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On Thu, 23 Jun 1994, Craig Campbell wrote: > >As for preparation for such problems: > > >I would have to assume that the divers knew in advance that the wreck gets > >hit by strong currents from time to time. When we dive in such areas, we > >have certain understandings and equipment: > > >Equipment: > >-Divers ALWAYS carry ALL the gas they need to complete the ENTIRE dive with > > them THROUGHOUT the dive (no stage bottles) > > This is not a realistic requirment or assumption. Stashed stage bottles > and/or surface supplies are a fact of life. I just can't do a decent > penetration dive in strong current with stage bottles hanging off me. Sure, stage bottles are a fact of life. Many people use them very successfully. The problem is that they require that you return to them during the ascent, which might greatly limit your options in an emergency situation. In a cave, returning to the stage bottles is usually no problem. On a wreck there's a bit more risk in assuming that you'll be able to ascend by the same path that you descended. On a reef, that risk is much greater. As for being a Realistic alternative - SURE it is! I make 400'+ trimix dives, with decompression on nitrox & O2, and with a fair amount of redundancy of critical equipment, all with what I can carry on my BACK (I don't even use side-mount cylinders). But anyway, I was refering specifically to the described dive: I see nothing unrealistic about having enough gas on your back to conduct a 130' dive plus 40 minutes of decompression. Nevertheless, I souldn't have been so adamant about this point (I must have been feeling hot & bothered).....I'm generally one who believes that the word "always" should be used very sparingly in describing diving regimes. > >-Divers ALWAYS carry a line and an inflatable buoy (a long orange thing, > > sometimes called a "whale condom"). Yuck...there's that "A"-word again...I must really have been worked-up about something.... > >-Boat has a large buoy which can be tied to the anchor line incase the > > boat has to pick up a drifting diver. > > >-Buddies are aware of the risks, and have an understanding of what to do > > if they become separated. > > How about, everyone has redundant systems, and is expected to be able to > cope with situations alone. Having a buddy is great, and their help can > make life much easier, but there presence is never assumed for problem > solving. i.e. We dive solo, together, and have a great time. Actually, I feel (and this is ME PERSONALLY, folks! - No hate-mail, please!) that buddies can often be a royal pain in the ass. For every one time a buddy has provided me with asisstance, there are probably 10 times where a buddy has gotten me into potenially VERY serious trouble. Don't get me wrong, I dive with other people...but only as you describe - solo diving together. The problem is, if buddies become separated during the decompression, then which one does the boat follow? Like required stage bottles, I feel that buddies can limit options in an emergency situation. 'nuff said. Aloha, Rich
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