technical Now, what if a hose bursts? Leigh Cunningham is matters the technical manag- er and TDI Instructor Trainer for Ocean College, Sharm El Sheikh.

Probably best known for his records - Leigh once Leigh held the record for the Cunningham deepest dive in the Red Sea - and attempts of reaching extreme depths, he also has a wide range of teaching credentials to his cur- When divers run out of gas Training agen- riculum: cies differ in the in open water it can only be degree of self sufficiency TDI instructor trainer, DSAT Tech down to two possible expla- training at recreational levels. Most In reality distance to reach his buddy. If he instructor, PADI MSDT nations. Either they haven’t of them instruct divers to, when in a In my experience, then, on top of everything else, also IANTD Technical diver instructor been monitoring their situation where they run low or out of however, in the real world of diving has problems locating a not so clearly CMAS 3 star instructor. gas, to swim to their “buddy” and share things may be a lot different. One seen alternate second stage, the situ- gauges and plainly run dry. gas from an alternate second stage, or of the most commonly seen devia- ation will very soon, needless to say, Or they have suffered some octopus as it is widely known. This obvi- tions from recommended practice become very serious if not already. equipment malfunction such ously requires that the buddy is within are divers stowing their alternate air for many years now. It is certainly as a regulator free flow or a swimming distance, which is why we are source octopus in a BCD pocket or CESA a good exercise and eye-open- also taught to keep fairly close together have it dangling freely somewhere Another option may be performing ing experience to practise under split hose which are technical in buddy pairs should anything of this behind them. Sad but true. Secondly, a controlled emergency swimming controlled circumstances. But as breakdowns that can happen sort happen, however unlikely it may buddy pairs, once they are beyond ascent (CESA), this is, however, a skill the training agencies also came even to the most conscien- seem. their basic training course rarely do a we practice only once during basic to realise over time, it is also a drill According to conventions, the proper buddy check before entering training—unless we become instructors so fiendishly difficult and stressful tious, experienced and well alternate second stage, or octopus, the water ensuring that they know the ourselves. As with any other skill upon to perform under a real emer- trained diver. should be clearly stowed in the imagi- whereabouts of the very alternate air which your safety is dependent, it gency situation that only quite nary triangular area between the chin source that they may urgently need should however be practised at regu- experienced divers with But how do we prepare for and the lower corners of the rib cage later. And thirdly, they are rarely look- lar intervals. But is it ever? good stress manage- from where it can easily be seen and ing at each other when one runs out ment can handle it. these eventualities? Do we grabbed in case it is needed. If, how- of gas. The victim of an out of gas situ- Buddy could be another just rely on our buddy to sort ever, low on air is too far away ation will already be under significant option, but it is a drill which training us out? And is that a wise pol- from his buddy, the next option would stress and only agencies have con- icy? be to swim directly to the surface while more so sidered optional in exhaling or perhaps breathing from a if he also training free flowing regulator. In either case a has to difficult task. So much for the theory. swim some

“Check your pressure gauge at least once every minute, during

Solo or Not? or Solo Solo or not? Text: Leigh Cunningham. Photos and graphics: Peter Symes every dive”

50 X-RAY MAG : 7 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical Is this your buddy? matters Besides, if a skill is optional, most specific equipment configuration, instructors will not practice it with especially where their alternate students and few divers, whatso- air sources are, which type of Heard it before? ever, will keep on practising the releases are on the BCD/harness Does all this start to sound famil- skill after training. and what type of system, iar? Well it should, if you have Usually mentioned in an open integrated or weight belt, they been reading my series. We are water course is the possible use. revisiting the “ ethic”, advantages of a or In my humble opinion, for the I wrote about a couple of issues a small spare air cylinder, but a vast majority of divers the buddy back. In the world of technical mention is usually all it gets. system as we know it, is seriously training, this approach to diving is flawed! the standard procedure and has Buddy check been for many years. Put simply, The buddy check gets more What if...? according to the “redundancy than a mention, and is in fact Here is a little reality check: If a ethic”, anything that could possi- mentioned and practiced every diver runs out of gas and swims bly malfunction with a risk to your day during basic training. Buddy some distance to reach and life as the result, should be dupli- checks should be a standard share gas with their buddy and cated with an independent back procedure for novice divers only. the buddy is unaware of the up system. While you may share Experienced divers at all levels problem, what is most likely going together with someone, pretend should not need a buddy check. to happen is that the diver who is that you will be diving alone and Why? Basically because you must out of gas is going to grab the first What would then happen in the ter approach to prevent out of prepare and kit up accordingly, always be the one responsible second stage they see and know aforementioned scenario is that air situations is to have another and dive within your limits. for your own life support systems. is working, which is the one the the diver who is out of gas would air source on board yourself. We don’t call it “Solo” diver It should never be up to another buddy is already breathing from. take the second stage from his Depending on your style of diving, training however. A more accu- diver/buddy to check your life With this in mind, a better meth- buddy’s mouth. The buddy would it need not be a twin tank with rate term would be “following support system (scuba unit) is od of training and diving would then replace this second stage manifold. A pony bottle or spare the laws of common sense”. The functioning how it should be. It’s be for divers to normally breathe with the alternate second stage, air cylinder would still be a great technical diver is taught during your life on the line. All divers div- from the longer of the two hoses which is easily located just inches help for many recreational divers. formal training that the possibility ing together should however be (the one we would usually con- away right under the chin. The A little spare air tank doesn’t hold of being split from the dive group aware of their sider to be the alternate second out of gas diver would then also much but a couple of extra avail- or buddy always has to be taken partner’s stage, or octopus) and stow the be breathing from the longer of able breaths may make for just into consideration. A diver may other second stage (on the short- the two hoses, making gas shar- the essential difference. Also ask even have to complete a lengthy er of the two hoses) under the ing much more comfortable your buddy to carry some extra obligation alone chin with a bungee cord around But you are still dependent on air supply of his own. after being split from the rest of the neck. your buddy. A different and bet- the dive team, so back up sys-

That good trusted old regulator. When was it again you had it serviced?

How far can you venture and still see yourself safely out of

Solo or Not? or Solo trouble in the unlikely event of a equip- ment malfuntion?

51 X-RAY MAG : 7 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED and appropriate con- mean either that the proximity figuration for the type of of your diving partner can’t add dive along with “plan- to your safety, because help or ning the dive and diving just an extra pair of hands can the plan”. The technical indeed come in handy. It is about diver does not have the a mindset. Are you prepared, option of a direct ascent equipped and capable to inde- to the surface after an pendently take care of your own equipment malfunction safety and not to make someone without getting seriously else responsible? A little mental bent or even end up exercise can come in handy here: dead. Ask yourself whether you would Ok, we are not all be comfortable assuming respon- technical divers but the sibility for your buddy and getting issues at hand applies him/her safely out of the water in to everyone. Even for case he has an accident. Maybe the recreational diver in he is -prone, who knows? the 20-40 meter range, This is for qualified and dive pro- running out of gas due fessionals only, who, when you to a regulator malfunc- come to think of it, always have tion or otherwise only to to dive solo when doing classes realise that the buddy is as they can’t rely on anyone else out in the distance swim- to rescue them. ming away from you, Do you bring your family on a can have catastrophic dive vacation and do you dive affects. If you don’t with your kids? They are most carry backup, a direct likely not physically strong, trained swim to the surface may or mentally prepared or mature then be your only option enough to deal with any inci- to prevent , dences. They can’t be expected but at the same time to react as fully capable buddies. more than likely lead to Here too, you are in reality diving a series of recompres- solo even though you may not be sion treatments and an aware of it. abrupt end to your div- ing career. For all divers, Do the right thing and be safe. ■ whether adhering to the buddy system or not, if The good buddy should always look out for there was more emphasis you. But what if he/ she looks the other way? on redundant systems during training, and their use after, less divers tems, must be taken on the dive would get bent or dead due to in order to resolve equipment an out-of-gas situation. related problems should they occur. Diving solo Maybe it should also be stressed Common sense that “diving solo” in this context No longer does the questionable isn’t the same as diving alone. buddy system apply. What does Diving is a social undertaking, apply is a common sense, logical and we like to share experi- outlook on required equipment ences under water. It doesn’t Where is that buddy when you need him?

52 X-RAY MAG : 7 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED