Recreational Dive Poll - Buddy checks

[drrich2]

I'd say #2 or #3 but didn't vote since I don't know which dominates. I aim to be self-sufficient at this point; I've jumped in before with air off, without fins, been ready to go in with low pressure inflator not hooked up, one time was even on shore and realized my 2nd stage looked different (cover fell off in the rinse tank!). So I believe I do a decent self-check now!

When I dive with a new buddy, I point out my weights are integrated with pull handles, and I dive an Air2 and have the primary's mouthpiece on a bungie around my neck, but I can pull that off just by pulling the 2nd stage out with a yank to donate. I'm also interested in what 'special' gear variations the buddy might have.

If I know the diver is new to diving, I'm likely to give an informal visual once-over to see if he/she missed anything obvious.

Richard.

 

[drbill]

I am primarily a solo diver but when I am doing with a new buddy or when I'm traveling to new dive destinations, I do a casual buddy inspection.

 

[TMHeimer]

I can only recall ever seeing a "solid" buddy check once (outside of OW courses, of course). During taking Rescue course there were 2 divers facing each other at the shore doing the whole thing...probably
BWRAF", etc. Our instructor said it would be a good idea to keep an eye on them since they're probably brand new if they're doing that.
Agree that two experienced divers or two that buddy together a lot probably do little or no buddy check, shore or boat. That was the case when I dived a lot with my first (and only) regular buddy.
Maybe a bit more in the case of instabuddies. This has always been the case with me on a boat. I try to get an idea of the buddy's experience, any fears, get a dive plan set, and am sure we know how to release each other's weights (this is important for ME since I wear suspenders on my weight belt). But that's not a "proper" buddy check. I don't pay attention to other pairs but can't recall seeing much of anything regarding buddy checks. I've always found that a bit odd since buddy checks are really emphasized in the (PADI) OW course.

 

[Compressor]

Well I do a buddy check in this sense: I make sure my buddy is ready for the dive (psychological and equipment wise). I rather solve their problem before entering the water than after entering. Needless to say, I check my self 2x before entering.

When I am diving with experienced divers who are my buddies, we do a check but I do sense that the other side is not too happy about it.

 

[CT-Rich]

I had a rough surf entry in RI (Beaver Tail), I told my buddy get in and swim for open water as quick as you can. I sat 20 yards away and watched him getting pound while he cleared his regulator which was trapped under his BCD. Another buddy and I did a 20 minute surface swim before trying to submerge with with his air off. Fortunately, he tried breathing from it before dumping his air. These days I check my own air and then ask "You have air?"

Not really Best Practices.....

 

[boulderjohn]

Again, having seen a lot of divers jump off a boat, I'd have to say it's very evenly split between divers completely responsible for themselves to divers doing full on buddy checks and everything in between.

Frank did a large amount of technical diving off the Spree, that may contribute to his observation of the even split.

I think the two quotes above are consistent with my observations.

When I have been on boats filled with recreational divers doing relatively shallow recreational dives, I almost never see a buddy check. (Back to my personal actions in a moment.) When I am with a group of more advanced and technical divers, either on a boat or from shore, I see a lot of buddy checks, some very involved.

I believe the following is a typical pattern for divers as they grow:

1. The new diver starts out on recreational dive boats trying to do everything as taught. It does not take long to see that nobody is doing buddy checks.
2. Now that the diver has learned that buddy checks are not done in the real world, he or she stops doing them.
3. Eventually that diver may take more advanced and possibly even technical training. In that training, he or she learns the real importance of checks. More importantly, that diver learns that doing such checks is the sign of an advanced diver, and so he or she is more likely to do them in all situations, including recreational dives.

As for me, when I am on a recreational dive, I am either with someone who is similar to me in experience, or I am a single diver hooked up with an instabuddy. My approach differs for each.

• With someone I know well, we will go through our procedure quickly and quietly. You can easily miss it.
• With an instabuddy, I casually talk about my gear and my dive procedures. As we talk, I engineer the conversation to that a buddy check is being done, although not with an obvious step-by-step process. Again, if you are not watching carefully, you might not realize it happened.

 

[Bob DBF]

I don't see divers doing buddy checks, however with my regular buddies you probably wouldn't see a buddy check either. Since we dive solo a lot, the first check is on ourselves, then look over the buddy for any issues or changes in gear. Nothing is said if it's all ok. We discuss a dive plan, be it detailed or loose.

With an instabuddy, I go over the differences in gear and procedures, then discuss the dive plan.


Bob

 

[TMHeimer]

You check yourself first. Then face your buddy and you each check each other. Would it not be the same if you just re-checked yourself a second time? I suppose an added reason to check each other could be to get very familiar with the buddy's set up, but this could probably then be done more casually. Especially checking that air is on, which is way more important on a boat than on a shore dive (unless you're dropping into somewhere you can't stand up).

 

[newmanl]

On every recreational dive, me and my dive buddies do a gear check - it is audible and obvious to anyone in the immediate area. We also do a bubble check once in the water (before submerging) and a final "pat down" once u/w. Once we get the okay from everyone, the dive starts. Over the last few years, we've managed to catch a few things before having to deal with them u/w. This also builds good "procedural memory" for our dives with increased risk, such as the technical and cave dives we do together. None of us do the instabuddy thing.

 

[DanielRJones]

Me and the wife do a buddy check. It is a quick one and takes 30 second total and is done without words.
I inflate my bcd She inflates hers
She dumps I dump.
3 breaths off regs while checking gauge
3 breaths off alternate
Quick visual look 180 check tank and good to go.

I know her gear has 4 squeezes and a rip and I know how her weights work and she knows mine is either 3 squeeze and a rip or just use the knife on my webbing dependent on gear.
If I am diving with someone I have never dived with before I will go through air sharing and releases and where I have my spairs mask and reels/spools/smbs/knifes