Dive Buddy question

[High Plains Diver]

I think the buddy system is the only way to go. To my surprise after certification was the problem of finding a buddy at certain dive areas. I have approached groups of people diving and have been turned away because of liablity concerns, which in this day and age I understand. Other groups I have talked to simply suggest to go in solo. These dive areas are small lakes and have no currents and besides there are other divers in the area that keep their eyes open for divers in trouble, they tell me. Watching people dive, I notice a number of divers going in together but surface quite a distance from each other. I have seen quite a few solo divers coming and going as they please.
My question is, in a text book dive, how close should one stay to their buddy in a small lake with few hazards? Right now I like to stay real close, perhaps I am too conservative. Any advice on this ? Thanks

 

[randyjoy]

I like no more than one breath away.

 

[Scubaguy62]

I don't dive fresh water, and if I did, it would be the Springs at Ginnie (100' vis), so I can't tell you what separation I'd have in a lake. On the other hand, even in 100' vis, whether in the ocean or in the Springs, I like to stay within an arm lenght of my buddy. This is mostly because my buddy is my wife, however, I believe that if one swift kick cycle moves either me or her a couple of feet, and both of our octo hoses are 4 ft, add those two and that's how close I'd like to stay from my buddy. No need to pull out the measuring tape, just reach out, have your buddy reach out and if both your fingers meet at the tips, that's close enough for government work.

Semper safe,

Rick

 

[IndigoBlue]

I prefer to be within an arm's length of a dive buddy, 1) in case I have to grab his/her shoulder strap to keep them out of trouble, or 2) in case I have to grab his/her octo if I am not carrying a separate pony bottle of my own. When I am diving with a pony bottle, a standard practice for me whenever I am not diving with my wife, then I am less worried about how far away they stray. But in that case, you also need to go over your 1 minute lost buddy procedure together, before the dive.

The main dangers of diving in a lake are boat traffic on the surface, fishing line underwater, watersnakes that bite, and really poor vis. All are good reasons to bring a good buddy with you, and maybe a pony bottle too.

 

[H2Andy]

in open water, i like to stay within one breath of them from full exhale. for me,
that is 20 seconds away.

overhead, 10 seconds away is plenty.

 

[TTSkipper]

The people who have posted are answering the question you asked. I have 3 other suggestions for you.

1. Talk to the people who were part of your certification class (if you did it locally) and see if they want to buddy up.

2. Talk to your LDS, they may have a dive club or a way to do a buddy search for you. My LDS has an email database that they can use, if you are looking for a buddy, they will send an email stating the date, time, your experience level, and location and see if someone wants to dive with you.

3. Talk to your non diving friends and see if any of them are interested in learning to dive. Don't push it on them but if they are interested when you discuss it with them, then there is a chance that they will get certified and you will have one more dive buddy.

Best of luck,

TTSkipper

 

[BIGSAGE136]

One year ago I was exactly where you are now. I ran into Mike Jacobs who introduced to me to this board and its been nothing but thrills since. Whatever you do dont get discouraged. I believe if you keep posting you WILL find a buddy. Good ones too. Thanks Mike. Thanks Jenny!

 

[IndigoBlue]

The people who have posted are answering the question you asked. I have 3 other suggestions for you.

1. Talk to the people who were part of your certification class (if you did it locally) and see if they want to buddy up.

2. Talk to your LDS, they may have a dive club or a way to do a buddy search for you. My LDS has an email database that they can use, if you are looking for a buddy, they will send an email stating the date, time, your experience level, and location and see if someone wants to dive with you.

3. Talk to your non diving friends and see if any of them are interested in learning to dive. Don't push it on them but if they are interested when you discuss it with them, then there is a chance that they will get certified and you will have one more dive buddy.

Best of luck,

TTSkipper

In addition to the above excellent ideas, you could also bring a new person into diving as well. Here are the steps I used:

1) Identify a good candidate, someone who is physically fit, active, and a good swimmer.

2) Buy them a birthday or Xmas present (or Channukah) consisting of reef booties, fins, mask, and snorkel. She/he will probably say "What is THIS for?" to which you must reply "Lets go swimming!"

3) Introduce them to snorkeling in a local private pool, then go on a snorkeling vacation together to a warm water paradise, like Florida, Hawaii, Cancun, Puerto Rico, etc.

4) Teach them to freedive so that they can extend their bottome time to 1 or 2 minutes underwater.

5) Scuba will be an easy next step, from there.

If you are already married, then your spouse or one of your older children may qualify. If you are not yet married, then the possibilities are endless!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My question is, in a text book dive, how close should one stay to their buddy in a small lake with few hazards? Right now I like to stay real close, perhaps I am too conservative. Any advice on this ? Thanks

In a text book dive, you should be within easy reach ... on a single breath ... of your dive buddy, and positioned such that you can maintain constant visual track of each other. As a new diver, this takes practice.

In good vis, you should be no more than 10 feet away from your buddy, and swimming side by side. That way you don't have to expend a lot of energy looking around all the time ... plus, if you see something really cool it's easy to get your buddy's attention before he (or she) swims off while you're trying to look at it. If vis is poor, move close enough so that you won't lose sight of each other if one of you gets momentarily distracted. Divers usually get separated because one of them stops to look at something and the other one doesn't notice and keeps swimming. You look up a moment later and your buddy's nowhere to be seen.

Buddies who surface far away from each other are not buddies at all. Their only value in a real emergency would be to tell the search and rescue team where they last saw you.

I don't believe there is such a thing as "too conservative" ... especially for the new diver. How conservative you dive should be dicated by your training, experience, and comfort level. If it feels uncomfortable, don't do it ... even if your friends insist it's OK.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

I must agree with Bigsage136.

I was heading to Florida at Christmas last year to visit family but wanted to get a spring dive in and I used an internet buddy finder (Rodale's) and found a wonderful gentleman and now a good friend of whom I plan on trying to dive with any time I'm down in that area of Florida.

Also, I am a newbie (<20 dives) and I like to stay within a couple of body lengths of my buddy for the already listed reasons.

I can understand the hesitation of another dive group already at a dive site in letting an unknown diver in. It works better to already have that worked out prior to getting there together or meeting there.

Have a great day,

Jeff :dazzler1: