Commercial diving/Buddy diving in low visibility

Buddy diving in low visibility (Scuba procedure):

Know your buddy

 * 1) Be absolutely certain before the dive who your buddy is for that dive. Be sure that the supervisor knows this too.
 * 2) Know what your buddy is wearing so you can visually identify him/her from any angle: Know the type and colour of fins, shape and colour of mask, colour of suit, how to ditch weights and find knife.
 * 3) Have some way to identify your buddy by feel. (masks and fins are often good for this)
 * 4) Have some way of identifying yourself to your buddy by feel ( a signal, piece of equipment or other pre-arranged method)

Stay with your buddy
Unless you are carrying bailout gas or the dive is shallow, your buddy is your bailout air supply. If you are separated YOU HAVE NO BAILOUT AIR! This is an unacceptable hazard.

If the visibility is poor it may be necessary to use a buddy line. This will depend on the HIRA. Some environments are not suitable for buddy lines. If a buddy line is used, ensure that both divers can quickly release it when under high tension, but that it will not release itself under moderate tension. Do not dive with a buddy line which cannot be quickly released. Cutting with a knife is not quick release. Your life may depend on this.

1. If separated and one diver has a SMB the diver without the SMB is LOST.
 * The lost diver must start ascent within 1 minute of identifying the separation. Do not do safety stops. Surface and notify the supervisor if reasonably possible. Go to the SMB and signal your buddy that you are coming down or for your buddy to surface if you can’t go down.

2. If your buddy does not rejoin or signal you (diver with SMB) within 3 minutes, start ascent. Ascend at standard rate and do any required decompression. Do not do safety stop. Surface and immediately notify supervisor.
 * If buddy is missing at end of dive, or gas is running low, do not wait, start ascent immediately.

3. If called away from the worksite by another diver make sure your buddy is informed and comes with you UNLESS the diver informs you that your buddy has already surfaced.