Missing Diver Off Vandenberg?

[dberry]

I don't know the actual current speed, but I remember pulling down a line hand-over-hand with great effort, legs flying "in the breeze" to a wreck off Pompano. On the way back up the ball was several feet underwater and we decided to drift and wait for a pick-up when the boat returned. The current on the wreck wasn't so bad, but nearer the surface it was rippin'.

 

[Manatee Diver]

I don't know the actual current speed, but I remember pulling down a line hand-over-hand with great effort, legs flying "in the breeze" to a wreck off Pompano. On the way back up the ball was several feet underwater and we decided to drift and wait for a pick-up when the boat returned. The current on the wreck wasn't so bad, but nearer the surface it was rippin'.

Did a dive on the Lady Luck that was like that. Deco diving was prohibited, and most people skipped the second dive.

 

[Centrals]

How do you get to the line when there is a ripping current on the surface particularly there is a group of divers of various abilities?
Safety stop on the line with the current! How many recreational divers heard "Jon line" or even possess one?

Why Should Scuba Divers a Bring a Jon Line - DIVEIN.com

Jon-Line use
18 yrs old post.

 

[scubadada]

I don't know the actual current speed, but I remember pulling down a line hand-over-hand with great effort, legs flying "in the breeze" to a wreck off Pompano. On the way back up the ball was several feet underwater and we decided to drift and wait for a pick-up when the boat returned. The current on the wreck wasn't so bad, but nearer the surface it was rippin'.

You always drift off the fixed ball for live pick up.

 

[dberry]

We had jon lines for the deco stops, but when we got close to the ball throbbing up and down, we bailed.

The boat had gone to pick up some other folks diving the reefs, and we weren't sure how long we'd have to drift. But getting near a ball being dragged underwater by the current was a bit intense.

 

[Centrals]

We had jon lines for the deco stops, but when we got close to the ball throbbing up and down, we bailed.

The boat had gone to pick up some other folks diving the reefs, and we weren't sure how long we'd have to drift. But getting near a ball being dragged underwater by the current was a bit intense.

The boat should be around for deco divers.
Not a very good arrangement if the boat has to go somewhere else.

Far far too many divers of various experiences do not carry any signaling device. Shocking.

 

[dberry]

It was a 2-person class and the instructor knows the dive operation (and operators) really well. And it was a very light deco dive, not much hang time (deco procedures class.)

Speaking of drifting, I've drifted rather far off-topic - sorry!

 

[Centrals]

Speaking of drifting, I've drifted rather far off-topic - sorry!

Could be relevant!
We could never find out what really happened.

 

[AdivingBel]

How do you get to the line when there is a ripping current on the surface...?

granny lines

 

[Centrals]

granny lines

Someone has to jump in first and tie a secure line from the boat to the buoy.
Next person jump in and make sure to grab hold on that line and pull. If the current is really bad then that diver would have to jump in while holding another line assist by an assistant on the boat in case he/she missed that crucial line and carried away by the current.
Done that before.
Waited on the surface until buddy arrived and immediate descend.
Can't do that on a guided dive.