Buddy lines, any good?

[RubberD]

What’s the best buddy line to use? I’m thinking it would have a float and be elasticised or retracting (not too strong on the elastic obviously). Does anyone make such a product? I can find lines with floats but that’s it.

Never used a buddy line are they any good or a real pain in the ass? I’m in the sea soon with the wife for her first UK sea dive and I thought it may act as a bit of a security blanket if the viz is not so good.

[The Penguin]

Have to say i've not used one...but would imagine it's a bit of a liability. In really poor vis i'd probably be calling the dive.

A good bright torch each would be my preference. Good reference point, good for signalling, if separated can provide a point to home in to as it will shine through the crap to a certain extent. And minimises entanglement hazard.

Al

[David]

my view on a budy line is a lenth of 25mm webbing.
used to tie your self to anything well not tie but clip.

in bad weather on surface you can clip youself to your buddy so you can get split up if drifting LOST at sea. ( not a good place to be )

underwater used like a john line cliped to shot to give your self some space on deco in current.

Mine was about 6 foot long from memory....

David

[David Burke]

i dont konw.but why would you want to be attached to another diver by a line a line that is attached to both of you's, ie one has a quick acent he then pulls his buddy up to the surface.( you can un clip the line as you are being pulled to the surface, i dont think so)
i am not having a go at you, but the only buddy lnes i have seen have clips at both ends , so you and your buddy can clip one end each to your bcd.
there are better ways to keep in contact with you buddy
hope this is of some help to you
once again iam not having ago at you, just tyring to get you to look at something else
safe diving
dave

[Twinsetmad]

I carry one... Its a Jon line with an extra carribina on the end..I can use it for all sorts...buddy line clip off for deco or as an aid to lifting etc... usefull to have..

Usung with a buddy in bad vis, I think I would just prefer to hang onto it rather than clip it on.

[Fiona]

I have used one and routinely carried one when instructing. The last time I used it was on one of my first Dover dive and I was diving with Chris, it was his first time in the UK. We chatted about the dive and I said if he wanted we could use the line, it is just a length of rope about a metre in length with a loop in each end - no clips easy to let go should you need to. In this case Chris wanted just that little bit of extra reassurance that we weren't going to get separated.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I have used one and routinely carried one when instructing. The last time I used it was on one of my first Dover dive and I was diving with Chris, it was his first time in the UK. We chatted about the dive and I said if he wanted we could use the line, it is just a length of rope about a metre in length with a loop in each end - no clips easy to let go should you need to. In this case Chris wanted just that little bit of extra reassurance that we weren't going to get separated.

I was about to say dont use one, but Fionas post has changed my mind. Hand held line sounds reasnoble.

ATB

Mark Chase

[ardhill]

If you really want one like you described. Buy some 8mm bungie and two SS clips and a few cable ties and make one.

I have a length of webbing with a clip at each end which can be used as a buddy line, but never have. It can also be used as a Jon line and I suppose a few other things too.

[Scubee]

I have one, and I think i have used it twice. Once with a new diver in a current. It was clipped on to him, but i held the other end rather than clip it to me so that if he did zoom upwards I wasn't going to be dragged up.
The other time was in Scapa Flow. we did the Tabarka and there was (as normal!) a raging current as we came out. We were in a group of three. One had the SMB, one had the other end of the buddy line. That way, we weren't going to get separated on the ascent, or if we did, there would still be two of us to launch another blob (and I was scared ).

[hogen-deifar]

There are going to be so many opinions to this question and as a newee (ish) myself it's a really good question.

Personally when I started diving my partner (now ex) was my buddy. He was far more experienced than me and I needed a little confidence however neither of us was comfortable with the thought of a buddy line. My first real OW dive was Swanage pier, at 6m, which meant couldn't get into too much trouble! However we held hands. It was enough to give me confidence and him to know I was safe. It allowed us to let go if I felt confident enough and gradually the confidence came and I no longer felt the need to hold is hand.

With regard to bad viz I have to say it's not always necessary to can the dive. We went off to do a drift of Swanage once with literally 5-6 inches viz. You couldn't see your hand unless it was in front of your face. I had my "free" torch that came with Diver magazine (am I allowed to say that here?????) so when we got to the bottom at 18-19m I switched it on. It gave us a reference point to focus on. It was a fanatastic dive and we were down for about 55 mins. Everyone else on the boat ditched the dive after 10 mins but we held hands and had a great time! Even getting a round of applause for staying down there that long! We earnt the label "True UK Divers" that day!

So I think you should ask you wife how she feels. Holding hands worked for us and in a bimble dive we let go a few times until I was confident enough to be "on my own"!!

HTH?