Lets me know when he's ditching me, but if he doesn't tell me, I don't care.
What is the Minimum you want from a Buddy?
- Thread starter Ardy
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Sas
Contributor
The minimum I want from a buddy depends on what type of diving I am doing. For shore dives all I care about is if they have a good attitude. I plan my dives so I am self-sufficient as possible and shore dives are cheap so if the dive goes to crap I am not put out much by it.
For boat dives (which are generally deeper) I have two people I am currently happy to dive with, but one of them only really likes shallow shore diving so that leaves one person! I would have to shore dive a few times with someone before I would do boat dives with them and they would have to (in addition to having a good attitude):
-have a similar SAC to mine or be better so I don't have to cut dives short
-have similar tolerance to temperature to me (or better) again so I don't have to cut a dive short if they get cold
-be self-sufficient, reliable and calm when there are problems
-happy to sit down and work out proper dive plans including minimum gas requirements and then stick to them
-happy to do buddy checks
-happy to devote part of the dive to working on skills
-have a very slow pace
-stay within an acceptable distance of me (1-2m)
-good communication throught the dive and before as well
I've wasted much money doing boat dives with people who are poorly suited to my diving style and these days I try to avoid boat diving with unfamiliar people as much as possible.
For boat dives (which are generally deeper) I have two people I am currently happy to dive with, but one of them only really likes shallow shore diving so that leaves one person! I would have to shore dive a few times with someone before I would do boat dives with them and they would have to (in addition to having a good attitude):
-have a similar SAC to mine or be better so I don't have to cut dives short
-have similar tolerance to temperature to me (or better) again so I don't have to cut a dive short if they get cold
-be self-sufficient, reliable and calm when there are problems
-happy to sit down and work out proper dive plans including minimum gas requirements and then stick to them
-happy to do buddy checks
-happy to devote part of the dive to working on skills
-have a very slow pace
-stay within an acceptable distance of me (1-2m)
-good communication throught the dive and before as well
I've wasted much money doing boat dives with people who are poorly suited to my diving style and these days I try to avoid boat diving with unfamiliar people as much as possible.
I have seen this question posed by many newbies, it is interesting to see it posted by someone with 2000+ dives. I know as a new diver I wanted to know what it took to be considered a good dive buddy, from different perspectives. I have different expectations of buddy skills depending on their dive level/experience, I think RJP had it nailed regarding communication. I have learned the most from honest feedback as a new diver and been fortunate to receive it. So there are people I regularly dive with that if the @#$% hit the fan, I could count on for some assistance. For others, I would react differently, basically self preservation, anything else would be icing on the cake.
NudeDiver
Contributor
The OP has a pretty good list. I'll put it a different way though:
a). Someone who doesn't cut my time short.
b). Someone who does not need me to babysit (or rescue) them.
c). Someone who is not finning like we're in a sprint race.
d). Someone who can communicate, as needed.
I'll be diving with my wife soon. Frankly, I'm somewhat nervous about it (she's a new diver). I guess we'll see how it goes.
a). Someone who doesn't cut my time short.
b). Someone who does not need me to babysit (or rescue) them.
c). Someone who is not finning like we're in a sprint race.
d). Someone who can communicate, as needed.
I'll be diving with my wife soon. Frankly, I'm somewhat nervous about it (she's a new diver). I guess we'll see how it goes.
For someone I would dive with on a regular basis:
- someone whose interests, skill levels and tempo are a good match for my own
- someone who will make a plan and stick to it
- someone who is alert and awake
- someone I like to spend time with
- someone who knows themselves and knows me very well
For an instabuddy
- someone who follows the dive plan
- someone who pays attention to where his buddy is and doesn't get lost
In the case of instabuddies I'll dive with just about anyone as long as they are willing to dive as a buddy team and follow the plan. I don't mind diving with rank beginners as instabuddies (with all the pros and cons it has). We were all beginners once.
R..
- someone whose interests, skill levels and tempo are a good match for my own
- someone who will make a plan and stick to it
- someone who is alert and awake
- someone I like to spend time with
- someone who knows themselves and knows me very well
For an instabuddy
- someone who follows the dive plan
- someone who pays attention to where his buddy is and doesn't get lost
In the case of instabuddies I'll dive with just about anyone as long as they are willing to dive as a buddy team and follow the plan. I don't mind diving with rank beginners as instabuddies (with all the pros and cons it has). We were all beginners once.
R..
OP
Ardy
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The minimum I want from a dive buddy is "predictable behavior".
As long as I they tell me what to expect, and do what they said, I'm pretty adaptable. Or, if I don't like what they tell me to expect, at the least I will have the opportunity to opt out before the dive begins.
Just be honest. I don't like surprises, and as long as I don't get any surprises, I'm happy.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
As long as I they tell me what to expect, and do what they said, I'm pretty adaptable. Or, if I don't like what they tell me to expect, at the least I will have the opportunity to opt out before the dive begins.
Just be honest. I don't like surprises, and as long as I don't get any surprises, I'm happy.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
imasinker
Contributor
Whether or not a diver has 4 dives or 400 the minimum I want is simple,:
A buddy who's confident and comfortable in the water
Talks about the dive plan before hand, Time, depth, turn pressure, etc
Does a predive check
Stays in constant contact and proximity to me at all times
Be ready to call the dive at any time for any reason no questions asked.
A buddy who's confident and comfortable in the water
Talks about the dive plan before hand, Time, depth, turn pressure, etc
Does a predive check
Stays in constant contact and proximity to me at all times
Be ready to call the dive at any time for any reason no questions asked.
Gilldiver
Contributor
Minimum - They don't get me killed or placed into a self rescue situation
Almost Minimum - I don't have to do a body recovery and all the paperwork that goes with that.
After those two are done, it depends. If they are learning to wreck dive and understand that I am the teacher (mentor) and they the student, that they follow directions, stay on the plan, and don't go off on their own.
This goes for me also, they may know a wreck real well that I have never been on. So, in that situation that they understand that they are the leader (mentor) on that dive and I am following/learning from them. In other words, don't take off on me and I need to stay with them or signal when I want to stop to look at something.
But for the last years I have done close to 90% solo dives to 220', so at this time I am most likely not a good buddy to any other diver who is not at or close to the same level of practice. This is unless we have a very specific dive/work plan for either a artifact recovery, measurement/documentation objective, or some other job that requires two or more divers at the same time.
Almost Minimum - I don't have to do a body recovery and all the paperwork that goes with that.
After those two are done, it depends. If they are learning to wreck dive and understand that I am the teacher (mentor) and they the student, that they follow directions, stay on the plan, and don't go off on their own.
This goes for me also, they may know a wreck real well that I have never been on. So, in that situation that they understand that they are the leader (mentor) on that dive and I am following/learning from them. In other words, don't take off on me and I need to stay with them or signal when I want to stop to look at something.
But for the last years I have done close to 90% solo dives to 220', so at this time I am most likely not a good buddy to any other diver who is not at or close to the same level of practice. This is unless we have a very specific dive/work plan for either a artifact recovery, measurement/documentation objective, or some other job that requires two or more divers at the same time.
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