Join DiveBuddy.com

Meet new scuba divers, maintain a virtual dive log, participate in our forum, share underwater photos, research dive sites and more. Members login here.

#51828
Lost dive buddy, what do you do?
Greg - 8/11/2014 9:40 AM
Category: Training
Replies: 23

While scuba diving, if you become separated from your dive buddy or the group...and you look around for one minute and still can’t find them, what do you do next?

Do you ascend to the surface from where you’re at? Or do you make your way back to a pre-determined exit point before ascending?
#20281
Subscribed
Smithsgold - 8/11/2014 9:44 AM
Ascend to the surface
#14712
tardmaster - 8/11/2014 10:28 AM
you search for two minutes and then surface, look for bubbles.
#12117
Eric_R - 8/11/2014 12:07 PM
As a few others have said. Look for about a minute then surface to regain contact.
#51828
Subscribed
Greg - 8/11/2014 12:27 PM
Look for a minute, then ascend...that is what I was taught as well. But in real life, I think the safest solution may be to look for a minute, then return to your exit point, then ascend. Especially if you’re diving in the ocean where waves and other boats could create a safety issue. Maybe the "look for a minute and ascend" should only be the rule for lakes and rivers. What do you think?
#2464
Subscribed
PVK - 8/11/2014 2:01 PM
Most new divers wont last a min a min seems like a hour when you are seperated I would say just ascend and make sure both you and your buddy know this pre dive
#748
gemiller - 8/11/2014 2:38 PM
I can’t say I’ve had this happen(I always make eye contact, and grab hands or tie buddy line up before entering low visibility) but I would agree with you Greg, I would follow back to ascent point and wait, and that is what my dive buddies know to do as well.
#12117
Eric_R - 8/11/2014 4:46 PM
From Greg: I think the safest solution may be to look for a minute, then return to your exit point, then ascend.

If that is discussed as part of the predive plan then yes. Otherwise what if your 200 yards away from the exit point.
#29
Subscribed
Shredingmetal41 - 8/12/2014 2:00 PM
According to PADI you look for your buddy for one minute then surface.
#1406
Subscribed
Green_Achers - 8/12/2014 4:55 PM
I’ve been diving in Hawaii... I’m not sure you can ’lose’ your buddy. #100+vis
#2229
Subscribed
btw2459 - 8/13/2014 8:51 AM
Get onto Divebuddy.com and ask for a new buddy since you’ve "lost" the last one.
#4394
Subscribed
Scubadad2 - 8/13/2014 5:38 PM
I was taught to look for a min then ascend, but I was also taught to "clank my tank" a few times as a signal. If you have a pre dive decision to exit at a certain point I would go there to ascend. Who know, maybe some other "Lost Soul(s)" will be there waiting for you.
#1806
Subscribed
hcdiveteambrian - 8/14/2014 11:23 AM
well it kind of would have to fall back to minutes before entry. the plan.
#177
Subscribed
TOS - 8/14/2014 2:46 PM
It depends on the situation, best to agree upon pre-dive. A few weeks ago - lake dive, viz under 10 ft, depth around 20-30ft - we agreed to search for a minute, then surface. After an hour of exploring we both had air left, and agreed on heading straight back - compass heading 180 - to our entry across the lake at 10-15. Trying to stay together at that viz without holding hands would have been impossible, so we each went on our own at that depth, and surfaced very close to each other once we got back.
Bottom line: Whatever you and your buddy agree upon.
#4035
uwlover4u - 8/15/2014 3:41 AM
What I want to hear are the stories of how people get separated to begin with. I’ve gone diving at night, in low viz, in strong currents, and never lost a buddy. So are people being careless or what?
#543
Subscribed
mikey1077 - 8/31/2014 1:17 PM
I dive with my wife and 2 boys, something pretty drastic would have to happen in order for me to lose them but the rule for us is to search in place one minute, surface where you are and inflate safety sausage.
#2242
Subscribed
MDW - 11/13/2014 7:45 AM
Discuss and plan this with your dive buddy(s) prior to the dive. In some cases it will make sense to surface in place and regroup and others it makes sense to head back to a predetermined point, such as the last attraction, last turn or tieoff, anchor line, or exit point to either regroup at depth or surface and regroup. The key is for the team to be on the same page and do the same thing. If you have one guy surface in place after a minute and the other goes to the last attraction and waits a while, this will not work well for anyone.
#295
Subscribed
LB1335 - 12/29/2014 2:08 PM
While diving off the coast of Oahu our group got caught in some kind of under current and visibility went from 80+ft to 20ft in about a minute. The dive master got seperated from the group and we ended up serching for him. We looked for about 5 min (staying within arms reach of eachother) then surfaced. In that short period of time we had been swept a good distance apart and had to signal the boat to pick us up. After getting aboard we found out the dive master had to signal for pick up as well becasue he was swept in a different direction. Lucky for us everone kept their cool and relied on their training...except for the one minute part. Long story short I’ll always stick to the one minute rule because things can change very quickly.
#4394
Subscribed
Scubadad2 - 12/30/2014 9:06 AM
As an added thought, It seems to me that when I was a "New" diver I could never keep track of my dive buddy. Regardless of the dive plan those first dives where a mix of "where the heck is he going now"? and "I can’t keep up and still see anything." I am so glad the "Slow down and observe" finally took over my dives and they became way more enjoyable.
#1406
Subscribed
Green_Achers - 10/17/2016 9:36 PM
There is one more answer to the question of losing your dive buddy... Get on line and search for a new dive buddy. Scuba Earth can help. LOL