Line "Beacons?"

[Greenwood_60]

...clearly I'll make sure to include this in any briefings I have with any new buddies.

I cover a lot of things with a new buddy... this doesn't happen to be one of them. One person is one thing, but none of 20 or so cave buddies have covered it with me.

I will talk to Giselle and establish a protocol.

[Superlyte27]

LMAO James! I teach to leave one of your safety reels attached to the line you found with an arrow indicating which way you went, which may or may not be the right way...

Safe diving,

Rich

Rich, that's exactly the way I was taught in 1997, it's the way my IT taught, and it's the way my mentors teach. So, at least me and you are on the same page

[pink arrows]

Rich, that's exactly the way I was taught in 1997, it's the way my IT taught, and it's the way my mentors teach. So, at least me and you are on the same page

Dude(s), how is a safety reel going to help? If they have a line and a direction out, I don't see a reason for a reel. I can see the light... (haha I just reread that..)... But what is the reasoning behind leaving a reel other than making it look like you looked for them?

[gschaut]

I think we may be mixing "lost buddy" with "lost line". I was taught that after locating the lost line (using my safety reel) to leave the safety reel wrapped on the main line.

[RN]

It's not an agency thing, at least not through NACD, NSS-CDS, IANTD, or TDI. I do, however, discuss the practice with my students. It's common enough out there that I want them to know what it means if they see it.

I think there should be a time limit on how long you look for a "lost" buddy. I know of several cases where buddies searched for each other, until one or both ran out of gas. In OW, the time limit is one minute. I think cave diving should be at least 5 minutes, but not more than half your reserve gas. The light, and directional marker are a good solution to confirm the buddy is no longer in the cave.

I am not sure what to do, if the marker is pointing back into the cave

I think half of your reserve is way too much. In my classes I discuss with my students some different lost buddy scenarios and distance from open water in terms of gas pressure. The farther in you are the less you should use searching for a buddy. A lost buddy is likely to have an increase in gas consumption so the likelihood for gas sharing increases.

[mdax]

I believe the reel is that on the last pass out to where you think the buddy is located, leave the reel tied out there. Then if your buddy finds that line it will lead them to the main line, your light and arrow. Just another chance they can help find the exit.
At least that's why my buddy and I would do...however there is pretty much no chance we'd lose each other. When i read about you'all diving with so many different people I feel super thankful to have one buddy/wife to dive with all the time.

[jj1987]

A lost buddy is likely to have an increase in gas consumption so the likelihood for gas sharing increases.

Lost buddy is rare. Lost buddy AND gas loss is even more rare. It's an incredibly slim chance they need you to donate gas unless you grossly overstay your search time. IMO get out, meet up on deco, you both should know the way out, and if you don't, you'll never catch someone with a head start seeing as how everyone swims around 50fpm anyways.

[hunabku]

I have had a couple of different cave instructors and I have not been taught to leave my backup on the line. I don't recall seeing it as part of the procedure in either the CDS or the NACD student manuals either.

It doesn't sound like a bad idea.

I was taught to do a shielded light search and also look for signs of the lost buddy (bubbles on ceiling, silt, etc). If nothing I would then drop an arrow, calculate gas to use for the search, tie in a reel and perform a search pattern. Once I hit my gas limit I would untie my reel, leave my arrow to indicate I had exited, and exit.

I truly hope I never have to do that.

I can see some benifits to leaving the light. I don't exactly like the idea of exiting solo with only two light sources.

What if...

[Rich]

Dude(s), how is a safety reel going to help? If they have a line and a direction out, I don't see a reason for a reel. I can see the light... (haha I just reread that..)... But what is the reasoning behind leaving a reel other than making it look like you looked for them?

It indicates that you left the cave 'cause presumably they're looking for you also, or at least one would hope so....

Safe diving,

Rich

[pink arrows]

What if...

YES! haha

obi from what i have been told by people who use this procedure, they carry a third backup light (usually a pretty small one) for such a situation. at least, that's what Dave's buddy does.