Low Vis Diving

[Ramses]

Hello. I had a question for all you sages of diving, but first an anecdote.
My buddy and I were at Mammoth Lake and when we hit about 30-34 feet visibility just went to nothing.
It was my first time dealing with that and it did make me pretty anxious as I could no longer see by dive buddy. It was our second dive and we had no need for a light on the first dive so we left it behind the second time. To be honest it was a bit mortifying not being able to find my buddy but we had a plan and found each other again as we were ascending.

Other than a good dive light (I just bought a dive rite cx3) what are some other things you all typically do or include in your plan when you know visibility is going to be 0.

 

[DeepGeek]

I always dive with a light in the lakes, and I hand my buddy a light if he doesn’t have one. Keeping track is too tiring otherwise.
If you head into zero vis, you need to be on a line. If it gets too bad, just turn around, no big deal. As you’ve found, the murk layer at the bottom can be a little challenging. Good job on having a lost buddy plan and executing it.
Here’s a weird one: in winter it flips around and the cold area below 30’ gets crystal clear.

 

[FunSizedAlex]

Hello. I had a question for all you sages of diving, but first an anecdote.
My buddy and I were at Mammoth Lake and when we hit about 30-34 feet visibility just went to nothing.
It was my first time dealing with that and it did make me pretty anxious as I could no longer see by dive buddy. It was our second dive and we had no need for a light on the first dive so we left it behind the second time. To be honest it was a bit mortifying not being able to find my buddy but we had a plan and found each other again as we were ascending.

Other than a good dive light (I just bought a dive rite cx3) what are some other things you all typically do or include in your plan when you know visibility is going to be 0.

If you are on a line with zero viz, my best recommendation is to follow the line. Both you and your buddy will end up in the same spot.

If you are on a platform/object with zero viz, try to follow along the edges. It’s easy to get lost in the middle.

My best recommendation? Bright and recognizable colors. That’s why I’m always in pink/blue so that I’m visible and recognizable even with shit viz

 

[Ramses]

I always dive with a light in the lakes, and I hand my buddy a light if he doesn’t have one. Keeping track is too tiring otherwise.
If you head into zero vis, you need to be on a line. If it gets too bad, just turn around, no big deal. As you’ve found, the murk layer at the bottom can be a little challenging. Good job on having a lost buddy plan and executing it.
Here’s a weird one: in winter it flips around and the cold area below 30’ gets crystal clear.

I think that was the problem. We were practicing compass navigation to get from a platform to the c-130 without using the lines.
I was reading about buddy lines, but that seems... unsafe? part of me just wants to purposely go out there to that low viz area with my buddy and just practice dropping down holding on to each other and trying not to panic.

If you are on a line with zero viz, my best recommendation is to follow the line. Both you and your buddy will end up in the same spot.

If you are on a platform/object with zero viz, try to follow along the edges. It’s easy to get lost in the middle.

My best recommendation? Bright and recognizable colors. That’s why I’m always in pink/blue so that I’m visible and recognizable even with shit viz

I feel more justified now in deciding to color in areas on my fins with high vis colors, thank you. lol

 

[Atlantean]

Hello. I had a question for all you sages of diving, but first an anecdote.
My buddy and I were at Mammoth Lake and when we hit about 30-34 feet visibility just went to nothing.
It was my first time dealing with that and it did make me pretty anxious as I could no longer see by dive buddy. It was our second dive and we had no need for a light on the first dive so we left it behind the second time. To be honest it was a bit mortifying not being able to find my buddy but we had a plan and found each other again as we were ascending.

Other than a good dive light (I just bought a dive rite cx3) what are some other things you all typically do or include in your plan when you know visibility is going to be 0.

Some good tips above already. The additional points below may (or may not) be useful/helpful for you...

1. A detailed dive plan agreed upon by both divers on the team well before entering the water: objective, depth profile, swimming speed, leader/follower positions, lost buddy plan, signals (hand or touch depending on viz), spg mark to start ascent, etc., etc.

*Specific to the lost buddy plan: agree on search time (i.e.-1 minute) and next step (i.e.-safe, controlled ascent to surface)

**Lots of situations can lead to task loading, anxiety and so on and a low viz, lost buddy scenario is one of those. In any situation like that, stopping what you are doing, focusing on breathing calmly and thinking through the situation before acting can be very helpful to you and ultimately your buddy.

2. Consider leader/follower positions relative to one another given the conditions AND conditions that might be encountered on the dive. Have a plan. When I'm in the follower role, I always try to position myself such that it makes it easy for the leader to see me/my position with a quick glance.

3. Having the less experienced diver in the leader position may be helpful as a more experienced diver MAY be better at maintaining contact with their dive buddy. Lots of variables here regarding level of experience.

4. Especially in low viz, have a dive plan that avoids free descents and ascents where possible. Follow mooring/anchor/shot line, slope, wall, etc. where practical and safe. Ensure both divers are ready to continue on at target depth before proceeding; same on the ascent. Additionally doing the same at points along the dive, particularly where there is a decision point; a "do we go left or right" kind of situation for example. Make sure both divers are clear on direction before proceeding.

Or if one of you wants/needs to stop for whatever reason whether that be to take a closer look at something, fiddle with equipment, etc. The diver that wants/needs to stop must make sure their buddy understands and acknowledges. Stopping even for a few seconds when your buddy is unaware and moving on can lead to a lost buddy scenario quickly especially in low viz.

5. Lights; along with the comments above, consider tank marker lights/strobe.

6. In certain circumstances, and if safe to do so, I will maintain a light finger hold on my dive buddy generally to a D-ring nearer the bottom/waist of their BCD. With their knowledge and agreement of course.

@Ramses-good on you and your buddy for having a plan and executing it! Wishing you lots of fun and safe diving!

I look forward to additional insights from others on this topic!

 

[Ramses]

These were super insightful! Thank you so much!

 

[ReefHound]

for the most part if viz is zero it’s because of murk and the lights won’t help you see anything. But you might be able to see someone else’s light shining at you from a bit further away than you could see otherwise so one lost buddy technique is to agree on a tapping pattern and designate one of you to rotate slowly and the other a bit faster, shining light away. If one of you catches a flash of light, bang on tank agreed number of times.

We also both wear white fins which are easier to spot.

 

[Ramses]

Are those elastic band things with a giant bead what ya'll use as tank bangers or just use knuckles? (sorry if this is obvious)

 

[Atlantean]

Knuckles won't do you much good. The elastic bands with large bead are an option. I use a good size double ended bolt snap to rap on my tank, but that's just my preference.