On the Surface

[clarissa1]

hi there...

this is probably a very silly question, but I need to know:

Where we dive the ocean is really rough with high swells and strong currents. My boyfriend and I are new divers and usually surface long before the rest of the group, however if I'm low on air before him I will ascend alone and vice versa. This is always discussed prior to the dive and we mainly do this, because we don't want to ruin each other's "already very short dives"

Anyhow...on our last dive I was low on air before him and signalled to him as well as the DM that I was going up. they both okayed and I started my ascent. When I got to the surface I couldn't see the boat anywhere and at the same time I had difficulty keeping up with the buoyline...(Obviously the skipper wasn't keeping track of the group cause he probably didn't think anyone would surface after 30minutes)

By the time I spotted the boat I realised that the skipper was having a royal time chatting to the skippers on the other dive charters and failed to keep an eye on the buoyline (which I could keep up with any longer due to the strong currents and high swells).

I became so tired in the water and eventually yelled for the skipper to see me, which he still didn't!! I finally yelled so hard that the one of the skippers on the other boats noticed me and signalled to our boat to go and pick me up. He was really annoyed with me for yelling at him, but I was having a fit by that time, thinking that I could have easily lost the buoy and he wouldn't even have realised there is a diver on the surface!!!

How do I deal with this type of situation in future?

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Both you and boyfriend should have a safety sausage, whistle, and mirror at all times when diving.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

 

[speedhound]

The bigger/brighter/louder the sausage, whistle and mirror the better. There are also some devices that fit inline with your inflator hose - "air alerts"? that create a really loud noise that can be heard for miles!

Pre-dive, make sure to ask the crew/captain/DM what happens if you come up before the expected time. If you think you'll be one of the first up, let the captain know as a "reminder".
Post-this dive, I'd be looking for a new charter to go with.

Dive Safe and Have Fun!

 

[minnesota01r6]

Also, remember that the captain of the boat is AT WORK and you shouldn't feel bad for making him do his job instead of talking to other slackers.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

New divers, you need to surface together and your experience just illustrated why. What if you had swallowed some sea water or had some other mishap that left you unable to yell or even unconscious on the surface? There is no such thing as "ruining" a dive unless of course your buddy comes back to find you injured/missing/dead--that will ruin a dive. Your first dives, especially in those kind of conditions are going to be short that's normal. Dive as much as you can, the more you dive the more comfortable you become resulting in you being more relaxed and able to make longer dives. Is there an inland lake or something similar where you can go to practice and practice your skills and build your comfort level without the pressure of the challenging conditions?

Like the others said, get a safety sausage, whistle and mirror. Learn to use them and always carry them.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Walter]

A number of things jump right out at me.

My boyfriend and I are new divers ........................................... however if I'm low on air before him I will ascend alone and vice versa.

Stop this practice NOW! You are new divers, you shouldn't be diving solo.

My boyfriend and I are new divers and usually surface long before the rest of the group, however if I'm low on air before him I will ascend alone and vice versa.

Make an OK sign around the line and ascent up the line. Don't grab the line, but remain in contact with it. This keeps you right by the buoy until the boat picks you up.

By the time I spotted the boat I realised that the skipper was having a royal time chatting to the skippers on the other dive charters and failed to keep an eye on the buoyline

Use a different charter boat.

Both you and boyfriend should have a safety sausage, whistle, and mirror at all times when diving.

Excellent advice.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

• Diving in those conditions without the proper safety equipment as mentioned above; shame on you. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.
• Surfacing without your buddy with your experience and the conditions at hand, you, your buddy and DM should all have head examined.
• Find another boat, doesn't sound like the Captain nor the DM have diver's safety as their top priority.

 

[dive_lover88]

Consider a DiveAlert as a whistle may not be enough if the wind is strong or you are downwind. The divealert has a better radius of 1.6miles....and get the rest of the safety equipments mentioned above. You will improve with more dives,so no worries about hoovering your air down. All of us started out that way.Experience is the best teacher.

 

[limeyx]

Both you and boyfriend should have a safety sausage, whistle, and mirror at all times when diving.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

and always always always ascend together, even if you are cutting a dive short.
The ascent is one of the main areas where problems can occur (especially as you just noticed when you reach the surface and it's rough)

I'd rather cut a dive short than surface to find my buddy/spouse in trouble or drowned.

As long as you agree there are no recriminations for calling a dive, you should be good. This is a rule on every dive I do -- anyone can call the dive for any reason at any time and no negative comments. We initiate an ascent and get out of the water safely.
(and on some dives, I'm paying upward of $60 for fills)

You will probably have more fun diving together and your breathing rate will start to come down in the future.

Just make sure you plan the dive well, and leave enough reserve gas to safely ascend if your buddy loses their gas.

 

[clarissa1]

Walter, I think you misunderstood...we are definitely not diving solo...we are diving with a group of about 8 people...and the DM buddy's up with the one that stays behind...

for some reason every single dive that we've been on the DM's suggest prior to the dive that you can ascend alone as long as you and your buddy is comfortable with that. I would of course prefer NOT to ascend alone, but the one time I mentioned this, everyone made me feel like a dodo, so I just went with the flow. And since then I have had to ascend alone on a few occassions.

Yip, will definitely make sure I get a mirror suasage and whistle! Will the skipper think that you are in distress if you blow on the whistle to get his attention???