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I keep thinking to myself how [-]he[/-] we could have let him[-]self[/-] get to 0 psi
During the OW class, I expect my students to be able to guess their pressure as well as their buddy's pressure during the dive. This is actually pretty easy to do. You should both tell each other your starting pressures as you do your pre-dive buddy check. Ten minutes into the dive, you should compare pressures once more. If buddy A is at 2500 and buddy B is at 2300, then buddy B is the controlling diver. Now all buddy A has to do is look at his SPG. If he's at 1000 then his buddy is right at 200!!! :shocked2: :shocked2: :shocked2: It's important to realize that there are many factors affecting gas consumption and prudent divers should be cross checking each other's air every five minutes or so and more frequently if they are diving deep or getting close to their turn pressure(s). It's as much your duty to monitor your buddy's air as it is your own. You are the redundant eyes and gas and they are relying on you just as you are relying on them. Don't be an SOB! (Same Ocean Buddy).
Also, dive with your back up second stage on your shortest hose and hung on a bungee around your neck . Forget clipping it off in the golden triangle. Use the longer hose for your primary and simply hand it off if your buddy needs it and go to the back up reg conveniently under your chin. You may know that your octo breathes like sucking a bowling ball through a straw, but it's a complete surprise to your already panicked buddy trying to get some air. If you don't like the way it breathes then get something a bit better. Just don't foist it on an unsuspecting OOA diver and expect him to breathe through it when he's already having a bad dive.
At the end please remember that this was not an OW class and part of the problem was assumptions that we were both "self-sufficient" to (a certain extent) as both being Rescue level certified...(and of course both failed).
Afterall how do I know he has enough air for me?