Tired Diver Tow

If your buddy becomes too tired to swim on the surface....whether from exhaustion, cramping, stress, or gear issues...knowing how to perform a tired diver tow can make the difference between a safe return and a dangerous situation.

You don’t need to be fast. You just need to be stable, efficient, and calm.

When to Use a Tow

• Your buddy is too tired or cramped to swim back
• They're low on energy after a long dive or surface swim
• They're showing signs of stress, shortness of breath, or mild panic
• You’re assisting someone back to the boat, entry point, or shore after surfacing away from the group

A tow is not about strength. It is about body position, buoyancy, and keeping the situation under control.

Before You Tow: Assess the Situation

• Ensure your buddy is positively buoyant - add enough air to their BCD to keep them comfortably floating
• Make sure they’re breathing from their own regulator - don’t offer yours unless you’re diving a long-hose configuration
• Calm them down verbally - eye contact and simple words go a long way to prevent panic
• Signal to the boat or others as soon as possible if assistance may be needed
• If there’s current, tow at an angle rather than head-on to reduce resistance

Why You Shouldn’t Offer Your Regulator Unless You Use a Long-Hose Configuration

In a standard recreational setup, offering your own primary regulator to another diver is impractical and potentially unsafe during a surface assist or tow:

• There’s not enough hose length — Standard second-stage hoses are too short for two divers to maintain distance or comfort at the surface. You'll be chest-to-chest, struggling to move or see
• It disrupts your control — You’ll be managing your own alternate air source while trying to stabilize a tired or panicked diver
• It limits visibility and mobility — You lose the ability to monitor your buddy clearly, move efficiently, or manage buoyancy and signaling if needed
• There's no clean exit plan — Once you've donated the reg, repositioning or recovering your primary can be awkward unless you’re specifically trained for it

In contrast, a long-hose configuration (usually 5 to 7 feet) allows you to:

• Donate your primary while seamlessly switching to a backup under your chin
• Maintain distance
• Stay mobile and in control
• Keep the tired diver safely breathing without being face-to-face

Unless you’re diving long-hose, the better move is to ensure your buddy is breathing from their own regulator or alternate and only intervene if they cannot.

Towing Techniques

Tank Valve Tow (Reliable and Controlled)

• The diver floats face-up and fully buoyant
• You position yourself at their head, grab the tank valve and start kicking
• Use a strong flutter kick to pull both of you backwards

Why it’s ideal for a diver who may not be cooperative:

• You stay out of reach of flailing arms or panicked grabs
• The diver’s airway remains above the surface and visible the entire time
• Requires no effort or cooperation from the tired diver
• Minimal physical contact means you can tow without causing additional stress
• You can clearly monitor their face and condition while keeping both of you stable
• You have significant control of the diver by simply moving the tank valve

Underarm Tow (Closer Support)

• The diver floats face-up
• You slide one arm under their arm and across their chest
• Offers more physical support which is useful for stressed (but not paniced) or semi-conscious divers
• Slower and less hydrodynamic, but gives more control when needed

Push Tow (Fast and Efficient in the Right Conditions)

• The tired diver floats on their back, fully buoyant and relaxed
• You position yourself at their feet and place their fins on your shoulders
• Hold their calves or ankles and use a strong flutter kick to push both of you forward

Best for:

• Moderate distances
• A calm, cooperative diver
• Flat, calm water

Not recommended in current, surf, or when the diver is not fully cooperative.

Surface Awareness

• Stay close to your buddy and don't let them drift or turn face-down
• Both divers should remain on regulators
• Signal “OK” if under control, or use audible or visual devices to request assistance from the boat or shore

Common Mistakes

• Failing to establish buoyancy first — don’t start towing until your buddy is comfortably floating
• Trying to tow with a panicked diver without calming them — it puts you both at risk
• Offering your own regulator in standard configuration — impractical and unsafe
• Trying to tow too fast — steady and smooth is better unless conditions allow for an efficient push tow
• Waiting too long to ask for help — if you’re not making progress, signal early