DaleC
Contributor
Here's a topic for discussion.
The question:
How to react to a buddy seperation situation when a safety stop is required?
Considerations:
a.) The PADI RDP states that a SS is required for dives deeper than 100' or that come within 3 pressure groups of the NDL.
b.) PADI protocol for buddy seperation is to search for 1 minute at depth and then surface.
Scenario:
If a diver finds themselves in situation (a.) when they are seperated from their buddy they face a difficult choice. Do they search for 1 minute and surface (negating their 3 minute SS obligation) or do they search for 1 minute and then spend 3 - 4 minutes ascending for a total of 4 - 5 minutes of buddy seperation.
Conclusion:
After some discussion, we decided the best course was to hold the SS's and shoot a bag so that the buddy could locate us on the surface. The buddy on the surface could jerk the bag to let the off gassing diver know he/she was there. This would necesitate divers carrying bags and spools/reels and a discussion of the proticol in the pre dive briefing (whatever that is).
I thought it was a good topic to raise as I couldn't remember discussing this in OW or AOW
The question:
How to react to a buddy seperation situation when a safety stop is required?
Considerations:
a.) The PADI RDP states that a SS is required for dives deeper than 100' or that come within 3 pressure groups of the NDL.
b.) PADI protocol for buddy seperation is to search for 1 minute at depth and then surface.
Scenario:
If a diver finds themselves in situation (a.) when they are seperated from their buddy they face a difficult choice. Do they search for 1 minute and surface (negating their 3 minute SS obligation) or do they search for 1 minute and then spend 3 - 4 minutes ascending for a total of 4 - 5 minutes of buddy seperation.
Conclusion:
After some discussion, we decided the best course was to hold the SS's and shoot a bag so that the buddy could locate us on the surface. The buddy on the surface could jerk the bag to let the off gassing diver know he/she was there. This would necesitate divers carrying bags and spools/reels and a discussion of the proticol in the pre dive briefing (whatever that is).
I thought it was a good topic to raise as I couldn't remember discussing this in OW or AOW
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