When we had the boat in the panhandle, diving off Panama City Beach we always left the boat and dove together. A good anchor with lots of chain and plenty of scope in the line makes it safe. Up there our diving was also more localized, a bridge span, wreck or just a pile of construction debris. Maybe after a storm you hear of a tiny patch of live bottom was uncovered . Anyway up there, just like
@MaxBottomtime we were always a minute or two from the boat. Did that for about 4-5 years but I got my fill of that section of the Gulf, was good for spearfishing but way too colorless for me.
Here in South Florida you can move 1-2 miles on a strong current day, the theory of starting the dive against the current and the 2nd half of the dive just drift back doesn't work very good.
Down here the boat traffic can be intense at times.... Many factors that made us decide against leaving the boat.
I use and prefer a "Christmas tree" style ladder. It can be climbed almost as easily with fins on, so I don't doff my fins before climbing aboard. In the incident you're describing, it seems as if the victim suffered some kind of medical event and became incapacitated. Keeping one's BCD - and drysuit if applicable - inflated all the time when on the surface would at least prevent one from sinking and allow the boat tender to hook a line in the body and tow it to port (I'm only slightly joking here).
I agree it would be a medical issue, and I'm looking for a last 'hail Mary" kind of chance.
Again thinking my last action would be to save a pair of fins seems so futile. I hope to have the presence of mind to ignore the fins or any piece of gear and ask for help somehow. And I also emphasize this to my husband because sometimes he forgets he's not 30 anymore,. Not very competitive guy, but sometimes the reality of age are almost surprising for both of us.
Also the recovery of the body if that was your time to go is an issue. No joke.
It may be a bit dark, but with this guy during mini season, the recovery was less than great. Not 100% of the details between what I hear in the radio and the news later on. Seems some unrelated divers found him either they drift to him or the other way around, but they didn't actually brought the body up, couple hours later I think BSO got the buddy.
I just soon get my husband's body right of way and end the false hopes.
On an even different note...if you end up next to a body during your dive. Can you just bring him up ? Better question shouldn't you? I think I would rather do that than letting the buddy keep drifting, I think I'd have nightmares if o let go.