Silly Newbie question #216

[Manta Aria]

This thought just occured to me a couple days ago.
Situation: You are diving with your buddy, over the next few minutes the viz plummets from 30' to 15' to 3' or less ( you get the idea), because of particulate matter. Even though you are practically in your buddies lap ( he'll want to see a ring on his finger when he reaches the surface, you're THAT close...), you are having trouble seeing your own hands let alone him/her...

Question: Is it acceptable ( in my fellow divers opinion..I trust your general concensus..) to use a Jon line to link you to your dive buddy? I've seen something similar on Spec.Ops. documentaries, where a team of military divers will swim to their infiltration/objective point with a long webbing line between them linking them...Unit Cohesiveness I believe the doctrine is called. Would it be wise to apply such a practice in such a silt out condition/environment?

Would this create an unsafe condition by itself?

 

[GDI]

heck hold hands if you have to or yes if you need to hold a line between you

 

[venturediver]

It is perfectly acceptable to use a buddy line. Some people will even shorten the line if the visibility gets below arms length.
However, you need to verify if the silt out is caused naturally or by or skills at finning when you are diving. Some areas require a modified fin kick such as a dolphin kick or a frog kick. By all means use a buddy line. But check your skills to see if you can prevent the visibility issues.

 

[CuriousRambler]

Though I'm probably one of the least experienced members of the board, I'd say you'd probably be better off tying together than just hoping you stay together. Depending on the conditions, location, etc. I'd probably ascend from that particular dive personally. I don't think I'd trust anyone who I hadn't been diving with at least somewhat regularly in conditions like that, if I didn't know how they were going to act, I wouldn't want to take the chance, even if I had a hardline to them.

 

[maj2]

I use a buddy lin regularly in low viz.
I also put a small float on the line as well (one with a hole running down the center, so the float slides along the line). That way, if we are swimming closer together, any excess line is pulled out of the way (upward) and cannot become accidentally entangled.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Though I'm probably one of the least experienced members of the board, I'd say you'd probably be better off tying together than just hoping you stay together.

Just one note on the buddy-lines, it is preferrable to many that each diver hold the line in their hands instead of tying it to themselves. Its much quicker to release should the need arise.

However, you need to verify if the silt out is caused naturally or by or skills at finning when you are diving.

And a good point is made here, diver-caused silt-outs, whether its you/your buddy, a class, those divers that happened through...etc, are usually localized, or at least follow the trail of the offending diver. Moving a few feet in any direction usually finds clearer water.

 

[minnesota01r6]

I agree with CD_in_Chitown - I wouldn't tie off to a buddy because at that point I am trusting that they wont loose control of buyancy or decide for whatever reason to bolt for the surface taking me with them. I would gladly hold onto a line between the two of us, but one must be careful not to drag the buddy line along the reef and destroy marine life. Use a positive buyancy line or a float in the middle. Since my buddy is my fiance 99% of the time, I would just hold hands or grab on to her BC.

 

[Averill]

When vis is low enough that I can't see a glow from my buddy's light, I'll hang onto an arm or rest my hand on a tank. Every so often I make sure my buddy knows i'm still there. If vis is that low, we've usually already called the dive and are on our way back. We've talked about using lines, but physical contact has worked well for us so far.

( he'll want to see a ring on his finger when he reaches the surface, you're THAT close...)

lol

 

[J75]

Using a line is definitely advised; however, you'd be smart to each hold onto the line instead of tying it on. If the viz is that bad, imagine having to deal with entanglement.