airsix wrote:BDub wrote:
So, 1500 would be a 1, followed by a 5.
1000 would be a 1.
You're assuming it's not 150 or 100 because:
A) You've discussed the gas plan and you've dived with this person (regular buddy) and are on the same page, or
B) You've discussed the gas plan, and since you're diving with a new (to you) buddy, you'll have an idea of where he's at on gas because you've been communicating your gas back and forth.
No assumptions. I do not want the language to change based on how long we have been in the water. What if someone has had an unexpected loss of gas or higher-than-expected consumption? If they throw you a 3 for 300 you don't want to confuse that with 3000. If you want to finish the dive signaling in hundreds, start it signaling in hundreds. Do not switch from 10s to 100s at some point mid-dive. If 3 means three hundred at the end of the dive it should not mean 3 thousand at the start. IMHO.
-Ben
ps - Everybody,
HERE is another link to the one-hand numbering system in a nice one-page pdf from Advanced Diver Magazine.
Maybe "assumption" was the wrong term....
My normal dive buddies don't ask how much gas I have. We know the gas plan before getting in the water and we know that each person in the team is managing their gas according to the plan. If, for some reason, we do ask each others air pressure, if I get a 1 and a 5, that's 1500. If he had a large loss of gas, chances are very good that he noticed it and/or the team noticed it. If he has a higher than normal SAC, we'll just turn the dive earlier than planned, cause he'll hit turn quicker. But, none of my buddies are going to let their gauge fall below turn or rock bottom, let alone 150psi.
If it's a buddy that I haven't dove with before, I'll ask for his/her pressure often. By the third or fourth time I've asked them I have a pretty good feel for where they're at before I even ask. Likewise, we can adjust the dive if they have a higher SAC, and if they have a loss of gas, even if they don't notice, I'm pretty confident I'll catch it quickly. And, if they're the type of diver who doesn't manage their gas (which, pretty much any student of mine would attest that is an automatic fail for any of my classes), I've asked enough to not let them fall below turn, let alone 150psi.
In addition, we are speaking in 100's throughout the dive. So, 1 and a 5 means 1500. 2 and a 4 means 2400.
Edit-
Just read Sounder's post and reread my original post. My apologies, 1000 would be a 1 and 0, NOT just a 1...early morning brain fart.
