So you either pop up here:
The number one thing that this person has done wrong is not following standard safety procedures.
No matter what your certifying agency, the number one thing that is taught if you become separated from the group or your dive buddy is this; Search for your group or dive buddy for 1 minute.
If you can not find them, skip the safety stop, deploy your SMB and return to the surface.
Even if you pop up to the surface at a location completely different to what is on your dive plan due to the current, the tender operators on the surface will spot you and pick you up.
Remember it always feels like the current is taking you further underwater than when you surface and realise you have not actually drifted that far.
The tender operators may take a little longer than normal to notice you in the water at this location, or in extreme cases need signalling (we will get into this later).
But If you are underwater for an additional 25 minutes, the chances of the boat leaving before you surface must also align with the chance that the dive guide doesn’t notice that you are missing, but the later can not happen without the former!
You might start a dive on a dive site with good visibility, hoping that you could see a lot of stuff in your dive.
But the visibility of a dive site itself varies depending on the time & weather condition.
There is a good chance a diver gets separated from the group due to being unable to see where they are.
Underestimating the strength of currents can lead to divers being swept away from the planned dive site.
Furthermore, changing tides can alter the underwater landscape and currents, making it harder for divers to return to the boat.
Panic attacks or becoming disoriented underwater can lead to poor decision-making and separation from the group.
Physical exhaustion can also slow a diver down, making it difficult to keep up with the group or return to the boat.
Don’t go chasing proverbial butterflies underwater.
Easily distracted or absent minded divers can be caught off guard by following a beautiful fish or going off to explore an intriguing looking overhang.
Keep a present mind in where your group and buddy are at all times, make sure you know when the group is moving and don’t lag behind past visibility.
There will always be another dive to see something cool so make sure your safety is the priority over following wildlife underwater.
Well trained divemasters or instructors should have this case in their book.
Professional guides will try to calm down and use relevant information such as: where was the last time the missing diver was last seen?
Or how much air did they have left when such a case happens to their diving group.
However, to prevent it from happening, diving operators usually have their own measures to stop their divers from getting left behind.
Here are the general methods usually being used.
To find out if all divers in the group are there, guides usually verify numbers by visual checks (recognising all the divers).
An easier method is a head count, comparing the number of divers in the group from the beginning of the dive vs when it ends.
This is done at the safety stop, although they are constantly doing it throughout the dive everytime they turn back to look at the group as well, and when they do their regular welfare checks during a dive.
This actually depends on the dive operator you are going with.
A good ratio is one guide for four to five divers.
Some operators however, may give only one for 10 divers! The more drivers a guide has to watch, the more difficult it is to make sure all of them return safe and sound.
That’s just basic logic. Unfortunately, this happens with quite a lot of diving operators.
At La Galigo liveaboard, we take safety matters as our number one priority.
We keep our guide to customer ratio small. For one guide, we limit the maximum number of divers to just four or five maximum.
We can also offer one on one dive guiding services for guests that request it.
Furthermore, the maximum space in our boat is only fourteen divers.
This is a small number if you compare it to other liveaboards.
The small number ensures that the divers who get on to our boat get a high quality service.
In other words, we prioritise quality rather than quantity.
We also keep our dive guides with the same small group over multi day trips between 6 and 12 days.
Your dive guide is going to know you very well and will definitely notice if you are not there!
This also means the guides will quickly recognise the skill levels and personality types of everyone in their groups and give special attention to the ones who need it.
All our divemasters and instructors that guide our groups have done tens of thousands of dives in Komodo and Raja Ampat.
Not only do they know the sites like the back of their hands, but they know how to read the local currents and the divers in their groups too.
Do more than just keeping a close distance with your dive buddy or dive group: maintain regular communication with them.
Asking for remaining air left or just generally if you are ok could be annoying sometimes, but sometimes it’s done not just for the obvious reasons.
It’s to really tell the dive guide and buddy that you are there, and you are just fine.
Choosing a reputable dive operator is crucial.
Which dive operator you choose will really play a part in your safety. Here’s why:
Reputable dive operators invest in high-quality equipment and ensure it is regularly maintained and serviced.
Cheap operators might cut costs by neglecting maintenance, leading to equipment failures.
Quality dive operators employ experienced, certified instructors and dive masters who are trained to handle emergencies and ensure diver safety.
They also maintain a small instructor-to-diver ratio, which ensures each diver gets adequate attention and supervision.
Being well prepared does not hurt.
Bringing extra equipment with you will really play a big part in getting you back safely in those moments you are left behind.
Take a look at this list of additional equipment, based on their functionality:
Number 1 rule is try not to panic and waste your remaining air. Calm down.
Carefully get to the surface while watching for any passing boats.
On the surface, inflate your Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD) and conserve energy.
The equipment mentioned earlier can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety and increasing the chances of a successful rescue in emergency situations.
Should you find no one around even when you have tried everything, be patient, conserve your energy.
This applies not only when you are already on the surface, but also when you are still underwater, battling that strong current.
There are a couple of reasons why you should conserve your energy in these situations. They are:
Staying as still as possible conserves body heat.
Excessive movement increases heat loss, especially in cold water, which can lead to hypothermia.
Physical exertion can lead to exhaustion, which can impair your ability to think clearly and make a sound decision.
Conserving energy helps maintain mental clarity, which is crucial for assessing your situation and taking appropriate actions.
Furthermore, remaining calm and conserving energy reduces stress levels, which can help you manage the psychological challenges of the situation.
