Tethers

[String]

Only problem i can see with the "just above" is if conditions and vis aren't great if that problem first manifests itself with the diver rising slightly (quite common as they take a deep breath) it may take them out of reach and nobody can see them to assist.

 

[CaseyJr]

Latest (Sept. '08) issue of DIVE TRAINING -- appropriate article!

 

[adurso]

I use a tether/jon line/buddy line quite frequently. My daughter started diving when she was 10 and we dive in quite low viz conditions with my wife as third. I used a 10 foot length of 550 paracord with loops on each end and one in the middle. Wife and I on outside and daughter in middle holding on to loops, buddy line in left hand flag line in right.

We have done countless dives in low viz this way over the past five years without an issue.

Although they are now experienced enough to stay close as a team without the line, in really low viz, like a foot or so, they still like the line.

 

[htn123]

CaseyJr,
I know exactly how you felt . My 2 kids certified when they were 10 yrs old, 4 yrs ago.
When we first started, I wanted to dive as much as possible to get them comfortable with the water. Being in Austin at the time, the nearest dive hole is Lake Travis. Vis is about 10' if we are lucky so I did use tether lines with both of my kids.
I got two 3 feet boat ropes from Home Depot. I hold both lines, one on left and one on right on both of them. They hold the other end of the ropes. I purposely over weighted myself just in case both of them decided to become ICBM under water . Worked out OK with the lines for the first few of dives. The lines are mostly for them to feel that they have someone "holding their hands" without really holding their hands in the first few dives.
After that I just hold both of their BCDs at the shoulders and stay above them while the three of us cruise near the bottom. It worked out much better. Once in a while I would let go one hand so they have a little freedom to cruise around. Always stay arm length from them tho.
Now, they are efficient with their buoyancy control, I just keep an eye on them while they have fun underwater. Live is so much more fun diving with them. Hope you will have fun diving with your kid.

 

[bane51031]

Holding hands works but, what we have been doing on training dives when viz. way down is using 2 large carabieners (sp?) and I mean the large ones you can buy at a hardware store for about $5.00 each and hooking one on each side of the the main diver on the lower waist D ring and then one diver on each side can grab ahold of the carabieners (sp?) and the main diver can focus on tending to the flag and leading the dive, helps everyone establish a routine on how far to be in low viz. from each other and lessens the chance of entanglement Just a thought, good luck....

 

[Guba]

My buddy and I use a tether in only one situation. Once or twice a year, we scour a popular "party cove" to see what has been accidentally dropped over the sides of visiting boats. (We've recovered five anchors so far in addition to the usual sunglasses, fishing gear, knives, bikini tops, etc...) The vis is typically a few feet and this type of activity naturally involves fixing one's attention on the bottom most of the time. We use a nylon webbing strap about six feet long with velcro wrist loops on each end and a small float in the center to keep the line off the bottom. The loop can be released with a firm tug, though we have knives handy if the need should arise. I will warn the OP that any tether can become a liability since it requires special attention and tending, thus contributing to task loading for new divers.
That said, I agree with others that awarness of one's partners is a superior way of handling the problem. I certified with two family members (bro in law and his wife), and we made our first open water dives together, often in low vis. We had to learn by trial and error (SB wasn't around then...) how to keep up with one another. We finally decided on the "V" formation...leader in the middle and slightly ahead with the other two on either side. If one stopped we all stopped, and it was easy to regroup when time to move on.
Hope you've gotten help here on the boards, and keep diving. Experience will make it much easier to cope with these situations.