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At 04:28 PM 9/01/1996 +1100, Simo Hartley wrote: >I do not agree that buddies are useless dive accessories however. Fair suck, Simo! I didn't say they were useless dive accessories. Don't misquote me like that. My buddy could be reading this. I may never buddy dive again! > In the >places I dive there are critters that could injure or render a diver >unconcious I had a buddy like that once... > and not having a buddy to rescue you could spell the end >(particularly if no-one knows your diving). Sharks are prevalent in some >of the spots I dive (particularly those frequented by spearfishermen), >electric rays, scorpion fish and stone fish are all dangers. I agree. And even the most inept buddy will reduce your chance of being bitten by a noah by 50%. > A diver should be able to cope with entanglement or equipment > malfunctions... In bed and out... >...but other events such as paralysis or loss of conciousness from > marine stings, narcosis, convulsions or loss of conciousness from > oxygen toxicity or some unforseen event (being clobbered by a > ditched weightbelt) can prevent self rescue. >There are times I have been glad to ditch some prat who's sucking through >their air like it's some kind of race... But while you're looking out for the prat, who's looking out for you? If the shit hits your fan, you don't have a guardian angel, you have a prat - a liability. So wouldn't you be better off carrying your own back-up air and just looking after yourself? And then, wouldn't that make a buddy superfluous? >Then there have been times when a buddy has been a real asset. As I see it >it's a matter of balancing the pro's and con's and understanding the risks. As I see it, either a buddy is essential or not. If so then you should have one along on every dive. If not, then all the training agencies are wrong. rgrds billyW
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