The attached photo shows a primary tender and diver (middle) with a primary diver on the end of a com line tether. A backup tender who also serves as the profiler (scribe) and who documents every move the primary diver makes, the primary diver’s breathing rate every five minutes, all in/down/out pressures and times, calculates and documents if the diver’s search speed is appropriate for the search object and environment, figures out what the primary diver’s air pressure is at any point during the dive (with the known SAC and current breathing rate), checks the distance out of the diver as the primary tender calls it out from the marked and measured com line…..

The 90%-ready diver and tender are on the left.

Notice that the com line is in backpacks – Butch’s idea decades ago – to keep all tender’s mobile. Mobility is critical for managing snags and other issues. We also very much advocate the MK7 – NOT the surface station. The MK7 easily allows tender’s to be mobile, can be used on thin ice for ice dives, allows you to hear the breathing of your diver specifically, and allows the backup diver to be connected in for a threesome round robin should the backup diver be called in to assist the primary diver.

Another recommendation – no buddy phones. Whether you choose hardwire or wireless – get the EMA-2 hot Mic. The buddy phone has to large an attachment to the full face mask straps that gets in the way when donning it. Push to talk is not a good way to go (buddy phone).

This is Newark FD in NJ

Andrea Zaferes
www.teamlgs.com
POB 594, Shokan NY 12481
(845) 657-5544, Fax (845) 657-5549
It’s time to think about Ice Rescue and Recovery. Ask for our Training, Educational Materials, and Equipment lists.