Buddy Checks - do you do them?

[TMHeimer]

This is an old debate. The consensus is "yes", but how thorough depends on the buddy, etc. Seems to me many posters on SB do buddy checks every time. My own experience observing others is that most times it is a real quick check. Sometimes it's "everything working?, are you ready to go?" I've seen and had instructors that didn't do them at all. After our Rescue course scenarios our instructor pointed out 2 divers getting ready--he said "See those two--They're doing a very thorough buddy check, indicating they just completed OW class and are very green. Keep an eye on them." That's the only time anywhere in my 5 years I've seen a "by the book" buddy check.

 

[Meggie66]

Recently I blew off the buddy check because we were on a boat dive and my buddy was already in the water. Turns out my SPG was trapped between my BC and my back. Now I insist on them - and since I end up with a lot of insta-buddies on boat dives, I've noticed the more experienced divers are the least likely to skip them - just my observation.

 

[boulderjohn]

With my regular buddies on local dives, we have a set routine, and we do it every time.

However....

As the OP noted, the problem you see is in resort areas, and I agree that you often see them skipped. This is an issue for me because I do not have a diving spouse, so when I am on vacation I am often in the insta-buddy mode. When I was a new diver doing this, the fact that no one did a buddy check, including my insta-buddy cowered me into doing the same. After a while I realized what an idiot I was being, and I learned how to initiate one subtly. I would just start talking about my own gear, showing where things were, how I donated in OOA situations, etc. My insta-buddy would always respond in kind, and it always got us off on a good footing.

There are several formal checklists people use, such as the BWRAF, but I don't follow that one exactly. Even when I teach BWRAF to students, I tell students how I change it. (The big example is instruments. Since the last things you usually put on before diving go on your wrist, I can't believe a pre-dive check does not ensure that you have put them on and made proper adjustments, as in the O2 mix.)

 

[timegan]

SOP on every dive. Quick check on the long hose S drill... No hot entry..bubble check on surface, again at 20' Don't give a rats what others think. Have had insta buds feel embarrassed I think. But they soon realize, I aint kidding around. Is this guy for real? YUP. They really "get it" under, as I'm never more than 2' away the whole dive.

 

[lavachickie]

I'm having a problem relating to this issue.

I just hozed about ten paragraphs of text. It boils down to this: there are many types of divers out there, and YOU have to decide what type of diver YOU will be. This can occur at the beginning of your adventure, or you can perhaps be pointed in a different direction by happenings (hopefully minor slaps in the face by the universe, and not something huge).

This weekend I dove with a large group, but without my usual dive buddies (a friend I met at my LDS and my husband). The group is large, experienced, and draws a lot of newbies. But they dive with the newbies just like they dive with their fellow solo trained and experienced dive buddies.

And I worry it's going to end badly for someone, sometime.

I had two really awful experiences that were also wonderful learning opportunities that will shape who I dive with--and how--forever.

I will not discount "small things" I see that raise a red flag, and I will not apologize for having high standards.

 

[FireInMyBones]

Performed on every dive. I still forget something from time-to-time and my buddy(s) pipe up and call out what I forgot to check. It is rare that we find something we have not yet done, but we do the following each dive:
1: Head-to-toe checks... Am I in the right mindset to do this dive? Then all the gear.
2: Gas matching... if technical, thirds
3: Bubble check
4: S-drill

Sometimes 3 & 4 are switched if diving from a boat. We can do 1, 2, and some semblance of 4 on land/ boat.

 

[orm]

I'm only speaking about Resort diving, but It shouldn't be any different to that of two people having dived 1,000s of dives together.

I feel that as New Divers (this forum) you must not get into the mindset of thinking it's just a lesson drill and as soon as you pass, you don't have to do any of that nonsense because you look like n00bs and that's the worst thing to look like on a boat.

I feel as experienced divers, we go some way in fortifying this approach by not doing them ourselves.

And Bob.. I'm not talking about formally standing in front of each other running through a check list. I divers I see are given their kit and then it's straight over the side and down you go.

My father-in-law just did his open water somewhere I won't mention. They didn't even get him to do buddy checks before any of his dives!

 

[ptyx]

This weekend I dove with a large group, but without my usual dive buddies (a friend I met at my LDS and my husband). The group is large, experienced, and draws a lot of newbies. But they dive with the newbies just like they dive with their fellow solo trained and experienced dive buddies.

And I worry it's going to end badly for someone, sometime.

Good point. And one of the case where I will do a thorough buddy check is when diving with new divers or people who appears uncomfortable.

(On those occasions, I've found that intentionally 'forgetting' something, just to see if it's caught, is a great mentoring tool.)

 

[knowone]

As you become familiar with different types of gear and configurations, checks with foreign buddies become simpler to perform. Some do it in a glance having begun long before a set start time, continue doing it for the next forty minutes and look at your spg more than you. You don't even notice buddy. With practice, diver assessment becomes the new, also, buddy check. If you feel more relaxed being formal tell someone. If you are diving with me and and are startled when I grab your cobwebbed console, thats how it is.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Buddy checks are like buddy skills. In some classes and it seems to be more and more with the advent of quickie certs they are talked about or maybe mentioned but not REALLY taught or enforced. I have a class starting next week. We will not only talk about it but it will be done.