How to Be the Best Dive Buddy I Can Be

[ScubaWithTurk]

Ok fellow divers, as a newly certified diver who spends hours on here reading posts and trying to gain as much knowledge as possible that I can then put to use, I have come up with a question after looking for a thread that may be similar in nature.

After reading many of you post about "insta-buddies" and terrible dive buddies, I thought I would start this thread to see what advice you had to offer.

So my question is really two fold:

1. What do you look for in a dive buddy (not to include number of dives)
2. What would say a new diver would need to work or focus on in order to be the best dive buddy they can be?

I know many experienced divers don't like diving with new divers due to them being a bad buddy. So please share your knowledge and thoughts. I look forward to seeing what you agree on and what each person feels they need in a buddy that is unique to them.

 

[undrwater]

There may be a temptation to downplay your new-ness. Don't do that. Try to be objective about your experience and comfort level.

I have little problem taking a newly minted diver with me if they're honest. Ask to debrief afterwards.

 

[Kris Reynolds]

That's a great question, and I'm sure you will get a lot of answers.

I think the best answer for me, to be a good buddy, you must communicate clearly what your expectations are of each other, then follow that up with doing what you have agreed upon. As you dive more, you will find a large variance in the ability and skill of different dive buddies. Being a good dive buddy does not have to mean being an expert level diver, as long as the person you are buddies knows clearly what they can expect of you, and you know what you should expect of them.

Just my two cents.

 

[Jerome O'Neil]

I will dive with pretty much anyone. What I look for.

1. Buys the beer.
2. Doesn't borrow all my stuff.
3. Returns all that stuff he didn't borrow in serviceable condition.
4. Pitches in for gas/boat money.
5. Knows where my secondary regulator is, and more importantly, ensures I know where his is.

 

[kablooey]

• Good buddies are willing to accept their partner calling off a dive at any time for any reason.
• Good buddies agree on a lost-buddy procedure, and follow it if necessary.
• Good buddies dive like a team, not like two solo divers.
• Good buddies let you have the last beer...

or stop you from having the last beer if you're driving.​

 

[tbone1004]

1 thing. situational awareness. If you don't have that, I don't want to dive with you. Don't care about your experience

Regarding what you have been reading/seeing. Any true experienced diver that is worth anything, will dive with just about anyone. Now, that said. The comments you are seeing are supposed to be about when we go on vacation and are paying good money to enjoy ourselves diving and get frustrated when we get put with instabuddies who we usually have to babysit. That is very annoying. If you are finding people that refuse to dive with you in normal local diving *typically quarries, shore diving, etc* then they're jackasses and you need to find new people to dive with. The good experienced divers will work with you to help you become a better diver, if they give you an elitist attitude, then you need to move on

 

[Jerome O'Neil]

If you are finding people that refuse to dive with you in normal local diving *typically quarries, shore diving, etc* then they're jackasses and you need to find new people to dive with. The good experienced divers will work with you to help you become a better diver, if they give you an elitist attitude, then you need to move on

That's excellent advice. I've found that folks who treat recreational dives as some kind of death-defying stunt aren't worth the time to talk to, let alone get in the water with. I mean, who wants to defy death all the time?!

Be a safe, conscientious diver, but have a good time, and you'll find similar folks to be safe and have a good time with.

 

[Bob DBF]

I have no problem diving with a new diver. Topside I discuss how the dive should be done and on the bottom see if the dive is done according to the plan. I have rarely decided not to ever make the second dive with that diver.

I normally am a solo diver, so when I buddy, I expect to be diving with my buddy, not constantly chasing him down. Anything else can be sorted out because both divers are together and can make a decision to change the plan, if necessary.

Like life, don't be a dick and you will do just fine.


Bob

 

[undrwater]

1 thing. situational awareness

Do you assess for this before the dive? If so, how?

 

[tbone1004]

Do you assess for this before the dive? If so, how?

yes, when you've been doing it for a while you can get a general feel for how people are in terms of being aware of their surroundings while on land