11 replies to this topic

[Capn Jack]

On a couple of recent dives, I was part of the following conversations:

Scene One --
Diver A: Hey guys!!! Wanna do a threesome?
Diver B: Well, OK, but only if you're gonna be the girl...
Diver C: Sure, whatever, let's jump

Scene Two --
Diver A: Do you have a buddy? Mine didn't make the boat...
Diver B: Nah, I'm good, everybody in the group is my buddy...

What's wrong with these vignettes?

Do you really know who your buddy is on a laid-back resort dive boat with a bunch of strangers jumping off the blunt end?

Yes, it's nice to have lots of tanks nearby in case you start wishing you had gills - but shouldn't you know that someone is checking on you? Do you know who has an octo, an Air2 or a backup on a necklace? How do you let the leader know you're at turn pressure? Who are you going to signal when you hit low air? What is low air?

Personally, I think we tend to be complacent on vacation, especially on a sunny day in warm, clear water. Problems can still happen, we still can't make air from water (except for certain wenches of course).

How do you stay connected with the discipline you were taught? How do you balance having fun and still staying safe?

What do you do in a group when you haven't figured out a buddy scheme, or notice others haven't paired off?

[PerroneFord]

Do you really know who your buddy is on a laid-back resort dive boat with a bunch of strangers jumping off the blunt end?

What do you do in a group when you haven't figured out a buddy scheme, or notice others haven't paired off?

This should be interesting...

[netmage]

Yes, it's nice to have lots of tanks nearby in case you start wishing you had gills - but shouldn't you know that someone is checking on you?

Your statement implies active delegation of my own responsibility to manage my dive.... A buddy is not a crutch. One diver may lead direction, but each diver has mutual responsibility to dive responsibly.

Do you know who has an octo, an Air2 or a backup on a necklace?

I agree - always a sound practice... I always review air-share with a insta-buddy, because they have usually never seen a long hose/bungied necklace before.

How do you let the leader know you're at turn pressure? Who are you going to signal when you hit low air? What is low air?

I think these are fairly universal...

How do you stay connected with the discipline you were taught? How do you balance having fun and still staying safe?

What do you do in a group when you haven't figured out a buddy scheme, or notice others haven't paired off?

Ahh - this is the real meat of the matter.... Complacency and Discipline... (are we back in the CCR thread!?!?)....

Alot of times I show up alone. Depending on the dive and boat I'm on, a few different things will happen. Sometimes it involves going solo. Sometimes the DM will pair me w/ his buddy who happened to be on the boat. Sometimes I join up w/ a visiting diver, I've given alot of tours through the main decks of the Spiegel Grove. And its always better to have more sets of eyes spotting lobster for you!

[ScubaDadMiami]

Well, when I saw the title of the post about the three way, I thought I'd check in. Uh, I don't have much else to say . . . .

[6Gill]

I like dinner,a couple drinks and some naked twister to set the mood...

[Twinklez]

I thought I was the only one interested in learning the right way to do a three-way!

Edited by Twinklez, 22 September 2006 - 09:40 PM.

[shadragon]

What do you do in a group when you haven't figured out a buddy scheme, or notice others haven't paired off?

Easy one. If I do not have a designated buddy (who KNOWS he/she is my buddy before the dive starts) then I don't dive... That is one of the basics you do in the pre-dive brief along with hand signs, discussing the dive plan, depths, agree when you both turn back and any emergency planning considerations. Before the dive I will know who my buddy is, his/her training level, general experience and take a good look at his/her gear set-up so I know where everything is in case of problems.

The more you talk about the dive on the surface the smoother things go underwater. If you don't do it, no one else will.

Plan the dive, dive the plan... Or to paraphrase. No plan, no dive...

[drbill]

Since good buddy techniques are considered critical for most divers, wouldn't it be nice if ALL agencies actually taught them in their OW classes. I've been floored by what I've heard from instructors and other dive professionals lately regarding the minimal emphasis some agencies place on teaching these skills to new divers.

If I'm diving in a threesome, it is usually with two instructors and we are often just doing our own, largely self-sufficient dive since we are UW imagers.

Edited by drbill, 30 January 2007 - 10:04 AM.

[Cold_H2O]

I often dive in a 3-way situation.
I have a great dive buddy who found a great dive buddy boyfriend.
The 3 of us often meet up to dive together.

We simply all stay together.
We agree on a hard bottem depth, turn around pressure, and goal of the dive.
Usually we are all taking pictures so that adds one more element to our dives.

Lowest air pressure calls the turn around.
If one of us has a problem the diver with issues calls the dive.

I don't find it hard to dive a 3 some. As long as the "rules" are established before getting in the water.
Everyone must speak the same language.

On a dive boat or trip with unknown dive buddies I ask a lot of questions before we get in the water. I also keep a close eye on my new buddy to see how they behave in the water.
I will also carry a slate.
If you don't understand my signals I will spell them out for you.

I have no problem letting a new dive buddy know that I will not follow or dive with them again if their skills are not enough to make them a good dive buddy.

Edited by gis_gal, 30 January 2007 - 02:44 PM.

[Hipshot]

In the Northeast, a three-way can be a bit problematic because of the visibility, or lack thereof. Most of the time, if I’m diving in a three-way in the Northeast, the arrangement is that two divers will flank the center diver, and center diver will communicate with the flankers. If an individual dive flag is being used (such as in the case of a shore dive) the center diver takes the flag. In the event of a separation, the flanking diver(s) surfaces and descends along the flag line.

A dive buddy can be a liability, as well as an asset. I remember one time on vacation, when I actually sat out a dive (tactfully) because I did not want to dive with this on person because of their conduct on the previous dive. I also recall a time when I was having difficulty with a weight belt, and the entire group with whom I was diving was oblivious to the situation.

Rick


It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.--Jack Handy

[Cold_H2O]

In the PNW visability can also be an issue.
Diving 3 across is very typical formation here.

The center diver is the linch person. They have to be able to communicate to both outside divers.


Nothing wrong with refusing to dive with a buddy who is not a buddy.

Edited by gis_gal, 30 January 2007 - 07:41 PM.

[ScubaDadMiami]

Teams of three are idea for cave diving especially in CCR situations. If anyone has to bail out onto open circuit gas, the gas needed can be divided up between team members, keeping each team member with minimal amounts of bottles (and possibly smaller bottles) and weights of gear while providing ample amounts of gas for emergency purposes.

Teams of three seem to work well for caving in general, as it can often take two to perform tasks like pulling reels during exit, and having a third person to be the "light spotter" can make thse jobs even easier.

I have no probelms divings in teams of three in wreckes or even open water. However, that means diving with a real team, not two other "same ocean dive buddies."