Wayne -- your comment intrigues me for I'm uncertain as to what happened here.
Did you provide the other two with your 2nd stages and swim to the safety diver yourself hauling the other two with you? Or did you ditch your gear, leaving it with them and swim up? Or???? Color me confused as to what happened but intrigued.
Hi Peter... I gave my primary to the OOA diver and went to my secondary (this was contrary to Agency procedure at the time). I have no idea why I did that; I know I was totally caught off guard and just responded.
The Buddy wasn't close to us (10'?) sort of grooving to himself, shaking his hands around, narced. My attention was on the Diver OOA. He was hyperventilating and I couldn't help but think, we had to start to ascend before he used what air I had left. I tried to move him, but he shrugged me off. I decided to bring us both to the safety stop, which I started to do.
His buddy came up to me on my left, tapped me on the shoulder and gave me the "Give me Air" signal. I gave him air (buddy-breathing). He responded slowly to giving the regulator back, but as I had control, he didn't have much choice. Although I had started to ascend, all I could think about was the first Diver hyperventilating and the second being slow to buddy-breath; it was time to bail-out of the situation. Hopefully they would ascend to a depth where they would calm down and start the decompression process with the extra gas that was available at 50 FSW.
I started to take off my BC/Tank hanging on to my secondary with my left hand (in a death grip in-case Buddy didn't want to give it back) and using my right hand to undo my harness. I had just became clear of my BC, when I was waved off by the other two divers who were in our party of five. I replaced my SCUBA and indicated that I would start my ascent, as I was low on air. I think I had 500 psi at the time. I began my ascent to the safety diver who became worried (time) and met me at 100 FSW.
I don't think that I've ever been more angry at two divers in my life! Two Instructors (the Agency of which will be unnamed)... who obviously had no idea about gas planning or their SAC. They wouldn't even look at me at the decompression stops (which pissed me off more). On the surface they said nothing. No Sorry about that, or thanks for saving our asses, nothing...
As I was a guest on the dive (Dave, a PADI Instructor who was in-charge of the diving operation at Habitat at the time) and his friend from the Marine Lab had asked me to accompany them. The two other Divers were added on the morning of the dive. I was dubious of these divers, but it wasn't my decision. We agreed to each dive solo (collectively).
I was a Diver with the Navy at the time. Navy training is all about supporting the team (no matter what the personal consequences). I suppose that was in my mind and when it came down to it, I couldn't deny someone assistance. But by opening the door, it almost closed on my neck. It was a truly a learning experience for me.