Definition of a good dive buddy?

[tplyons]

I'm diving with a friend this weekend who dives, but we've never gone together. She asked me, what makes me a good dive buddy, and I mentioned that I'm safety conscious, keep a close eye on my buddy and help out wherever I can. I'm also pretty knowledgeable about gear and how it works, etc.

How do YOU define a good dive buddy?

 

[fjpatrum]

Someone who doesn't swim off without me or allow me to be stupid enough to swim away without them. Someone who plans the dive and dives the plan. Beyond that, I'm pretty flexible.

 

[FinnMom]

Be competent and act like it (this covers all the many "don't do this"s and "do do that"s)
Stay reasonably well w/in my field of view or keep your light in my field of view
Stay reasonably close
Respond to my communications

Generally when someone annoys me its because I'm having an unreasonably difficult time keeping an eye on them. They get too close to be seen (then kick me so I'm really happy about it) or are constantly behind, above or behind&above me.
You gotta learn to stay on the same level and you gotta learn to stay close enough (practise OOA, that will teach you what is too far) but not so close you are hard to see or kicking/bumping me.

 

[Gren]

All of the above with the addition of isn't too intrusive. I've had buddies in the past that are communicating every minute. I want to enjoy my dive and be safe.

Stay near me, but give me space and don't communicate unnecessarily.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

A good dive buddy is someone who ...

- descends and ascends with you, reaching the bottom or the surface at the same time that you do
- swims to be seen ... which usually means at your side rather than behind or above you
- shares your objectives for the dive
- knows and sticks to the dive plan
- signals you first before they swim off to look at something cool they just spotted
- understands that a portion of the gas in their tank belongs to you, in case of emergencies
- communicates during the dive
- makes an effort to be aware of what is going on around them
- is fun to dive with
- reacts to the unexpected calmly, rather than making every little issue a crisis
- is predictable

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Dive Bug Bit Me]

All of the above,

Someone who will be there if I need them, and hopefully is skilled enough not to need me.
Someone who who is part of a dive team and participates in the the dive as a such.

plus someone I can have a beer with afterwards to reminisce about the dive.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Absent.

 

[ScubaSam]

All of the above and would add one more from my personal experiences with OW divers.

If I am diving with someone with a different configuration than mine, I would add that a good buddy knows their own gear well enough to demonstrate or explain to me their configuration. Before we get into the water, they should be able to demonstrate/explain in regards to their gear how to dump weight, where their dump valves and inflator buttons are located, how they will donate in a OOG situation, etc. I find this is especially true for newly certified divers, vacation divers, or divers diving unfamiliar gear like rental or borrowed gear.

I don't care what kind of a configuration you dive as long as you know why you dive it and how to dive it. Being a good buddy I have to understand your configuration so I can help if an issue arises during the dive. And if you can't explain how or why of your configuration before the dive, I'd rather call the dive.

 

[Colliam7]

How do YOU define a good dive buddy?

This is a great question, and I am not sure I would have given form / substance to my personal biases, without someone asking it.

My primary definition is, 'Someone who can take care of themselves underwater'. After reading Bob's thoughtful response, I will echo much of what he said, and disagree with one point (my perspective only, take it or leave it):

- descends and ascends with you, reaching the bottom or the surface at the same time that you do - not that important IF there is good communication before and during the dive
- swims to be seen ... which usually means at your side rather than behind or above you - not that important IF they are 'predictable'
- shares your objectives for the dive - not that important IF the objectives of the two members of the buddy pair are compatible
- knows and sticks to the dive plan - YES
- signals you first before they swim off to look at something cool they just spotted - not that important IF they are 'predictable'
- understands that a portion of the gas in their tank belongs to you, in case of emergencies - I disagree with this philosophy. I won't dive with someone who believes this.
- communicates during the dive - YES
- makes an effort to be aware of what is going on around them - YES
- is fun to dive with - ABSOLUTELY YES
- reacts to the unexpected calmly, rather than making every little issue a crisis - YES
- is predictable - YES

If someone were to ask me, prior to a dive, what makes me a good dive buddy, I hope that my honest response would be, 'I will take care of myself and you won't have to worry about me.'

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

- understands that a portion of the gas in their tank belongs to you, in case of emergencies - I disagree with this philosophy. I won't dive with someone who believes this.

Care to explain your rationale behind this comment?

As an IDC Staff Instructor, does your agency no longer promote air sharing as a fundamental skill for recreational diving?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)