Buddy Positioning

[sarita75]

I just finished reading someone else's point (in another thread) about the importance of buddies (for air and emergency purposes), and it struck home. My constant buddy and I go diving and, for some reason, he always ends up behind me while I navigate. Not that I mind navigating, but the constant looking back or around (or repositioning) gets painful (swathed in 7mm) or kicking around kicks up the silt. And sometimes he's not even right behind me, but a ways back (which can be a problem in low vis situations).

So, my question(s) is this - (1) Optimally, where should your buddy be located while diving together (side by side, front back, etc) and (2) any suggestions on how to bring the subject up with a buddy that you feel is being a bit of an inconsiderate buddy to this end? Thanks!

 

[SkullDeformity]

Shoulder to shoulder, just tell him you'd like him to stay that way with you.

 

[TSandM]

How you position yourselves depends a little on what kind of diving you're doing. If you're swimming on open reef or in open water, shoulder-to-shoulder works really well. That way, each of you can just turn your head a little bit and see the other.

If you're on a wall, that's an annoying formation, because the person on the outside doesn't get to see much. On a wall, you may want to move at an angle to the wall, with one diver slightly behind the other. Sometimes, you'll have to swim in single file, and that's the most difficult way to keep track of one another without a signalling method like lights.

 

[Richesb]

My girlfriend & I have been dive buddies for years. We spearfish, lobster and just dive to look at scenery.
In each instance we position ourselves differently. But in all cases we are always with sight of each other but never so close as to hinder movement if one makes a sudden move and we always predetermine where we will be prior to each dive. No "searching" while diving.

 

[Buoyant1]

With one guy I dive with frequently, I'm just off his right side, either shoulder to shoulder or slightly behind...I usually follow, I can't navigate my way out of a paper bag!

 

[sunnyboy]

In general, the buddy needs to be where you can see him/her, and vice versa. I prefer "same depth, lead diver 2 ft in front, left hand side". That makes it fairly easy to look back to see the trailing buddy.

A good buddy should NEVER be significantly above or below the other diver. Above is the worst. What I hate most is divers who insist on "4 ft back, 4 ft up".

As for communication, discuss position before the dive. If they can't/won't follow the agreed plan, then discuss during the post-dive debrief.

I have seen divers resort to grabbing the buddies BCD and DRAGGING them to a correct depth/position, followed by the "finger wag". Sometimes I feel like doing that myself.

Slightly off topic, but that is why I prefer using a bright dive light on every dive. I can see my buddy's light (and he/she can see mine). The light is also used to communicate, so you don't have to look back/around all the time.

-S

 

[highlandfarmwv]

I don't prefer to have a buddy glued to me. I prefer a loose buddy system, where you are always in sight, but each does his/her own thing, expecially when taking pictures.

 

[sandmanz32]

I don't prefer to have a buddy glued to me. I prefer a loose buddy system, where you are always in sight, but each does his/her own thing, expecially when taking pictures.

i agree with this. as long as i can see my buddy and he can see me we should be close enough to help the other if something goes bad. we normally swim with me navigating and him slighty behind and above me, i dunno why, prob cuz i tote the compas lol

 

[PerroneFord]

i agree with this. as long as i can see my buddy and he can see me we should be close enough to help the other if something goes bad.

The visibility here in the springs is often 100 - 200 feet. You think you and your buddy could get to one another in an OOA scenario before the other drown? Take a guess at how many people have died disproving that this was "close enough"

 

[sandmanz32]

The visibility here in the springs is often 100 - 200 feet. You think you and your buddy could get to one another in an OOA scenario before the other drown? Take a guess at how many people have died disproving that this was "close enough"

well generally we are no more than 10ft apart.....guess i should've been more specific. we've never dived anywhere else other than the local lakes 20-30 ft vis max