#beachdiving

Diving with Clowns and Cowboys

In my many years of diving, few things have disappointed and frustrated me more than diving with clowns and cowboys.  Now, before you judge me for judging others, let me say that few things please me more than diving with new buddies.  I believe the wonders of the underwater world and the pleasures of scuba diving should be available to anyone who has the desire to enjoy it and who demonstrates the discipline to obtain proper training.  Unfortunately, some divers behave in ways that diminish the diving experience for others and sometimes their behavior ranges from ridiculous to dangerous.

Let’s identify what kind of characters are involved.  Clowns seem carefree and entertaining at the circus.  Their comic expressions, slapstick routines, and jokes are designed to mock reality and make us laugh by contrasting serious with silly.  Most clowns need a straight man, someone to be the target of their jokes, or around whom they can contrive a laughable situation.  Clowns attempt to distract their audience from their lives with humor.

Scuba clowns are similar in many ways.  They seek attention from others, they look for laughs, and they make a joke out of just about anything.  Scuba clowns seldom allow a dive briefing to continue without a few interruptions.  They often interject wry comments and ask intentionally stupid questions.  They mock discussions about planning, gear checks, and safety as unnecessary, trivial, or boring.  They speak out of turn during roll calls.  They are boastful, rude, and braggadocious.  Sometimes, they take a poke at other divers by ridiculing one’s gear configuration, fin selection, or choice of exposure suit.  If you ever heard someone mocked because they wore a snorkel or carried a knife, you may have seen a clown in action.

Clowns love practical jokes.  They are famous for hiding someone’s gear, shortening BCD crotch straps, and rubbing foul-tasting substances on regulator mouthpieces, but it is in the water where clowns are most unpredictable.  They make comic water entries, swim in unnatural positions, and make confusing hand signals.  More extreme behavior includes pulling on a buddy’s regulator hose, loosening someone’s tank strap, activating another’s BCD inflator valve, and feigning distress.

If you feel uncomfortable imagining this clownish behavior actually occurring, you are not alone.  Responsible divers love to have fun but never at the expense of another.  Clowns actually believe their stunts are funny and they are often surprised when not only their buddy turns against them but their audience, too.  Most scuba clowns do not realize that their antics may distract others enough to cause real trouble to occur.  Their mockery can quickly turn to mourning once it becomes apparent that they contribute to distress, injury, or worse.

Cowboys are almost the other extreme from clowns.  Instead of craving attention, they shun it.  The cowboy mystique is that of a man and his horse, alone on the prairie, self-sufficient, and self-reliant.  Cowboys survive on the frontier where danger lurks and one’s wits are the most effective weapon.  There are no rules except the ones one makes for himself.  Or, so it goes in the movies.

Scuba cowboys are a bit like their Wild West brothers.  They usually seem quiet and aloof.  They sit apart and gear up separately.  Because they seldom have a buddy, they reluctantly accept one assigned them but offer little of themselves to that buddy before a dive.  Cowboys appear competent and comfortable before a dive; they seldom ask questions or seek assistance.  Many accept that behavior as pleasant, polite, and reaffirming (maybe because the last dive included a clown) but little do they realize what lies ahead.

Once scuba cowboys hit the water, it may be the last anyone sees of them before it is time to surface.  Even if they linger long enough to ensure their buddy reaches depth safely, they usually take off to explore the site on their own.  Sometimes a cowboy acknowledges that he has a partner enough to let him tag along.  He seldom, if ever, turns around to check on him and the other diver better keep up or get left behind.  Cowboys keep on riding, sometimes according to plan but usually shooting from the hip and following whatever trail seems nice.  They know they have enough air to do what they want, as long as they want, so they keep on going until the very last moment.  These are the last ones to surface and often farthest from the boat or beach.

It would be enough that scuba cowboys followed their lonesome ways and accepted the risks of diving alone but the result is often a problem for other divers.  Even if an abandoned dive buddy unites with another group of divers, no one is sure what became of Hop-A-Long Cassidy.  Standard buddy separation procedures call for searching submerged for no more than a minute, then surfacing to reunite.  If scuba cowboy keeps swimming submerged, other divers may presume he is lost or imperiled.  They may discontinue their dives to begin searching for him.  His continued absence may cause divers to risk their own comfort and safety by leaving their scheduled dive site to explore an expanded area, possible to encounter undesirable currents or conditions they may assume influenced the lost diver.

Both clowns and cowboys exhibit a form of selfishness that is annoying at best and deadly in the worst possible situations.  Their behavior deserves to be addressed according to the circumstances.  The appropriate word at the right time may make a difference or it may not, but one should at least try.  Dive masters can ask clowns to remain quiet during briefings, sometimes allowing an uncomfortable pause following an interruption.  Practical jokers and pranksters should be confronted by all parties, not just the victim of their tricks.  When all else fails, take away the clown’s ultimate desire – the audience.  Just ignore the idiot until he stops talking.  Next trip, everyone remember to leave that diver on the beach.

Cowboys require a different approach.  Buddies must express their expectation for companionship during the dive and elicit some kind of commitment.  Sometimes, it does not hurt to ask if the diver just wants some space to explore alone.  If the answer is yes, buddy up with someone else.  If a cowboy wanders off during a dive, never assume it was just his nature to do so.  Responsible divers are obligated to follow standard procedures for buddy separation.  Once it is discovered the diver separated intentionally and did not surface, communicate accordingly and plan to make other arrangements on future dives.

Basic Gearing Up and Water Entry for Beach Diving

Beach diving sites vary from sandy, desolate shores to rocky jetties or waters that lap at the edges of a city skyline.  Whatever the setting, beach divers must perform basic functions in assembling and donning their gear.  If one performs these functions effectively, the dive has a chance of going as planned but, if these basics are neglected, the dive is unlikely to be a success and might actually become hazardous.

Consider four elements essential to beach diving.  First, you must have all the gear you need for that particular dive.  This may seem too simple to even mention but you would be surprised how many divers arrive lacking sufficient weights, a dive flag, or a full tank of air.  If you ever had a buddy try to borrow a spare light to loan for a night dive, then you can identify with the need to have a basic gear checklist.  The dive plan becomes handicapped when a team member is underweighted or limited in function by lack of equipment.  Considering the role of the missing gear, safety may also be compromised.

Next, have a buddy with experience and training adequate for the dive planned.  You may be surprised to learn how many divers, even veterans, who have never logged a beach or shore dive.  Few things alarm a seasoned beach diver more than to learn that his new buddy is expecting to be taught and guided through an initial shore entry.  Divers must discuss experience and expectations when planning the dive, probably well before arriving in the parking lot.

Speaking of plans: Have one.  Even a rudimentary verbal sketch of entry and exit points, and what to do in between the two ends beats wading in and hoping for a great dive.  The best plans include the following features: entry/exit points, direction of travel, depth anticipated, current flow, gas management (turn-around and minimum pressures), and scheduled activities (photography, spearing, lobstering, etc.).  Before entering the water, it is also good to review signals and lost buddy procedures.

Finally, it is a good idea to develop a system that enables you to plan, conduct, and conclude your dive effectively.  An example of such a system would be a dive template for particular sites that includes a checklist of gear (especially equipment specific to that site or dive activity), environmental conditions (weather and water state and forecast), names and phone numbers of participating divers, and estimated entry/exit times.  (A copy of that plan should be retained by family or friends in case of . . . well, just in case).  Another system is the process by which a diver gears up, allowing him or her to assemble all necessary equipment even in dark or inclement conditions.

A typical south Florida beach dive begins with divers assembling their gear near their cars in the parking lot.  Although some may carry gear separately to a tarp near the surf for assembly, most like the thought of only making one trip, wearing their gear to the entry point.  Divers check and double check their air supply to ensure adequate gas for the dive and that the valve is opened fully before entering the water.  Buddies should check their buddy, as prescribed by all open water dive training curriculum.  That extra set of eyes often catches what one overlooks because of carelessness or distraction.  The buddy check should be from head to toe, including fins, weights, regulator hoses, bcd straps, and mask.

Except for fins and mask, don the gear and attach equipment as it will be carried during the dive.  Beach divers often learn the hard way that this is also the time to secure gear and tethers. If a spare vehicle key is necessary, ensure it is attached before locking the vehicle.  Move toward the surf with at least one buddy available to help if one stumbles enroute.  Once at the water’s edge, make final preparations including one more buddy check.  Neither buddy should enter until the other is ready.

At this point, many divers have a preference for water entry.  Most styles include the following steps.  Rinse and don mask.  Inflate the bcd halfway or more according to sea state.  Carrying the fins or with them attached to the bcd, stride into the surf until about waist deep.  Turn your back and present your tank into oncoming waves to lessen their impact.  Allowing the water to support you (add air to bcd, if necessary), don fins with assistance of buddy.  With sufficient buoyancy, begin finning backward past wave action and to the desired descent point.

Prior to descending, ensure each buddy is ready.  This is important.  A lot can happen between the beach and the deep blue sea.  Individual divers may sense conditions exceed their training, abilities, energy, or comfort level.  If the swim out has been arduous, one may wish to rest before breathing regulated air.  Divers may have also noted any unexpected conditions like strong currents, boat traffic, or limited visibility.  Perform one final gear check before signaling descent and venting the bcd.  Again, this is a good time to head back to the beach, if conditions and confidence are not good.

At the end of the dive, surface normally and ensure all have adequate buoyancy for the trip through the surf.  Move toward the beach close enough to assist one another if waves or surf action are rough.  Once in water shallow enough to stand firmly, remove and secure fins but leave the mask on and regulator in until walking steadily.  Get in the habit of leaving your mask on until exiting the water entirely – many a mask goes missing at this point when removed and dropped or washed off one’s head by rogue waves.  Assist one another if having to climb beach gradient or if the sand is so soft that footing at water’s edge is uncertain.

The Burdened Diver

Have you ever had your dive buddy swim beyond your reach and keep going, leaving you far behind? Have you struggled to keep up with one or more buddies only to find yourself winded, fatigued, and frustrated? If so, you are unfortunately not alone. Few divers today understand the principle of the burdened diver, resulting in compromised diver safety and accidents. Many incidents are reported (missing divers found, separated divers recovered by passing boats, etc.) but most are not, probably because divers are embarrassed by their failure to obey basic safety procedures.

The principle of the burdened diver is simple: The pace of a buddy team or diving group is set by the slowest diver. This is especially true if one of the divers is bearing a burden, such as the flag or a heavy game bag, or is otherwise disadvantaged compared to others in the group. Flag bearing divers often struggle with increased drag caused by surface conditions (wind and waves) and sometimes with the chore of adjusting the reel. Divers carrying game bags (lobsters, fish, etc.) have increased weight and drag to slow them down. Sometimes divers have issues such as new or unfamiliar gear, ill-fitting fins, too much weight, or an oversized tank. Other times, it might be the diver who is not in the best shape or whose swimming skills are still developing.

Divers must remember two important facts. First, the burdened diver cannot maintain the pace others set. The reason for the burden does not matter. If the team decides to continue the dive given the conditions and the divers involved, they must recognize that the burdened member will be left behind unless care is taken to stay with that person.

The second fact is the burdened diver cannot catch up with any margin of safety. Even if the unburdened buddy or buddies occasionally pause to wait for the burdened diver, that diver is apart and probably alone. Most likely, that diver is too far away for anyone to render assistance if the diver requires it. It is also true that diver cannot render assistance to a buddy who swims ahead and gets into trouble. Consequences of faster divers letting a slower diver catch up include the burdened diver becoming overworked, consuming air inefficiently, becoming disoriented or lost, and possibly becoming physically or mentally challenged by an untenable situation.

Four practices are recommended for diving safely with a burdened diver. First and foremost, never place the burdened diver at risk. Never compromise the safety of any diver for the convenience of another. That is stated as simply as possible. Whatever decision is made to continue the dive and whatever accommodations are determined, they must include full consideration of the safety, well-being, and peace of mind for the burdened diver. If others are inconvenienced, they can bear it and make future diving decisions accordingly.

Second, include the burdened diver factor in the original dive plan. If the dive includes a dive flag, decide who will carry it and determine that person will set the pace, if not navigate and lead as well. Remember the adage, The person with the flag is never lost? That principle supposes that the other divers will rally to and stay with the flag-bearer. The plan can also include sharing flag towing tasks. Even if the flag belongs to one of the divers, that diver will not mind letting others help.

If there is another burden factor, such as game bags, equipment bearing, or other issues known before the dive begins, include that in the plan. It might be helpful to discuss a "what-if" scenario, such as, "What if one bag gets too heavy?" or "What if one of us gets tired?" The more complete the plan and discussion before the dive, the less confusion likely during the dive.

Third, consider sharing a burden that develops. Currents may be stronger than anticipated or may change to an unfavorable direction. Fin straps break, tank buckles malfunction, and flag reels jam. Stuff happens. Don’t let the load fall upon one diver – assist in whatever way possible. In doing so, you may avoid future complications and dangers. At the very least, you will earn the respect and gratitude of the burdened diver.

Finally, go no faster than the burdened diver. Slow down. Get parallel to the burdened diver and keep their pace. Your consideration will encourage that diver and may make the task easier for him or her. You may even enjoy the dive more by reducing your own pace but most importantly, you have not left the diver alone. If others in the group must move on, let them. Communicate the separation effectively with all team members, so there will be no question as to who accompanies whom.

Are you a bad buddy?

Few principles are promoted as universally in scuba literature as the buddy system. From basic certification manuals to slick dive magazines, divers are encouraged to descend only with another. Most published photos show buddy teams exploring together and all responsible dive charters only allow divers to enter the water when teamed with a partner. Unfortunately, despite all this attention to the concept of buddy diving, it remains the single most misunderstood, if not most neglected, practice in scuba.

Essential, the buddy system partners individuals with a shared diving goal. The purpose is to increase the margin of safety for each diver by providing someone to assist in preventing problems and to help should they arise. Capable buddies also share diving tasks such as navigation and flag towing. An extra set of eyes helps spot lobsters and other prey, or just to share a moment of beauty and wonder like we so often experience in the deep. A good buddy may contribute additional skill, expertise, or even gear to make the dive that much more profitable. All of these benefits are realized when buddies honor the right priorities and practices when diving but the sad truth is that many buddies do not provide the support they should once the team descends beneath the surface.

Good buddy practice begins before entering the water, continues throughout the dive, and concludes only after the team is back on the surface, the dive is debriefed, and gear is secured. Predive planning is the best time to share essential elements of the dive, such as goals (i.e. photo, hunting, exploration, or just sightseeing), communications (hand signals and light discipline), navigation, air/depth/time management, and gear requirements. New buddies can share personal experience and training levels to ensure each has an approximation of the other’s abilities and limitations.

Buddies should articulate and agree upon separation procedures during planning. Standard practice recommends buddies search for the other for no more than one minute before ascending to reunite on the surface. This method works and has served many divers well through the years but the plan may require some adjustments according to conditions. In limited visibility situations or when surface conditions dictate, divers may wish to limit underwater search time before ascending. In some cases, a designated meeting point such as a boat, float, or landmark may be practical.

Beach diving buddies add an additional task of remaining available for assistance during surf entry. Wind, waves, and current may complicate the process of getting into the water. It is not hard to lose one’s balance when hit sideways by an unexpected wave. When trying to regain that balance while wearing more than 50 pounds of gear, a helping hand is a blessing.

Once submerged, each diver checks the other for loose straps, unsecured gear, excessive bubbles, and available air. At this point, divers can compare time, depth, and computer settings to allow for maximum synchronization. Only after sharing the "go" signal, should divers begin swimming away from the entry point.

During the dive, buddies should stay in close proximity to each other. Actual distance may differ according to visibility and other factors but a general rule allows a two-second separation. Buddies should always remain within sight of one another, meaning they should swim in such a way that each knows where the other is at all times. Each should occasionally check the other for gear security and retention (particularly loose tank bands and dangling consoles), and for signs of discomfort or unusual behavior. This is especially true on deep dives or when using enriched air, when narcosis and oxygen exposure risks are greater.

At the end of the dive, buddies assist each other in surface navigation, equipment wrangling, and exiting the water. When boarding a boat, one may provide stability or guidance in choppy conditions. When exiting through surf, wave awareness and balance issues are present. Once out of the water, buddies help each other with transporting, rinsing, and stowing gear. Beach divers may need to walk up the beach and through a parking lot, so having a buddy means having help either carrying gear or keeping an eye on it while it is transported in shifts. A post-dive brief completes the dive, with each diver sharing perceptions, experiences, and suggestions for the future.

The list above constitutes a rough outline of what good buddies do before, during, and after a dive. Consistent practice of good buddy skills is probably rooted in the attitude and philosophy of each diver. If a diver believes in the value of having and being a good buddy, that diver is more likely to make the effort to be one.

That brings us to what one should look for when choosing a dive buddy. A wish list for best dive buddy qualities might include the following:

Sound judgment – demonstrates common sense in decision making.

Reliability – can be counted on to show on time, do what they say, and be where they belong.

Safety conscious – knows safety procedures and avoids unnecessary risk.

Skilled – trained and experience to the level required by the dive. Preferably rescue qualified.

Some divers claim they are better off without a buddy than when diving with a bad buddy. They may be right. A buddy who lacks common sense, who consistently makes unsound decisions, who takes unnecessary risks, and who dives without proper training or equipment, is an accident waiting to happen and poses a threat to those nearby. As this is written, authorities are searching for a diver who abandoned his two buddies and has been missing offshore for two days. According to facts related by one of his buddies, this diver should not have been diving at all that day much less in demanding conditions at sea. If that is true, he failed his buddies and they failed him by not stopping a preventable accident.

     You cannot make many beach dives without learning the value of tethers. Securing gear properly has always been a scuba principle. Whether entering the water from beach, boat, or pier, divers want quick access to and reliable retention of their equipment. Why carry gear if you cannot use and why risk expensive items if you are likely to lose it? Experienced divers know, if you don't tether gear, it is not a matter of if you are going to lose it but when and how it will happen.

     This risk is much more likely during beach dives. When entering the water from shore, divers contend with surf, unpredictable bottom conditions, gusty wind, surface swims, and other factors that demand attention. Sometimes the act of assisting a buddy distracts one long enough to forget one's hold on gear being hand carried. Often a diver regains balance after a passing wave only to discover a camera, spear gun, or even fins missing. Focusing on too many issues at one time is known as task overload, a condition that professionals like pilots learn to avoid.

      So, what gear gets tethered? It may be too simple to say that anything you don't want to lose should be attached but for the sake of thoroughness, let's start a list. Mask, fins, and lights are essential to the dive itself, so they are primary concerns. Knives, shears, writing slates, surface marker buoys, and gloves that are not pocketed should be attached securely. Cameras, computers, spears and spear guns, and other mission-oriented tools are often expensive and always at risk of loss. Even the flag reel should be tethered when entering and exiting the surf.

     Divers have many options to consider for tethering choices. Spring-loaded retractors are a convenient way to attach cameras, lights, and computers. You can extend the item for use and it automatically returns to it's stowed condition afterward. Detachable plastic clips retain gear until needed and receive it back easily. Some divers affix metal clips to gear, which then attach to a D-ring for carrying. The least expensive and most versatile tethers often consist of parachute cord or bungee, cut to desired length and properly knotted. Plastic cable ties are a dry box staple that many divers never leave home without.

      When tethering, consider two priorities: security and access. These values must be balanced to achieve best results. Gear should be attached so that it does not come loose unintentionally, but it must remain available for use. If it is too secure or in a location you cannot reach, it is of no use during the dive.

     Two more factors are also important. When attaching to a D-ring, try to limit items to one per ring to avoid confusion and possible removal and loss of an item not intended for use. This often occurs when gloved fingers accidentally open two clips at once.