Buddy breathing

Buddy breathing is a rescue technique used in scuba diving "out-of-gas" emergencies, when two divers share one demand valve, alternately breathing from it. Techniques have been developed for buddy breathing from both twin-hose and single hose regulators, but to a large extent it has been superseded by safer and more reliable techniques using additional equipment, such as the use of a bailout cylinder or breathing through a secondary demand valve on the rescuer's regulator.[1]

Running out of breathing gas most commonly happens as a result of poor gas management.[2] It can also happen due to unforeseen exertion or breathing equipment failure. Equipment failure resulting in the loss of all gas could be caused by failure of a pressure retaining component such as an O-ring or hose in the regulator or, in cold conditions, a freezing of water in the regulator resulting in a free flow from the demand valve.[3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brylske 1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Denoble2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference BSAC 2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ward 2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).