Accident Averted thanks to Diver Joe

[barb]

Diver Joe is the Hero today!!!

Last night a group of divers were out on the Muskie and a diver became separated from his buddies (yes a threesome) and then realized he was low on air.
He tried to find someone to ascend with him but decided to go it alone (apparently his reg. was not breathing smoothly either).
He made it to the line and began a very rapid ascent.
In comes Diver Joe - Joe witnessed this situation and moved in quickly above the Low on air diver and intercepted him, calming him down and signalling share air. Joe dives with doubles and had lots to share.
The two made a nice controlled ascent up the line and all was fine in the end. This could have been a much more serious event but Joe's clear, calm thinking and actions saved the dive.
Thanks Joe, I'll dive with you anytime.

Lessons to learn:
1) Diving as three requires extra planning.
2) Don't get in the water if your equipment isn't operating
properly.
3) Optional (bring a Diver Joe with you on all your dives)

:)

[eagleray2003]

Was the diver capable of doing this dive?Do him and his buddy not review buddy proceedures?
I would say another close call that could have been avoided, but good goin Diver Joe it is a good thing somebody was on the ball.

[Big-t-2538]

Diving threes always is a little tricky, but with communication it works.

Good to hear an accident was avoided....

[Scuba_18]

Having dove in threes several times, I know that the communication is a key. THe problem with the three is generally one person is looking at two while the others watch one each. I have been seperated from a threesome once and luckily I had air and could surface after the customary 1 minute search.

Good catch diver dave.

[epconti]

Way to go, Joe!

- eric

[annie]

Hi

What is the best way to dive a threesome? I think 2 in front and one behind is totally wrong . . ..I would try to make sure that it's one in front with the other two watching him/her and eachother. What do you think.

[barb]

at least on a wreck, is that it's almost impossible to stay side-by-side so the group seems to naturally end up diving single file. The problem then is that the lead diver dictates the speed and can easily end up turning around to find that there are no divers behind him (separated). Also, it's not much fun constantly checking behind you or above you if one of the divers stays slightly higher.
Communication is always important and again much trickier with three. I find I that on the whole I don't enjoy dives as three as much as a buddy pair and I use my air a little faster (I guess I'm more anxious).
I'm glad everything worked out in this particular dive.
I did'nt know the diver in question so can't say if he had the correct training for the dive.
The charter did check people's certification and warned about the conditions and reminded divers it was an advanced dive so really it was the divers' choice. Maybe, when he noticed his reg. acting oddly he should have aborted the dive - I wonder if peer pressure was a factor. I know I have continued with dives a little longer than I wanted to so as not to ruin my buddy's dive. I realize that is a mistake but when you drive a long way and pay money for a charter it's hard to give up the dive !!
:(

[eagleray2003]

Easier to give up a dive than to give your life.

[j-valve]

The diver in question is a new AOW, and his first dive this year. I dove with Joe a couple of weeks ago and he is a well trained, cool headed diver.

Good work joe :)

J

[canuckdiver]

well done joe! Always knew you were a stand-up guy ;)

BTW barb, nice meeting you last weekend!

[eagleray2003]

Who in their right mind goes and does the first dive of the year on a deep wreck with current and doesn't check out their gear?
This diver should be pointed to the post "Diver Dies at Long Sault.

[mglasspo]

It's easy. You take a 20 ft long line and wrap it around each divers neck. Then the lead diver will be pulling along the other two if they're going to slow and at the same time giving them extra motivation to develop better fin technique :)

In case you haven't realized already, I'm joking.

[taz22]

Glad to hear that all worked out thanks to Diver Joe.

I do not like diving in "3's" and try to avoid it at all costs if possible. I will not dive as a threesome on a wreck dive as it is just not appropriate. Did the charter operator know that they were diving as a thressome? Did they have a Divemaster who could have buddied with the odd numbered diver? The Muskie is certainly not a dive you want to have a newbie AOW diving doing as their first dive of the year, kinda suprised that the operator didn't review the divers dive log book to see how many dives done, depth, experience etc.

[cat]

Congratulations to Diver Joe first, though :)
(I like option 3 - Navy divers are excellent diving acessories, even if they are hard to zip into their suits :D - Hi Joe! Missed you last weekend. )

In my short diving experience thus far I have been in a three a few times. It was only on the last occasion that I experienced how well it can work, if everyone's buddy skills are up to snuff. and there is good agreement as to how the three will work. The other occasions were.. not great.

One in front, two behind (side by side), everyone at the same depth with the one in front checking between her knees (hard to describe but easy to do if you're already horizontal) in a regular, frequent pattern, all keeping fairly close. If something happens to the diver in front, she'll slow down or stop and the other pair will be there in an instant. If something happens to one of the pair behind, they have a buddy right beside them and the leading diver will catch on in a couple of finstrokes maximum. Umm, unlikely to work if the lead diver has a camera. JMHO Cat

[Scubaroo]

If you can afford them, a super bright focused light like a HID makes a great communications tool. Obviously everyone needs to know the technique, but you can just watch your buddy's lightbeam to know that they are nearby, and a lightbeam moved in a slow circle should be answered by another slow circle, which is the okay signal. A rapidly moving sideways lightbeam is the give me your attention symbol.

It would certainly work better than diving is a set formation and continually looking around to do a visual on your buddy(s). Just keep their lightbeam(s) in view.

[Diver Joe]

Barb... You forgot the Faster than a Speeding Bullet part !!!

:o)

All these kind words are making my head swell...I will have to add an 8 pounder to my weight belt.

Thanks all, I was just in the right place at the right time and who knows maybe he would have controlled his ascent....on his own...
Although, judging by his body language/actions and his breathing rate I don't think that this would have been the case. He did calm down and relax when I made physical contact with him...and he didn't have any problems on the ascent, once we got going.

If I run into trouble/problems, I know I'd be happy to see a helping hand grab a hold of me....

When we dive we are all buddies, let's keep a good and helpful eye on each other.

Tah

[divebuddydale]

Joe:

Good Job... Glad you were around for this bloke (I always wanted to use the word bloke in a sentence )

Dale

[on my way wanda]

barb once bubbled...
Diver Joe is the Hero today!!!

Last night a group of divers were out on the Muskie and a diver became separated from his buddies (yes a threesome) and then realized he was low on air.
He tried to find someone to ascend with him but decided to go it alone (apparently his reg. was not breathing smoothly either).
He made it to the line and began a very rapid ascent.
In comes Diver Joe - Joe witnessed this situation and moved in quickly above the Low on air diver and intercepted him, calming him down and signalling share air. Joe dives with doubles and had lots to share.
The two made a nice controlled ascent up the line and all was fine in the end. This could have been a much more serious event but Joe's clear, calm thinking and actions saved the dive.
Thanks Joe, I'll dive with you anytime.

Lessons to learn:
1) Diving as three requires extra planning.
2) Don't get in the water if your equipment isn't operating
properly.
3) Optional (bring a Diver Joe with you on all your dives)

:)

Way to go diver Joe
Diving as three is not easy, I have done it but we used a line and a dive flat, that worked out really well and we all stayed together throughout the dive.

[HappyDiversDen]

Instructors and DM's with students frequently dive in 3's ... but the dive leaders go first, so there's always someone behind them. So too with 3's in a recreational buddy team ... if that's your configuration, we teach that one diver always goes in front, and is watched by the following two divers ... and that they remain within arm's reach of each other throughout the dive. A tug on the lead diver's fin as is effective as a tap on the arm to the diver beside you.

Before anyone gets in the water though, don't forget THE DIVE PLAN, which includes an equipment check.

[Kevin R]

GUE teaches 2 or 3 person teams. If possible, the divers are side by side with the team leader in the middle, If not, light signal communication is used so that if the lead diver cannot see two lights in addition to his own, he knows that one of his teammates is missing and he immediatly looks for his missing team member.

It's not that hard folks, just keep it simple.

Kevin

[Butch103]

.....it is very easy to dive in threes......but you have to have a plan first. As been mentioned...leader and the two behind act as a usaul buddy team. Obviously ( at least to me) the leader must maintain contact with the other two behind him.

Bottom_Sucker, his wife and I have done numerous dives in just such a manner.

[anemone1946]

We all miss Diver Joe here in Nova Scotia at the Shearwater Scuba Club. (Joe was our Treasurer) I have always been grateful to Joe for being my buddy (whenever he could)from the time I started diving two years ago. I have learned alot from him and count him as one of my very best friends...we have had some excellent adventures in the Atlantic and Les Escoumins and I am looking forward to more fun in the St. Lawrence in a couple of weeks....this is one sterling guy! Good work, Diver Joe...from Anemone1946 aka Diver Jane (the name was already taken on this board!)

[Diver Joe]

Thanks Jane. Looking forward to showing you the local spots and introducing you to some of the gang up this way. See you soon.
xo