Out of Air at 84 ft

[MXGratefulDiver]

No, thank God. It is just something I have wondered about and was curious what other divers might do. I have been on a lot of dives where all of us have gotten spread out, as happens on most dives, or my Buddy has wandered off, or we have just gotten seperated for one reaon or another.

Hmmm ... lemme see, what might I do if I find myself diving with a buddy who can't stay within a kick or two ...

1) I might decide not to go very deep ... say, stay within a range where I know I would have a reasonable chance of reaching the surface if the hit fit the shan.

2) I might decide to pay closer attention to my SPG, and start my ascent with a little extra gas to spare.

3) I might even decide to thumb the dive as soon as I realize that we're going to have issues diving as a team ... after all, it ain't like the dive is worth my life or anything.

Speculation is OK I guess ... but the real answer is don't put yourself into the situation ... you have lots of options in a case like that. Diving is all about using good judgment. You need to understand that not doing so can kill you.

Lots of things in life are like that ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[pilot fish]

Well - to stay on the safe side and try to prevent such a preventable occurrence - maybe a little work on the buddy skills might be in order.

Sure, but maybe the guy or gal you got teamed up with does not take the Buddy responsibility thing as seriously as you do. Whatever the reason, you are that seperated, for whatever reason, and out of air. So, what would you do?

 

[JeffG]

Sure, but maybe the guy or gal you got teamed up with does not take the Buddy responsibility thing as seriously as you do. Whatever the reason, you are that seperated, for whatever reason, and out of air. So, what would you do?

Get the mothership to beam me up

 

[BDub]

Sure, but maybe the guy or gal you got teamed up with does not take the Buddy responsibility thing as seriously as you do.

Then I'd use one of the options (prob #3) that Bob listed...

 

[Kim]

Well - if you are asking me directly.........what Bob said.

 

[CBulla]

I'm wondering what spawned this thread - Did the new SD mag come out today?

Three things already mentioned here can prevent this totally - 1) Buddy Skills, 2) gas management, 3) Sticking to your dive plan

 

[lragsac]

I think my first instinct would be for the surface and not waste precious seconds going horizontally? It's one thing to speculate about what you would do while you are on the surface but all of the training MIGHT go out the window once you have no air at depth?

IMO, the time it would take you to swim 20-30' to your buddy (as long as there isn't a significant current), is less than it takes to safely do an ESA w/o risking embolism. Personally, I hate hypotheticals like this when the hypothetical would be non-issue with the simple application of better diving practices.

 

[JeffG]

Personally, I hate hypotheticals like this when the hypothetical would be non-issue with the simple application of better diving practices.

Thank you

 

[novadiver]

Say hello to Darwin

You forgot to tell him to except his award!!!

 

[springdiver]

Sure, but maybe the guy or gal you got teamed up with does not take the Buddy responsibility thing as seriously as you do. Whatever the reason, you are that seperated, for whatever reason, and out of air. So, what would you do?

I'd sit there think about it for a while, realise the futility of it all and how i got myself into this situation and give up breathing. If i could tether myself to a large rock that might help me not struggle to do something about it :11: