Buddy check

[Dody]

We all know since OW that Buddy check should be mandatory and that failure to do it is recipe for disaster. We have all read about fatal incidents that could have been prevented with a proper buddy check. However, humans are not machines and sometimes, they take shortcuts, are not rational and the buddy check is just forgotten.
In fact, I think that the buddy system is flawed because it implies that two or more people will collaborate for a common objective which is safety while diving. It does not take into account the human factor.
For whatever reason (I don’t like you, I don’t know, I don’t like your face, I believe that you are not qualified so don’t mess up with my preparation or equipment, I trust my solo abilities more than your cooperation…), many people don’t do buddy check.
The reason why I am writing this is because of an event where I was in 3 buddy team and only « cared » about one. We were three and the third did not seem friendly, I did not make any effort to include him in the buddy check.
So, the question is? How do you deal with that? No good interpersonal feeling before a buddy check. When it’s not a blunt: I don’t need your support. If we are only two, I will go the dive Director and ask for another buddy. If we are 3 and that I am good with one of them, I won’t be the ass… pushing and will let the other guy manage herself. I know it’s wrong. But what would you do and would you manage this situation?

 

[happy-diver]

 

[rfwoodvt]

View attachment 751337

Knew of a couple of such "buddies" teaching scuba at summer camp back in the 1970's.

No threat to the campers, just kept to themselves.

 

[rick00001967]

All you can do is try the best you can with a new buddy. If they are not interested in communicating with you on the boat, i would ask for another buddy.
If you are a group of three and one communicates well and you feel comfortable diving with them, but the third does not want to be included, then that is their problem.

 

[Degenerate]

So, the question is? How do you deal with that? No good interpersonal feeling before a buddy check. When it’s not a blunt: I don’t need your support. If we are only two, I will go the dive Director and ask for another buddy. If we are 3 and that I am good with one of them, I won’t be the ass… pushing and will let the other guy manage herself. I know it’s wrong. But what would you do and would you manage this situation?

You could just ask them if they'd be okay with doing a quick gear check...?
Ask them a question about some part of their gear configuration first and they might be more open to the idea of going over the rest of it with you.

I have not done a proper buddy check since AOW and I know lots of other divers who also don't do them, but if I was to dive with someone I haven't dove with before and they wanted to do it then I would be happy to oblige.

 

[Marie13]

If it distresses you so much, then don’t dive where you might get buddied up with such a person.

How is your wife with buddy checks?

 

[RobPNW]

I work with people I don't like but I still get my job done.

 

[tursiops]

We all know since OW that Buddy check should be mandatory and that failure to do it is recipe for disaster. We have all read about fatal incidents that could have been prevented with a proper buddy check. However, humans are not machines and sometimes, they take shortcuts, are not rational and the buddy check is just forgotten.
In fact, I think that the buddy system is flawed because it implies that two or more people will collaborate for a common objective which is safety while diving. It does not take into account the human factor.
For whatever reason (I don’t like you, I don’t know, I don’t like your face, I believe that you are not qualified so don’t mess up with my preparation or equipment, I trust my solo abilities more than your cooperation…), many people don’t do buddy check.
The reason why I am writing this is because of an event where I was in 3 buddy team and only « cared » about one. We were three and the third did not seem friendly, I did not make any effort to include him in the buddy check.
So, the question is? How do you deal with that? No good interpersonal feeling before a buddy check. When it’s not a blunt: I don’t need your support. If we are only two, I will go the dive Director and ask for another buddy. If we are 3 and that I am good with one of them, I won’t be the ass… pushing and will let the other guy manage herself. I know it’s wrong. But what would you do and would you manage this situation?

Just curious how many threads you are going to start on basically the same question.

 

[johndiver999]

It is kinda tricky, but your attitude should probably be that the third party is a DANGER to you or your wife. Rather than just think, I won't need their help, because us two got this. You might be tempted to help some dumb azz and therefore neglect your other buddy, you only have so much attention to provide at one time.

I dive alone 95% of the time, so I view any buddy I am not familiar with as a potential source of problem. Last week, I dove with two guys, checked the position of their tank valves (without their permission or knowledge) and glanced over their gear, asked the guy where he stores his octopus, the other guy was diving with his inflator not hooked up (due to borrowing a BC with an incompatible inflator mechanism). I also tell them to take the regulator from my mouth if they need air, because I have an Air 2. Not a big deal, any of it but I take notice from a quick check/glance and these guys have many hundreds of dives in similar conditions. Nobody did a buddy check.

Asking them to check if YOUR gear looks "right" is a good ploy to get a good look at their sh!t.

 

[Dody]

If it distresses you so much, then don’t dive where you might get buddied up with such a person.

How is your wife with buddy checks?

It is part of our routine. Unless when we are being rushed and I have to tell her that nobody can rush us. We only dive when we are ready.