socaldiver
Contributor
I apologize if I bring up a topic that has been hashed in the past , I searched but didn't see anything in the archives, lately anyway.
The reason I bring this topic up is I just read a story on another sight about a dad with his 14 year old son, who is his dive buddy, doing a dive at the Flower Gardens earlier this month. They did their first dive and after a surface interval prepared to do the second dive. After entering the water and descending a short time, the father was still at 2800 psi but the son was down to 1000 psi. The ascended and after they got on the boat it was discovered the boy forgot to take his 1st stage off so the boat crew could refill. This is no knock on the boat crew.
Now, my question is, before they went in the water wasn't it the responsibility of both the diver and his buddy to check pressure gauges, as well as other buddy checks?
My dive buddy is relying on me and I on my buddy to make sure everything is kosher with our gear BEFORE we get into the water. This includes all checks that equipment is attached properly and functioning. After we enter the water it is our responsibility to be together to assure a safe, fun dive with hopefully no traumatic experiences.
If they both would have performed the proper checks this wouldn't have happened. At the same time, the unfortunate death at Flower Gardens last week may not have happened if the buddies would have stayed together.
I know the buddy system was taught during my training and embedded in my mind. How about you?
ID this may be along the same lines as your thread earlier about the "lack" of proper training or lackadaisical approach many divers take today.
What checks do you and your buddy perform before entering the water, and what do you do after you get wet?
The reason I bring this topic up is I just read a story on another sight about a dad with his 14 year old son, who is his dive buddy, doing a dive at the Flower Gardens earlier this month. They did their first dive and after a surface interval prepared to do the second dive. After entering the water and descending a short time, the father was still at 2800 psi but the son was down to 1000 psi. The ascended and after they got on the boat it was discovered the boy forgot to take his 1st stage off so the boat crew could refill. This is no knock on the boat crew.
Now, my question is, before they went in the water wasn't it the responsibility of both the diver and his buddy to check pressure gauges, as well as other buddy checks?
My dive buddy is relying on me and I on my buddy to make sure everything is kosher with our gear BEFORE we get into the water. This includes all checks that equipment is attached properly and functioning. After we enter the water it is our responsibility to be together to assure a safe, fun dive with hopefully no traumatic experiences.
If they both would have performed the proper checks this wouldn't have happened. At the same time, the unfortunate death at Flower Gardens last week may not have happened if the buddies would have stayed together.
I know the buddy system was taught during my training and embedded in my mind. How about you?
ID this may be along the same lines as your thread earlier about the "lack" of proper training or lackadaisical approach many divers take today.
What checks do you and your buddy perform before entering the water, and what do you do after you get wet?