Threesomes - yea or nay? And why?

[Randy g]

We started diving as a 3 person team this season and it has really worked out well for us. Fortunately our new buddy was certified when I was back in the mid-80s and is a solid diver, plus he was able to help keep an eye on my better half who has become an exceptionally good diver over the last year, but still newish after 100+ dives.

We make a plan pre dive and have been able to follow the plan on every dive, except one, this year. I like it because I have a extra set of eyes on Kate and sometimes I break off to go video something I see, after telling Patrick to keep an eye on her and letting her know I will be back in a few minutes and to keep an eye on Patrick.

We have been scootering the big wrecks togather in NC and using our lights to signal each other when we spread out. This has been a real comfort with all of us using our UWLD LEDs. Its nice to not see someone physically but know they are there because you see their light.

After 4 yrs of stressful dives for me while she was learning, simply because I worry about her and her safety. This is the first year I have finally felt more or less completely relaxed and have been able to really enjoy our dives togather. We have had an exceptional season thanks to our 3 diver team.

Now we are all enrolled in Cavern togather in a couple of weeks and looking forward to more epic dives this next year as a 3 diver team.

 

[Damselfish]

I've dove in 3s fairly often and I think it works very well when it's 3 people that know each other. I rather like it. A 3rd unknown diver stuck onto an existing buddy pair is at least as iffy as any instabuddy. I've had good and bad experiences with "adoptions".

 

[Audsred]

I don't have a 'consistent' buddy to dive with so it is not uncommon for me to be the 'third'. I've found that it is not the number (2, 3, 4, 5) of the divers in the group - but having a 'leader' (that everyone follows) and everyone having a understanding of the dive & rules for the dive. I actually prefer to dive with a group of 3-5.

 

[fjpatrum]

I only have a couple of three-person team dives. I have one 4 person "team" dive. All were reasonably successful. I found the 3 person a little more cumbersome, but not that difficult to handle. I think, with a 3rd being added to an existing team, I'd put the new diver in the middle and play "herd the cat" until I knew and understood his/her diving comfort and style.

I dive with instabuddies all the time. I don't see adding a third as anything more complicated than having the standard pre-dive conversation with a single diver.

 

[TSandM]

I won't go more than three. I've had a couple of bad experiences and even more awkward ones with trying to keep groups bigger than that really TOGETHER. If there are four divers, splitting into two teams of two and agreeing that you will make an effort to dive together, but the dive doesn't have to be aborted if the teams get separated, can make much better sense.

 

[BlackPatch]

Hi Storker.
My OW course focused heavily on awareness, not necessarily buddy diving (as we had to interact with all the students not just a particular person) although we were always pared or in a threesome.
The instructor believed that exposure to this type of group interaction along a pre specified path would allow us to become more solid divers.
I guess his view was almost a Team Diving ethic without calling it that. The ability to understand one's duties and obligations while diving with another human being regardless of Buddy pairing or diving within a threesome or in a larger group was instilled in me right from the start.

I feel way more comfortable in a threesome than as just a buddy. I know I have two sets of diligent eyes watching over me and the other team members know they have the same.

 

[tdtaylor]

I often dive in a threesome, and did numerous times last week while on a live-a-board. The difference is I have dozens of dives with these other divers and we all have very low SAC rates. Having been together, awareness, hand signals, navigation are all natural to us, no matter if it is 2, 3 or 4 of us, excellent or poor viz.

Now, often being a single diver on trips (non-diving spouse), I often end up as an insta-buddy or 3rd assigned to an unfamiliar group. I have had some excellent dives as an insta-buddy, but more times than not I end up cutting my dive short. While less than satisfactory, it is a price I put up with to be able to dive frequently. I am amazed that I often find resistance from the other divers to go over the basics of diving together on the surface.

Terry

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Which is why I look for other experienced same ocean buddies. We go in together and agree to meet on the up line at some time. Somebody runs low or needs to abort sooner we agree to not interrupt the other's dive. Helps to seek out solo friendly operators in advance.

 

[mdb]

Which is why I look for other experienced same ocean buddies. We go in together and agree to meet on the up line at some time. Somebody runs low or needs to abort sooner we agree to not interrupt the other's dive. Helps to seek out solo friendly operators in advance.

I have been a same ocean diver for many years. The solo dives are so peaceful.

 

[Adventure-Ocean]

Threesomes work as well as two if the divers respect the principle of being a buddy. It's not difficult to stay together on a recreational dive. I had problems with three because the other two had different projects. I worked at a university and the students were marine biology students and were often out collecting samples or data. Their priorities led them to separate. We fought over this issue long and hard while creating the dive safety manual for the university. In the end we restricted threesomes. Every diver had to have a buddy. We continued to have buddy problems untill the day I retired. Our big problem was that the students and faculty often put science over safety. Your thread mentioned a time you separated because of differant agendas. We had that issue on a daily basis. Adventure-Ocean