meeting or not meeting on the up line. So they plan their dives for them as individuals. We know this going in. It is understood that if I can help I will but chances are I'm not going to be anywhere you can get to in time for me to do that. Can you swim with no air for 150 feet from the bow to the stern? And since you don't know if I will even be there when you get there as I am sticking to my run time are you willing to risk it?
These things are understood. They don't need to be made a big dramatic production of. It is a choice that is made by informed people who know the risks. Obviously it's not DIR. I don't care as neither am I. At one time I wanted to take GUE training. Just because. But time, money, and lack of suitable teammates who could dive when I wanted to where I wanted to made that impractical. If I had to dive with a team all the time I wouldn't get half the dives in that I do. Nothing wrong at all with the approach. It;s just not for me.
This was all I was going to say until a thought hit me at work.
I have regs to service and a pool appointment so this is the last I am going to say for a few hours. While so many are all up in arms about the stance that seems to be advocated as stupid, dangerous, evil, and perhaps even blasphemous I find a good deal of hypocrisy as well.
If this stance of not helping a diver in trouble is so bad why are so many teaching an Open Water class that doesn't even contain rudimentary rescue skills that used to be in all basic classes. Unless one has a cramp or are "tired". Then you know what to do.
But if the OW diver or the OW diver and his/her equally trained and experienced buddy:
1. come upon a non responsive diver at depth,
2. a panicked diver at the surface or underwater,
3. a grossly overweighted diver whose BC has failed and needs assistance surfacing and staying positive at the surface until they drop or are assisted in dropping lead, or
4. a diver that needs to towed to shore and their gear removed to facilitate a fast exit from the water they are SOL.
Because the newer divers are thought to be incapable of learning these very basic techniques to deal with such problems. At least until they have been fleeced for more money for "adventure dives" and a Rescue class. A class that by the way many never take because they have been trained to rely on a DM, AI, Guide, or Instructor.
So which is worse. An experienced diver being honest about not helping someone. OR a new diver being denied the skills and knowledge to help the people more likely to need assistance on a more frequent basis?
How do DIR divers reconcile or view this? When members who profess to abide by team principles stand by or assist those who do not. Or who knowingly assist in putting divers in the water who are incapable of planning the most basic of dives on ther own?
How can anyone who will not give new divers the tools to even try to help a fellow diver throw stones? Or teach for an agency that denies new divers these skills?
