Please buy your own

[Cacia]

I know I go on and on about surface markers in big seas. Well, a situation that I keep finding myself in, is that others will ask me why I did not "leave my marker" with a diver that remains down. I know the search guys are stressed when the predicted time goes by, and still...no diver. Please do not expect me to relinquish my most valued item of safety gear to someone else. I know that sometimes I am on my own and have made allowances for this. It is not okay to expect me to feel obligated to give away my marker. I dive in new sites where there is current that changes unpredictably. I have two kids waiting at home. I will share my air if we are together, no problem. I will share anything I have if we are in trouble. Don't ask for my gear if I am returning to the boat alone.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Good point Catherine. IMO, all divers should carry an SMB and know how to shoot it. I wouldn't give up mine either.

 

[Mike Newman]

Catherine - I respect your argument about holding onto your own safety gear - absolutely right. But, forgive me mentioning it, should anyone be 'returning to the boat alone'?

Safe practice suggests that buddy pairs turn the dive whenever either needs to start back.

 

[HowardE]

Many dive ops (here) will insist that you MUST have a safety sausage. Some will even lend them out to divers that are without.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Catherine - I respect your argument about holding onto your own safety gear - absolutely right. But, forgive me mentioning it, should anyone be 'returning to the boat alone'?

Safe practice suggests that buddy pairs turn the dive whenever either needs to start back.

I disagree here. I see no problem with anyone returning to the surface alone. I know the safety nazis disagree with me but if I can't get to the surface alone without incident then I'm one needy diver.

Catherine has someone suggested you leave behind a piece of your own safety gear? I can't imagine asking someone for apiece of their gear.

 

[H20Bubbles]

I disagree here. I see no problem with anyone returning to the surface alone. I know the safety nazis disagree with me but if I can't get to the surface alone without incident then I'm one needy diver.

You're kind of missing his point... sure you can get to the surface alone. But what happens if your buddy who you left behind finds themself in a situation where they need their buddy and you are sitting up on the surface?

The whole point in buddy diving is to watch out for each other. Kind of hard to do that when one is here and another is somewhere else.

 

[Mike Newman]

Al - no arguments with you - we've probably all done this, but it's safer to work buddied up. Please, let's not start a sideline on the issue.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Aaaah, ok, you didn't want me to start a sideline? Wait, didn't you start it???

You certain it's safer to work with a buddy? You certain? Oh wait, another sideline.

Back on track, sure, I paid for my sausage and it stays with me.

 

[HowardE]

The whole point in buddy diving is to watch out for each other. Kind of hard to do that when one is here and another is somewhere else.

Yes... and in case that can't happen (for whatever reason), each diver should have their own sausage.

 

[tjmills]

Thats an unbelieveable thing to suggest that you leave you SMB for someone else who is staying down. Not a chance and I would be the first to tell anyone who confronted me with such a suggestion exactly what I thought of their suggestion.....

The one question that I have is.....SMB/Sausages aren't very expensive and if the Charters are so concerned about this....why don't they supply or rent these to people who get on their boats and make them a required safety gear. Maybe even make a little training a part of the briefing???