Team Ascents and Safety Stops

An ascent is one of the most vulnerable phases of any dive—and a key moment for teamwork. Whether you're ascending from 100 feet or wrapping up a shallow reef dive, doing it as a coordinated team improves safety, control, and communication.

Why Ascents Require Team Coordination

Unlike the descent, which is often quick and linear, an ascent involves more precision and more risk:

• Buoyancy becomes more sensitive
• The risk of separation increases
• You’re managing gas, depth, and time simultaneously
• You may need to deploy an SMB or make safety stops

Team coordination helps prevent:

• Runaway ascents from uncontrolled buoyancy
• Missed deco or safety stops
• Loss of visual contact
• Miscommunication during deployment of equipment

Before You Ascend: Get Aligned

A good team ascent starts before you begin moving:

• Make eye contact with your teammates
• Signal the ascent clearly
• Confirm depth, time, and gas status
• Designate who will deploy the SMB (if applicable)

Staying Together During Ascent

Here’s how to maintain team cohesion throughout the ascent:

• Ascend slowly—aim for no more than 10 ft/min unless conditions demand otherwise
• Use hand signals or lights to communicate any changes
• Ascend facing each other, maintaining trim and spacing
• Use your eyes, not just your depth gauge—watch each other’s bubbles and body position
• If one diver drifts up or down slightly, the others adjust smoothly

Structure Matters: Clean, Calm, Controlled

Most loss-of-control moments happen during ascents—not descents or bottom time. That’s when buoyancy shifts quickly, narcosis wears off, and divers start thinking about the surface. A calm, structured ascent prevents small mistakes from becoming major problems.

Some teams incorporate short holds every 10 feet during an ascent (e.g., pause at 30 ft, 20 ft, 10 ft). These short stops aren't required on recreational no-stop dives, but they build discipline and situational awareness and make a full team ascent smoother.

SMB Deployment and Safety Stop Positioning

If deploying an SMB:

• One diver handles deployment while the others maintain team positioning and depth
• The team should hold neutral buoyancy during deployment, not kneel or hover erratically
• After deployment, the team re-centers at the stop depth (typically 15–20 feet)

During the safety stop:

• Maintain visual contact, ideally facing each other
• Stay horizontal, not vertical—horizontal trim makes it easier to control buoyancy and depth
• Monitor each other for signs of stress, shifting buoyancy, or rising too early
• Use lights or hand signals to signal time checks or problems

Free Ascents Without an SMB

If you're not using an SMB (e.g., ascending along a line or slope):

• Stick close to the visual reference
• Maintain team formation—still facing each other
• Watch your rate and buoyancy carefully without relying on the line for control
• Communicate clearly at the start, mid-point, and stop

Free ascents require even more team discipline to avoid drifting apart or misjudging depth.

If Something Goes Wrong

Things don’t always go to plan. Good teams:

• Pause the ascent if someone loses buoyancy control or gets distracted
• Re-establish contact if visual or spatial connection is lost
• Abort the stop safely if someone has a low gas situation or equipment problem

It’s better to skip a safety stop than to blow a slow, safe ascent while trying to “hold” at 15 feet at all costs.