Posted by seahunt on September 05, 2001 at 05:57:18:
In Reply to: Proper procedure for OOA situations posted by MHK on September 04, 2001 at 16:29:30:
3) We would look the OOA diver in the eyes to calm him down and would have remained in touch contact throughout the entire situation;
This statement seems extremely ambiguous. You have made two points. Calm the diver and keep in touch contact. What is touch contact?
I have to think the old phraesology is better. Grab the guy by a shoulder strap. Grab them tight. Do not let go. It serves both to reduce the risk of panic (something your statement does emphasize) and it solves a number of potential problems you allude to. Hopefully, the OOA person does the grabbing, but if they are not well enough composed, the diver with air should do it because panic is the number one hazard at this point. Divers can swim just fine locked together and it then requires only one person to hold on to the line if they are using a line to ascend.
Reading below, dropping weights has its place, but I think that some people opt for that a bit quickly.
Enjoy the diving, seahunt