Diving in Loch Long - Lost buddy...10/03/2007

[thehappychappy]

Conger Alley: Loch Long

[gwilson]

Few lessons here then.

1: If diving with buddies you dont normally dive with or havent dived with before have a brief prior to getting in, not just saying max depth, and who is leading.

2: Stick to your training. I admit I didnt stick to 1 minute search then surface. I'll post why down below.

3: Decide when/if assistance will be called.

Right, Im never keen on diving as a 3, this is possibly down to inexperiance (75 dives), self consiousness of maybe kicking up silt, over crowding (if thats the right phrase).

We were all on twins, I was on 12's, im happy i can shutdown the isolator and my right hand post, left is coming along. I personally was not deep and knew where I was. I also enjoyed the solo aspect of it.

I was wrong to carry on when I knew that I should do my minute search then surface, but at the same time I was comfortable to carry on alone and was enjoying being solo. Had we of briefed what we were gonna do either all ascend or carry on till we hit the reef then ascend if cannot see the others there may of been less confusion. Next time a brief of what we are going to do will take place, and that will be stuck to. No-one was hurt and we learnt a lesson at no cost.

[Hickdive]

Situations alter cases.

As we were all comparatively unfamiliar with each other it was probably the right thing to do to surface.

My concern was that on surfacing I couldn't see any sign of exhaust bubbles, that's why I climbed up the beach to perch on the barrels, it's easier to see bubbles from a higher angle. Once I was up there I could see Gareth's exhaust and it was moving about so I relaxed.

Solo diving doesn't bother me, it only bothers my insurers! No harm done.