Controlled Buoyant Lift

• Face the victim and hold him with your right or left hand. Make sure to take hold of him throughout the lift.


• Take the hose of the victim's BC. It is important that you can clearly see the controls so that you will know if you are doing right and you will easily know if something wrong occurs. Check for kinks in the hose that can block the air from entering the BC.


• If one of you is wearing a Drysuit, set the shoulder auto-dumps at an appropriate position before ascending.


• Start the ascent by giving a hard squirt of air into the BC of the victim. Begin swimming off the bottom.


• Keep in mind that in general, there is no need to ascend very quickly. A quick ascent will only increase the risks of having Decompression Sickness. One simple guide you can use is following the small bubbles. Monitor your ascent by making sure that you do not ascend faster than the bubbles. If you do ascend faster, vent some air from the victim's BC, and from your own as well when necessary. If you are slowing down too much, you can use your Diving Fins to control the ascent.


• If you are wearing a Dry suit, raise or lower your arms to vent or retain air, making sure that you are still taking hold of the victim. Keep in mind that what you need to attain is a controlled rate of ascending, thus, do what is needed to keep the rate of ascent constant.


• As the victim reaches the water surface, fill his BC as quickly as possible. At the surface, you will need to take away some pieces of Diving Equipment of the victim. Remove the Diving Mask as well as the Diving Regulator. Also, ditch his Diving Weights so he will stay in the surface. Do this by pulling the Weight belt or pouch clear off the victim. Close the mouthpiece of the Rebreather if the victim is wearing one.


• Give a Distress Signal (an extended arm with a clenched fist, waving from side to side). Drag the victim towards the shore or a boat if the situation calls for it.