How should you respond if you or your buddy runs low on air during a dive?

In the event that either you or your buddy runs low on air during a dive, the appropriate response is to communicate the situation and, if necessary, ascend together. Effective communication is crucial in diving for ensuring safety. By informing your buddy of the low air situation, you can devise a plan to ascend safely, which is typically done in a controlled manner.

Ascending together allows both divers to monitor each other's buoyancy and ensure that they are ascending at a safe rate, which is important for preventing decompression sickness. Additionally, ascending together allows the divers to stay close in case help is needed.

The situation must be handled calmly and deliberate actions taken rather than ignoring the problem, which can lead to dangerous outcomes, or panicking, which increases the risk of accidents. Surfacing immediately without a planned ascent could lead to rapid ascents that can cause serious injury. Therefore, the correct decision prioritizes communication and safety throughout the dive experience.