Jeff_O
Contributor
I was wondering if anyone had ever had the dive plan that on one dive one of the buddies leads the dive an other follows. Next dive visa versa. Sounds like a way when low visibility that you don't get separated. Just it was this flim flam agreeing I spouse as it never was ever adhered to when I tried. But most I dove with a buddie that had a shoulder zip drysuit. So this made for some checking for zip up anyway. The worst case of a buddy paired with guy on boat was this. I learned about about doing a dive navigate with compass. Distance by kick strokes or just figured included too. It was for a night dive, my first. Told the guy we should do this. Go to front anchor on bottom. Go straight into current. Then the idea of air used, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule. Out, back, and reserve for emergency. So at some point out into current, make left or right 90degree degree turn. Swim a bit and make a 45 degree turn toward the area you were swimming on the first part. You might find something you already had seen. Maybe the boat ankor. But this dive the pickup buddy swam much to far into the current. I kept trying to tell to turn. Then at a point he did turn and air was getting low. Then I indicated another turn but he kept on going. I felt responsible some for him. Both so low on air and we both surface to see the boat far away. Choppy water enough to make snorkeling difficult. Current line was out and we swam for it. I think I remember the crew lengthening the current line. The boat also I forget but might have dragged the ankor. OK we got back alright after having a surface swim from hell, but pickup buddies that are not friends from dive club that I had already done easy shore dives with before, I am more knowing what you might be paired with. I've done many night dives off dive boats after that first and had much better times since that. Diving since 80.Yeah...... Good point. I guess I just always figured that if PADI gave a 5 Star designation to a shop, along with all the promotions and fees, memberships, con-ed, etc.....that they were somehow involved...