Buddy Checks

[Finnatic]

A similar discussion thread got me to thinking about this and I decided to post as a new topic. On a recent dive trip we were 10 divers on a boat and the DM divided us into groups of newbies and experienced. All divers except two were husband/wife teams. My husband and I were in the newbie group and obviously we were a buddy team. The two new buddyless divers were told to pair up as a buddy team and the four of us were to stay close to the DM. All of the spousal teams checked their own gear and then did a buddy check on their buddy's gear, however the unrelated buddies were preparing to enter the water with no buddy check whatsoever :11: Being the mother hen that I am, I gently suggested they might want to familiarize themselves with each other's gear and do a buddy check. That kind of broke the ice and they did a very cursory check that really was not adequate at all. Foks this is definitely not the time to be shy! I'd be interested to hear if others have encountered this behavior. Kinda scary...

 

[The Kraken]

It's the norm on most dive boats, from what I've witnessed.

 

[jiveturkey]

I agree with Kraken. A lot of divers don't do these checks but, no one really complains if you initiate the process. I'm mean come on, it takes 2 minutes to complete a buddy check.

I think it's especially important for new divers to see experienced divers going through these motions. They see that this is not an example of something that is learned and not practiced. Our sport can be safe but it can also be very dangerous if you get too complacent.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Yep, still do a buddy check with a buddy even if Ive dived with them some time, it is often cusory though if we're familiar with eachother after many dives together as we dont need to familiarise ourselves with eachothers gear configuration but we still want to check things work!

If it's someone Im diving with for the 1st time or have little experience with id do a full buddy check.

 

[ScubaLoon]

My hubby and I always dive as buddy pair. Because we are familiar with eachother's gear we didn't do a buddycheck (hardly ever). One dive I discovered he was losing air...fast. Tiny bubbles became big ones and we had to ascent a spectaculair dive.
A simple thing as a broken/bad o-ring can spoil your dive so since then we ALWAYS check, double check and buddy check eachother.
We learned our lesson........way to late.

 

[The Kraken]

Good point, Jive Turkey! Lead by example.

If a new diver percieves you to be an older, more experienced diver, then s/he is more prone to emulate your actions. But do keep in mind that the new diver will emulate one's bad habits also . . .

 

[MikeFerrara]

We do an equipment match to make sure we have everything we need and that each knows what the other has and where. We do a bubble check to make sure nothing is leaking. We do a modified S-drill to be sure all regs work and are deployable. A modified valve drill is a good idea too.

I prefer that no one touches my valves but if they do I just reach back and check them myself anyway.

 

[String]

Normal buddy check here on a shallow (say 20m or less) dive with people i dive with regulary consists of:

"Same sh*t different day. Air on? Go"

With an unfamiliar diver or deep diver its far more thorough and when abroad on dive boats if i notice some odd configuration (ie octopus on tubing around their neck i asked if they want me to take main or not, if they have AIR2 AND octopus ask them which they want as primary if im OOA, if they have a harness, how it works etc) i ask specific questions.

As for a bubble check, abroad its largely pointless. So many people have rental gear that leak bubbles from every connection on every piece of kit theres no sense in even trying to stop it.

Again at home on a deep diver we do it.

 

[Finnatic]

Mike I am not familiar with S drills or valve drills. Can you explain those? Although I do know what a bubble check is, at what point do you do this? Before the dive or when you first submerge?

 

[murphdivers286]

I agree about buddy checks. I know on some dive boats, they make you think you have to hurry off the boat with the famous, "Dive!, Dive!, Dive!". I'm sure almost all divers who have been on a dive boat has heard that and felt like they need to hurry off the boat. I found out the boat with wait for you and your buddy to do a check. The boat has even repossessioned for the drop off because divers were not ready, but they never made the divers feel bad.

Remember, it is you life. Take you time and make sure you gear and your buddy's gear is right.