When did you learn Buddy Breathing

[Mopar]

I never learned it. It was in the book if you want to count that, but the skill was never practiced.

I have made sure I'm familiar with it, but I still have not yet actually practiced the skill with anyone.

I would try it with your buddy on your next dive. Just so you can get some practice.

I learned in OW.My instuctors put a fair amount of emphasis on it.

Sounds like a good instructor.

 

[Sas]

I learned about it after reading about it on Scubaboard. Me and my buddy collected a list of skills to practice, which we do now and again. Some we were taught about in class but a lot of them (like buddy breathing) we just taught ourselves after reading about them or hearing from other divers. Buddy breathing sounded really hard before I actually tried it but it is really very easy.

 

[tstormdiver]

Buddy breathing (2 people breathing off the same regualtor) was demonstrated by the instructor in our OW class, but not done by the students. When I took my Adv. Nitrox course, we had to swim 2 pool lengths with no mask & buddy breathing. That was the first time I had ever done it. It really wasn't hard, but it was stressful.

 

[H2O 70]

For all of you that chimed in that you learned it in OW, I'd love to know when you took OW and through what agency.

 

[Diver0001]

PADI, 1984 - BB was a required skill

 

[DennisS]

YMCA Open Water-1972, when I did my marine technician classes we'd have five people down there and take turns going from diver to diver for four different OOA drills. I haven't done it in over 30 years, I really like the idea of an octopus.

 

[H2O 70]

When did agencies remove buddy breathing from OW?

 

[Diver0001]

PADI made it optional at some point but many instructors stopped teaching it.

PADI announced at the end of last year that they're taking it out of the standards. In the 2010 instructor's manual it's not in there.

That's the reason for all of the recent focus on this skill. People are understandably concerned about this change.

R..

 

[Allen Herron]

I learned in NAUI open water. I think PADI thinks it is too dangerous to teach in OW.

 

[Paladin]

I learned from my mentor (never took classes from any agency) back in the '60s. We used double hose regs (DA Aqua-Masters). Single hose BB is so easy and stress free, I really don't understand why it isn't taught as a standard part of the modern OW course.