team diving skills

[beeger]

A phrase in one of DRE's posts caught my attention: "team integrity." it is hard to define how, exactly, a team should work underwater due to the huge variety of situations that can be encountered. Whatever the situation is the appropriate response is "what maintains team integrity?" In other words, what is the appropriate response that does not sacrifice integrity of the team in favor of a short team, insufficient response to the situation. Team integrity is maintained when individuals are empowered to act with more safety and resources than they can on their own.

Example: donating the reg one is breathing vs handing off an "octopus" (ignoring the fact for the moment that the out of air diver will likely rip the reg out of your mouth anyway). Relying on the principle that "I'm not taking my working reg out of my mouth and will instead rely on a reg I'm not positive is working" is not maintaining team integrity. Why? Well it adds another variable to a bad situation - variables complicate matters and increase risk. What's going to happen to that buddy if you hand them a reg that is not working, or that blasts silt into their mouth, or you can't get your hands on that reg to pass it off in the first place? The proper fix is to maintain the team based approach - pass them something that you know 100% is working (and is safe to breath, for you tech divers out there using deco/stage gasses) and then pickup one of your other two regs (yes, two - the backup around your neck, and if that isn't working your inflator ... yes, your inflator can deliver air to you in an emergency). After all you have a period of time after that primary reg comes out your mouth to sort out your situation. The out of air buddy does not and will not tolerate any delays. Handing off an octopus is not team based diving: it says "I'm watching out for myself but will try and hand you something that I hope I can find and that I think is working - you're on your own."