Partner Diving Spearfishing safety
Posted By Kurt Bickel on 28 April 2003
There's little doubt that your safety margin increases enormously by using the dive partner system (I hate the term "buddy"). There's also little doubt that few spearfisherman employ its use on a regular basis. By its very nature, spearfishing is a solitary sport, where stealth, quiet and surprise all play in to a successful hunt.
Having a second diver hanging around in close proximity is counterintuitive to stalking. However, when properly employed, having an extra set of eyes, ears, limbs, and internal senses can actually make the hunt more successful, and prevent disasters large and small.
Before we go further, a word of caution. Having a partner watching your back can lead to a false sense of security, and a diver might take risks they otherwise might forego. Don't fall into this trap. Your partner doesn't want to go through the drama of a rescue, especially one that might be unsuccessful. Dive within yourself at all times.
I had a chance to make good use of the partner system while diving several islands in Mexico that were notorious for large predators. Having been hit by a large shark a month prior in the Gulf of Mexico, I wanted an extra pair of eyes to watch out for the large tigers that had been known to frequent the area. My partner for most of the dives was a friend who had recently steered off a Great White with a last minute shot that bounced harmlessly of its nose. We dove the islands for several days without incident, watching and signaling each other when a shark would show up.
I've also been helped by and have helped other divers retrieve guns, shafts, weight belts, and holed up fish. Having the second diver there provided a safety net in case of shallow water blackout (SWB), added a sounding board for ideas to search for and retrieve lost gear, and provided vigilance against stray boat traffic.
Finally, I've learned a great deal about diver movement and fish behavior watching other divers hunt. While there is no substitute for actually hunting yourself, watching others do so can teach you things you would otherwise miss when focusing on your own hunt.
What follows are some guidelines I've found important and helpful when diving with a partner. If you haven't tried it, you should.
Matching Up
It's inevitable that no two divers are evenly matched in skills and abilities. You and your partner need to be aware of each other's limitations. It makes no sense to attempt to extract a fish at 80 feet if your partner's working depth is 40 feet. Remember you'll lose anywhere from 20-50% of your bottom time because of adrenaline in the event of a rescue. Be honest about your conditioning, you may have been able to reach 60 feet at the end of last year's diving season, it's doubtful you'll have the same capacity after sitting on the couch all winter.
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