halemanō;5494094:
The boats I have worked as guide from have all "allowed" solo ascents. It's up to the buddy members to make this decision. I tell my solo group members that if they are not OK with a solo ascent I will join them until they surface.
It's fine that the boat
allows this. The boat has no liability for the procedures used by certified divers. It is the responsibility of the dive buddy team to ensure their own safety. For me, the dive
does not end until the buddy team are back
on the boat. I wouldn't ever be happy to leave my buddy unattended on the surface.
Morality aside, I can't imagine the success of admiting
"I then left him alone on the surface and returned underwater to rejoin the group" at the inquest and tribunal for a fatal dive accident.
halemanō;5494094:
If a boat or guide "allows" solo ascents, it is likely they also allow "ascent teams" to be formed when one member each of two buddy teams reaches ascent pressures at around the same time. By waiting until the last minute the team members will at least have had a dive or two to size up their potential teammate.
These practices are common on 'insta-buddy' dive boats. I call it 'Gaggle Diving'. Personally, I think it flouts safe diving practices at the expense of proper planning and effort by both the divers and diveguides concerned.
During these dives nobody has any pre-designated responsibility for a buddy. Because of this, nobody can conduct a proper dive plan and maintain proper buddy awareness during the dive.
A lot of otherwise avoidable fatal dive accidents happen because of this.
At the very least it
discourages divers from using proper buddy procedures and planning dives. It encourages divers to act like mindless sheep, just following a DM without taking any personal responsibility during the dive.
halemanō;5494094:
If the guide tells you they are your buddy, just like with any insta-buddy it's up to you to communicate before the dive what you expect from your buddy. I carry a large slate, so I explain to my charges that we can converse during the dive if they need.
The (
qualified professional) dive guide
shouldn't be expected to take responsibility for the less experienced buddy? They shouldn't be expected to
role model safe diving practices for their customer?