How many would consider using a tether when diving with a loved one?

[TMHeimer]

I have doubts that using a buddy line would keep both divers at depth with an uncontrolled ascent by one. First diver has an uncontrolled ascent. They rise to the end of the buddy line before the second diver can exert any downward force. By this time the ascending diver is higher in the water column and now is even more buoyant. The whole system of 2 divers starts to rise, with the lower diver at a, rapidly worsening, disadvantage. Now we have 2 victims (potentially) instead of one.

In rescue training we are taught that if we can't vent fast enough to spread eagle. This is with both divers at nearly the same depth. With the buddy line, the lower diver can't even reach the upper diver to assist in venting, and with the difference in depth the imbalance between the 2 is substantially worse.

Never thought of that. First time I've heard of using a line in case of lost weight. I've never used one due to poor viz and agree if needed the dive should probably be thumbed. I've dived solo in viz where I wouldn't if with a buddy. The separation due to viz thing is due to poor buddy distance & lack of continually looking at each other. But the weight loss thing is an interesting angle. Funny it's never (to my knowledge) been discussed on SB.

 

[phoenix31tt]

I often dive in bad viz, in the ocean in currents. If it's so bad that we are afraid of losing each other then we shouldn't be doing the dive. If it's just bad viz and no/little current then you should have better buddy awareness and practice that. I wouldn't use a tether unless it's some kind of training scenario, you will get used to that instead of becoming better divers.

Additionally, to really be able to help someone in a situation you can't also be in the situation yourself... having a tether and an uncontrolled ascent means you will be uncontrollably ascending as well before you even realize it...

you can probably learn more from this situation than to just use a tether... e.g. proper weight distribution etc (ensuring that loosing one weight pocket doesn't cause an uncontrolled ascent etc)

 

[Z Gear]

I have doubts that using a buddy line would keep both divers at depth with an uncontrolled ascent by one. First diver has an uncontrolled ascent. They rise to the end of the buddy line before the second diver can exert any downward force. By this time the ascending diver is higher in the water column and now is even more buoyant. The whole system of 2 divers starts to rise, with the lower diver at a, rapidly worsening, disadvantage. Now we have 2 victims (potentially) instead of one.

In rescue training we are taught that if we can't vent fast enough to spread eagle. This is with both divers at nearly the same depth. With the buddy line, the lower diver can't even reach the upper diver to assist in venting, and with the difference in depth the imbalance between the 2 is substantially worse.

It depends on the situation. In my situation there were plenty of rocks I could easily dump all my air and anchor to them.

 

[timz]

If it's a weight integrated system, and about uncontrolled ascent in the case of dropping weight, why not snap a line to the bc and weight pocket.

But then again, it'll require more work in the case of dropping the weight incase of emergency ascent.

****, i'm contradicting my own words.... haha.

 

[gopbroek]

I am using an old Black Diamond BC with Velcro only weight pockets and yes they also can become dislodged when accessing the side pockets. I think that this is why most manufacture's have since gone to a more positive locking system. As they get older the holding power of the Velcro systems seems to diminish with use. For myself it's not to big of deal as I Dive warm clear water with not a lot of weight, so the loss of a pouch would not be critical

If I dove in a more demanding environment where the loss of a pouch became critical I think I would go back to belt or upgrade to a newer style BC with a positive pouch lock.

 

[Z Gear]

I am using an old Black Diamond BC with Velcro only weight pockets and yes they also can become dislodged when accessing the side pockets. I think that this is why most manufacture's have since gone to a more positive locking system. As they get older the holding power of the Velcro systems seems to diminish with use. For myself it's not to big of deal as I Dive warm clear water with not a lot of weight, so the loss of a pouch would not be critical

If I dove in a more demanding environment where the loss of a pouch became critical I think I would go back to belt or upgrade to a newer style BC with a positive pouch lock.

The velcro on these pouches is still very strong and they hold well. We have not had any issues of this kind since. More importantly there are many other situations that I was bringing forth as to why one would consider using a tether for a "loved one". Example bad viz, bad current etc...

Frank G
Z GEAR - Z Gear Dive Mounts

 

[Dirty-Dog]

She uses an aqualung maverick. We both have velcro type weight pocket. She aid she believed she inadvertently unsecured the the weight when she was opening her zippered pocket to put in a sea shell. We both performed our buddy check to make sure we had our weight pockets secured before dive.

So the problem was:
1 - A weak retention system (Velcro alone).
2 - Operator error (pulling the Velcro loose instead of/as well as the zipper).
3 - Over-weighting/weight distribution (Sue and Kim both have 4 weight pockets on their BCs; loosing 25% of their weight wouldn't cause them to have an uncontrollable ascent).

I'd say you'd be better off addressing THOSE issues, rather than adding an entanglement risk plus the risk of having two victims instead of one.

 

[ReefGuy]

I have no problems using a buddy line.

 

[Dhboner]

I carry a short piece of line in my drysuit pocket that I can tie to an ascent line as a jon line when needed. In really bad vis my buddy and I will each hold an end to reduce the chance of separation (in our lake we can start a dive with decent vis and then it gets crappy at different depths so we have to adapt). I would never tether it it any way and we don't use it to control either of our ascent profiles. It is not an equipment solution to a training problem, it is simply a tool to maintain buddy contact when conditions warrant.

 

[TMHeimer]

My used Velcro pockets have been fine 10 years. Only time weight fell out (years ago) was when I probably didn't insert the pockets correctly and the flap came open. You do that once.