Notifying the team

[Belmont]

I don't see a wet-note as such a big problem and it makes things 100% clear. How long does it take? one, two minutes, on a 60 minute dive???

 

[Jax]

Lynne, will you share with us the concern expressed by your diver leader?

Was this a case of the leader wanting all information? Or could that difference in gas have caused a hazard in some way?

 

[TSandM]

Why did I take a 130 on a 60 foot dive? Because all the other single tanks either had air in them or were in the shop for fills. My other option was a set of doubles.

Can I do the mea culpa again on both volume and analysis? I told you guys I've already kicked myself thoroughly over both (and the tanks HAD been analyzed). That's DONE, lesson LEARNED. The only reason I started this thread was that the person leading the dive was perturbed with me for failing to tell him I had less gas than he thought, and I wondered if his opinion would be general or specific to him.

 

[LiteHedded]

Why did I take a 130 on a 60 foot dive? Because all the other single tanks either had air in them or were in the shop for fills. My other option was a set of doubles.

Can I do the mea culpa again on both volume and analysis? I told you guys I've already kicked myself thoroughly over both (and the tanks HAD been analyzed). That's DONE, lesson LEARNED. The only reason I started this thread was that the person leading the dive was perturbed with me for failing to tell him I had less gas than he thought, and I wondered if his opinion would be general or specific to him.

no need imo
sounds like a brain fart to me. and a non-issue. there are dives where this matters and dives where it just doesn't
my advice is to tell your 'dive leader' to lighten up.

 

[nwbrewer]

Lynne, will you share with us the concern expressed by your diver leader?

Was this a case of the leader wanting all information? Or could that difference in gas have caused a hazard in some way?

I'll share. First of all I admitted when I first brought this up to Lynne that I was probably blowing it out of proportion. Too much time with the the "blue gloves of death".


Here's what I sent to her via PM -

As you described it, I guess the only other thing I can think of would be the same reason we go through who's got what in which pockets before the dive. Spare masks, SMB's, knives, and gas are team resources. It's good to know where those resources are.

Just like if somebody on that dive didn't have a knife, it's not something that's crucial to the dive, but it's good to know how the resources are distributed throughout the team. If for instance Peter had experienced a 1st stage failure, and gone to you for gas. Immediately, you donate, emergency over. But after that, if we all know that you're lower on gas, maybe it makes more sense to put him on my gas for the exit. Most likely not, as you had plenty, but who knows? If there are boats buzzing around overhead, maybe we want to swim up-slope rather than direct ascent. (it's happened there more than once)

I guess I'm just thinking that anything that puts a team member outside the bounds of what was discussed during the pre-dive brief ought to be communicated to the team. (lost my spool, hoovering this dive, even somebody who's mask isn't sealing right and keeps flooding.) Not that it really compromised the team, but it does change the distribution of resources within the team.

So that was my reasoning for wanting to know. I guess I figure more information can't hurt.

Jake

 

[Blackwood]

I think a significantly lower than expected/normal gas supply is unusual enough to inform the team leader, even if there is plenty of gas for the dive.

Because I think it's important (even on a recreational dive) for the team to know what collective resources exist, if they are needed. It's also good to alert team members to the possibility of a gas leak.

The bold begs the question: what if she had been captain?

While I may be missing something, IMO if Lynne having had a 72 was a no-starter for the dive, of course: tell the team. But if she simply had a little less extra gas, it's not a big deal.

Driving cars is often used as the gas analogy. If my buddy and I go on a 100 mile drive across the desert, my car has a range of 300 miles, and after we get going I notice that I only have 3/4 of a tank, do I need to tell him?

(edit: we are each in our own car, both cars have the same range, and we plan to siphon gas in case one or the other unexpectedly runs out).

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Just curious. Being petite as you are, why take that behemoth tank on a 60' dive?

... probably because her doubles weren't available ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[piikki]

In my team you would have been expected to tell me regardless of who was leader. Setting aside the other issues, I want to know things that might come as a nasty surprise later on in a dive - however benign the dive. Like said it does not take much effort to pull wetnotes (while we are swimming) and just jot down the brainfart.

It might be very unlikely but I would hate to get the extra surprise of low gas on my trusted buddy in a situation where, say, the new diver had a big issue. I would be counting on us both having tons of gas to assist, jumping on the task, and then seeing you needing to abort prematurely. I would be in the dark having to guess what is the reason and how much assistance you need etc. Why pile the extra communication on a possible, albeit unlikely, rushed moment where it can cause unnecessary stress when it can be done in peace and quiet dawdling about. Yes, it's an easy dive but why not stack things in your favour. I like to stay overinformed.

 

[kathydee]

The bold begs the question: what if she had been captain?

True, I mentioned team captain to respond to the OP, but I agree the info should be communicated to the entire team.

One thing I really love about this type of diving is the detailed pre-dive check, which greatly establishes what to predict. Under the wrong circumstance, a variation such as ½ the anticipated gas supply could be a surprise - even at 60ft.

 

[PfcAJ]

I really think ya'll are over thinking this.

The "problem" did does not impact the dive in any way shape or form. Overcommunication leads to confusion, and everyone ends up worrying about nothing. Its a 40-60ft dive where all the gas and safety parameters have been met. If everyone is ok and there is enough gas in the water for the entire dive (including min gas) then whats the difference? You can't make more gas appear, and more gas isn't even needed.

Notifying the "dive leader" about every little thing is excessive and not needed. This is a fun activity, not a precision military maneuver where you're expected to call in a situation report every 10mins. Lighten up, go have some fun and blow bubbles.