I want to start a discussion to establish a protocol for the divers on the surface, to give the blackout victim the best possible chance of survival. I don't want this to be a discussion of "safe diving practices" that should've been followed by the victim, just the scenario where one or two divers are on the surface, with and without a boat, and one diver that fails to surface.
I must make one exception to state that in this situation the victim wearing a Freedivers Recovery Vest would be a huge factor in increasing his chances for survival. If the victim is not wearing an FRV and one of the divers on the surface is, could also be a big determining factor. Raising an unconscious body from depth is no easy task, but simply reaching the victim and grabbing hold, then inflating your own FRV will raise both divers effortlessly to the surface.
First I salute Dan for:
1. Starting this very important thread, specific to help spearos formulate a protocol or PLAN of ACTION "to give the blackout victim the best possible chance of survival."
2. Supporting the use of the FRV as a life saving tool for those of us at risk of swb on EVERY freedive.
Second:
Background to my plan---Since Oct. 2008, (my SWB) I ALWAYS wear a manual inflatable PFD on EVERY spearfishing freedive, so MY PLAN goes like this.
I watch my buddy until he surfaces and tells me he is good. If my buddy "fails to surface", I IMMEDIATELY breath up and drop on him. I plan on swimming down as fast as possible, grabbing my buddy, stripping off his weight belt, pulling the co2 inflate cord on my vest and hanging onto my buddy. As we shoot for the surface I plan to drop my own weight belt. Once on the surface my plan to keep my buddies face above the water until he is safe.
This is MY PLAN only. It may not be the right PLAN for you or your conditions/situations.