In reply to oceanwaves742:
I found a buoyancy aid was great. Really gives you a higher safety margin.
I recall a very nervous Niall Grimes being very grateful to borrow it at Barques a few years ago. I think he was a very unconfident swimmer.
The other guy who was grateful to have it lobbed at him was floating in a very big swell at portland and getting more and more exhausted by the minute. Every time he got near the get out he'd sink in a wave trough, see the next peak towering above him and shit himself and have to swim out to deep water. He'd then tread water for a bit and then try again with the same result.
His arsehole mates were completely oblivious and did nothing at all to rescue him.
In the end I harnessed up and went down the ab rope to the shelf. Made damn sure there was a huge knot in the rope at exactly the right point.
The guy swam towards me and we linked hands as the next wave lifted him up. We clasped together as the wave hit us and he was then left clinging onto me in mid air as the wave receeded.
Fun times.
Made me realise what an utter fool I had been soloing alone an hour or two before that.
( actually, scratch that. This bloke wasn't alone and ended up in a very bad situation)
So, the answer to your OP is good solid mates.