Dhboner
Contributor
In all my experience diving the in the Caribbean I have rarely seen decent buddy discipline (maybe I have just been unlucky). Most of the divers on the boats I have been on have gone over the side then went their separate ways looking at the wildlife (photographers are the worst). In many cases the DM will see the separation and try to corral the buddy pairs but that's not always possible. I have been paired with an "insta-buddy" and gone over the dive plan on route to the site only to have my new buddy take off on me at the first sign of a stingray. This has happened twice and in both cases I refused to do the second dive with the "buddy". I dive every week with my sons and we dive as a team (one is GUE trained) and we always know where everyone is at all times and we stay close. Proper buddy discipline isn't rocket science it just needs to be hammered home every time you head out on the water.