lamont
Contributor
MikeFerrara:
I wrote this up on s-drills after DIRF -- i think the summary is that it is a deceptively complicated skill that benefits from training:
For practice runs the recipient should make sure that their primary reg is detuned to prevent free-flow. For practice runs the recipient should take the primary reg out of their mounth and signal emphatically that they are out of air. In real situations the recipient would keep the reg in their mouth as protection against aspirating water into the lungs.
The donors right hand grasps the long hose adjacent to the reg, dips their head and deploys the long hose. They do not grab the regulator since that blocks the donor from being able to clear it. To deploy the reg the donor grabs the reg with their palm facing their face, they bring the reg around their head and deploy it with a straight arm, palm down so that the reg is faced down and does not free flow, with a flip up at the end of the motion to present the reg to the recipient. The donor then sweeps up with the left hand to get the backup reg, clear checks it and breathes off of it. It is important that the donor gets the long hose deployed before sweeping for the necklace otherwise the long hose will get caught up with the left hand.
The recipient should clear check the long hose and then breathe off of it. At this point both the donor and recipient are breathing off of the donor's tank and the simulated emergency is over. Both team members should take the time to fully evaluate the rest of the situation. Buoyancy control should be re-established, lines or other positional references should be relocated, other team members should be located and/or signalled to, equipment should be checked and okay signals should be flashed to all team members.
The donor will need to clear the long hose over their shoulder. This may require the donor to change how their can light is routed around the long hose. The recipient should be holding onto the long hose to prevent the reg from being pulled out of their mouth. The donor should trace back the long hose and windmill it over their shoulder and then give it a few tugs. The long hose should be traced backwards to ensure that it is the correct hose.
The donor will then unclip their SPG, windmill it over their shoulder, check it and show it to the recipient. The recipient should be cleaning up their equipment and clipping of their long hose to the left chest D-ring. The donor should check the recipient and tell them (or help them) to clean up if necessary.
Buoyancy control, positioning, buddy contact with all team members, and clean equipment config should be maintained at all times and should be reaquired if lost.
The donor is in control and should choose and indicate direction to take. In single-file the recipient should lead since they will be unlikely to attempt to leave their gas supply. On a three man team, the recipient should be sandwiched between the other team members. If swimming abrest and going to the donor's right, the donor brings the long hose over the back of their head. The recipient should form a loop to take up the excess slack in the long hose. If going to the donor's left, the recipient should loop the long hose over their head and take up any excess slack.
The recipient should offer their elbow and the donor should grasp it and use touch signals to indicate go (two pushes) or stop (two squeezes).
