Line "Beacons?"

[loquat149]

Problem Solved...

Awesome!

Dave

[gschaut]

Problem Solved...

Attachment 6588

+1, can I get those glowsticks at Edd's?

[RN]

The arrow gets placed when you begin your search, not as much for your buddy but for you, so you don't get turned around in the process of searching. Its not removed unless you find your buddy nearby and can get to it readily, there's no urgency, no disagreement on the exit direction etc.

The backup light gets added if you have not found your buddy (at least it was part of my training). That leaves the searcher with a primary and one backup. Obviously some people feel the need to have more than 2 backups and leaving one to exit (no matter how many your start with) may make some people uncomfortable.

Actually, you should be placing a non-directional cookie when you begin your search. An arrow should be placed if you see signs your buddy is off the line and you go searching for your buddy off the line. At least that's the way I teach it.


Also, as far as calculating how much gas to use to search for a lost buddy, I recommend doing these calculations before ever getting in the water. That way if separation occurs you don't have to go through the calculations under water while stressed. I base my search pressure on how far I am from the exit (in terms of psi not feet) and who my buddy is (is it my wife who I know will maintain a relaxed RMV or another buddy who may double his/her RMV). The closer to the exit I am, the more gas I use to search but I will never use more than 400 psi which should be 1/3 of my reserve.

[JerseyJersey]

Actually, you should be placing a non-directional cookie when you begin your search. An arrow should be placed if you see signs your buddy is off the line and you go searching for your buddy off the line. At least that's the way I teach it.

Why a cookie? I thought you placed a cookie at the last place you saw your buddy and a directional arrow any time you went off the line?

Nevermind....that is just what you said....good nite

[Texas Torpedo]

It's how I was taught by German..

+1 for German & backup light. I believe we also practiced leaving wet notes with the backup light if we did not find lost buddy.

[Jim Wyatt]

never use more than 400 psi which should be 1/3 of my reserve.

Agreed.

[hunabku]

I can't see any advantage to placing a marker that does not give a directional reference in this situation. I'm open to learn why though.

[rongoodman]

+1 for German & backup light. I believe we also practiced leaving wet notes with the backup light if we did not find lost buddy.

Santiago from Protec showed me the same thing in Intro.

[TONY CHANEY]

OK...so far we have:
Stop and look for diver with light, cover light and look for diver, place cookie on line, place arrow on line, check gas, deploy spool / reel tie into arrow and look for diver, if can't find diver reel back to line, remove reel, remove cookie, leave arrow, deploy backup light and place it on line. (also to some, place wet note or "REM").

Seems it would be better or less time consuming to: Look with light, cover light, place arrow on line, deploy reel and tie into arrow and look for diver, if can't find diver reel back to line, leave reel. Never was taught to leave the reel but it seems like a good marker. Thoughts...I am always learning and willing to do so.

[rjack]

Actually, you should be placing a non-directional cookie when you begin your search. An arrow should be placed if you see signs your buddy is off the line and you go searching for your buddy off the line. At least that's the way I teach it.


Also, as far as calculating how much gas to use to search for a lost buddy, I recommend doing these calculations before ever getting in the water. That way if separation occurs you don't have to go through the calculations under water while stressed. I base my search pressure on how far I am from the exit (in terms of psi not feet) and who my buddy is (is it my wife who I know will maintain a relaxed RMV or another buddy who may double his/her RMV). The closer to the exit I am, the more gas I use to search but I will never use more than 400 psi which should be 1/3 of my reserve.

I don't know how you can do calculations before getting in the water, the amount you have available to search varies depending on how much gas its going to take to exit.

The cookie does nothing an arrow won't do. And if you swim back and forth on the line a couple times or turn around twice the arrow maintains your exit orientation. Swimming into the cave after you lost your buddy, makes a bad situation much much worse. Sure in theory you should recogize that you're swimming in new cave and not exiting. But if you are stressed about your buddy you might not notice and the next arrow may be too far into the cave to turn you around in time, or it may not even point to your exit. Also bad, you're on the line and your buddy is found and returns to the line. But your buddy has been off the line and is confused and thinks the exit is the wrong way. You doubt yourself under his persistence and go the wrong way with him.

Drop the arrow before you become anymore distracted by the loss of your buddy than you already are. The likelihood that you'll lose your exit orientation is too high and the consequences too grave.