When to Ditch your Buddy

[The Chairman]

Your one statement (or part thereof)... "which we practice" sums up the entire essence of being prepared for whatever befalls you. Things can only become "automatic" when you practice, practice, practice!

I like NAUI because OW students have to do 2 rescues and several assists. Their philosophy is "How good is a buddy if they can't help". In every major class (not the specialties) you have to do some more rescuing. Heck, NAUI even has an advanced Rescue class.

This last summer Walter, myself and a few others from another board got together to practice rescues. He lives 3.5 hours away, and I still drove to get that type of practice in. Hey, I think it's time to do it again. Practice the various scenarios... they may save someone's life someday!

 

[PnL]

Well, that is as I suspected originally. We got certified through SDI by our LDS and they akin basic OW certification to a learner's permit and highly recommended taking at least the rescue class and the advanced soon. Our OW class didn't involve any rescue scenarios outside of OOA. My wife and I plan to practice various scenarios so we can be adept at helping each other in the event something does happen.

Hopefully we can avoid any scenario, by being prepared and ready, that involved ditching our buddies ... which would be, literally, ditching half of our lives.

 

[indiana*joe]

I have read this entire thread. I respect and admire UP's philosophy. I too can see the informed decisions of trained professionals where the rescuer comes before the victim. I have a wife and kids who need me. I have a strong "brotherly love" for my dive partner. I believe I would have to put my first responsibilities ahead of my dive partner. Here is the rub. Things do in fact happen. Unplanned for things. It is not hard for any of us who have been in any kind of near mishap to realize that the fabric of control can quickly become unwound. I would like to think I am capable of reaching my buddy who is descending quickly in 400fsw but what a difference a few seconds make. Here is some reality:

Early in my diving experience, I was on a boat dive where I was solo and was partnered with a man about my age and his 13 yo nephew. We had agreed to do a simple dive - drop down 40 feet head toward a rock and a given heading and return. We put the kid between us. The uncle descended first, the kid second and me last. Scary, but I was the senior member of the team. I barely got below the surface and assumed the sky-dive position when I realized that the boy was in an uncontrolled descent. As the boat was finding a place to set anchor, I saw the depth meter (whatever those things are called) vary from 30-110' (The Pinacles in Monterey, CA) So I was unsure of what exactly was below us. I dumped all my air (was still diving heavy then) and headed after him as fast as I could possibly equalize. I finally first touched him at 70-80' and we never actually stopped until we touched bottom at 95'.

Ok, I went after him without regard for my life. Some thoughts did go through my head on when to stop....especially afterwards. It is wonderful to always dive with divers better or equal to yourself, but what of this poor lad or a diver from the team who happens to be next to you on your descent. I tried to catch him faster, but I physically could not. When I did finally reach him, I couldn't get enough air into my BC for the both of us to stop.

I know this is still bordering hypothetical, but are there not any parameters when enough is enough? In this real scenario, I could easily see a bad outcome if it happened on a wall. How much air does a wing that is big enough to stop two descents take at 150'+ There has to be a point where the laws of physics dictate that 1000 psi at a certain depth will not get two divers back to the surface alive.

 

[DiverBuoy]

indiana*joe once bubbled...
There has to be a point where the laws of physics dictate that 1000 psi at a certain depth will not get two divers back to the surface alive.

There is and it's set in stone for all the ages. What isn't very clear and a subject of much debate on this thread is what the moral obligation is. "How far would you go?" - this is a personal question.