Would you dive with someone who wouldn't share air if you were OOA?

[Divin'Papaw]

I answered no because if I did that dive, it would be as a solo diver and not as this guys buddy.

 

[jbmooney]

No, not on purpose (and if I discovered this policy during a dive, we'd go 'round and 'round if I made it back to the surface :furious.

 

[Stu S.]

It is a rare character that will tell you up front that he won't share air. But... when your "buddy" ventures out-of-sight to catch a fish, get that lobster, or a photo, they are doing the same thing. That means their entertainment is more important than your safety, and if you need to share air, they choose not to be there.

On this board I have read divers who post "They teamed me up with a newbie, and I lost him real quick". (followed by a little smiley) That is a refusal to share air.

Oh, the shame of it all!

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I have had to share air twice in the real world. They out of air person was not my buddy nor did they politely ask me for air, each time they just hauled it out of my mouth and bolted. No options to donate air were offered me.

I dive as though I assume I do not have air available to me from anyone else, makes it a much safer dive don't you think?

 

[Gombessa]

I interpret Papa B's statements as meaning he might refuse to give if someone is clawing blindly to grab you or whatever they can get their hands on at 100 ft or so...meaning it could be anyone, not just your buddy, on a group dive off a resort boat. It's never happened to me. (not a totally panicked diver) He has stated that he WOULD help but it's his choice.

He also said that if you're OOA and he's low, he's not giving you his air regardless - instead, he'll accompany you on a CESA and if you drown he'll resuscitate you on the surface - that way, he controls all aspects of your rescue and preserves his safety.

 

[Papa_Bear]

This is great! You talking about it! I am still waiting for someone to post what agency says your air belongs to someone else! And I would not dive with someone who risked both of our lives with a Laz-i-fare attitude about their air. I have always done my best to take care of myself first and then my buddy! Let me also say you will not find ONE post where I said I wouldn't share air with a buddy! You are miss-quoting me and miss-representing my position! I have simple said your attitude as a diver has to be air is life and it is your air! Period! If you are going diving with an other person who believes your air is theirs! You are and will be in trouble sooner or later! I would not dive with someone who thought my air belonged to them! No one owns me! That attitude will keep you alive and your buddy!

On another post I told the story of a Near Drowning and in that story his buddy was trying to share his air and was right there and was not able to do anything constructive! To a panicked diver "Only the Surface will do!" If you have the ability and training to over come panic in another then by all means do so, but again one one dead diver is better than two!

Anyway keep talking about it, I am seeing some people do get it, just not enough!

 

[jbmooney]

I interpret Papa B's statements as meaning he might refuse to give if someone is clawing blindly to grab you or whatever they can get their hands on at 100 ft or so...meaning it could be anyone, not just your buddy, on a group dive off a resort boat. It's never happened to me. (not a totally panicked diver) He has stated that he WOULD help but it's his choice.

That, I agree, is a different matter, and not nearly as black & white for me. I'd like to think I'd do whatever I could, but not having had the experience, I can't say, and I recognize that sharing with someone who's truly panicked is assuming a significant additional risk.

 

[seaducer]

I interpret Papa B's statements as meaning he might refuse to give if someone is clawing blindly to grab you or whatever they can get their hands on at 100 ft or so...meaning it could be anyone, not just your buddy, on a group dive off a resort boat. It's never happened to me. (not a totally panicked diver) He has stated that he WOULD help but it's his choice.

No, actually in one of his first posts PB said if his buddy didn't plan his dive well enough to have all the air he needed then the buddy would have to ascend and learn something. Or words to that effect. I personally read that to mean no matter who you are and no matter what the situation is, he's not giving up a reg. "Period!" He also said he would rather let you drown and do CPR, or hold you under until you submit on the surface.

I don't care who you are either. You need air, you got it and we go up. I've already thumbed a dive when I had 2000 PSI left but one of my buddies was suddenly down to 250PSI. He ended up surfacing on his own supply but we locked up and my octo was ready if he needed it. The rule is if you suck on my hose you buy me a beer and a fill. No other restrictions apply.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

When I dive solo my buddy is an AL40 tucked sweetly under my arm ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

me too, but when diving with a true buddy I dont expect them to share with me and I make it clear that they are on their own.

 

[Gombessa]

This is great! You talking about it! I am still waiting for someone to post what agency says your air belongs to someone else!

This is the third time you've asked this. As mentioned before, any agency that teaches rock bottom explicitly calls for your air reserves (at a minimum the last 500psi, typically 700-1200psi, do the math) being meant for sharing.