Follow the leader.

[Uncle Pug]

You have seen them... perhaps you are them...

One buddy swimming rapidly into the distance while the other buddy struggles to keep up.

The *leader* goes where he wants, looks at what he wants and then rushes off like an Irish Setter without a care in the world... devoid of plan and unencumbered by brain...

Meanwhile the poor buddy has no time to look at anything or enjoy the dive because if he takes his eyes off of the *leader* the *leader* will be gone in a flash.

This is not buddy diving... this is follow the leader... and it has no place u/w imo. At least don't delude yourself into thinking that you are buddy diving if this is the way you conduct a dive.

A few elements of correct OW buddy diving:
1. Dive planned together ahead of time (what is the objective, where are you going, depth, time, ect.)
2. Initial leadership role established and change of leadership also determined ahead of time (at some pre-determined point in the dive switch roles.)
3. Tasks assigned ahead of time (who lays line, who calls deco stops, ect.)
4. Leader determines movement and direction but is not in front... buddies are side by side (far enough apart to not be bumping into one another.)
5. Buddies are situationally aware of each other.
6. Tasked diver slightly in front.
7. Compromised diver in front.

 

[tchil01]

UP

Seen them and have been one, but not to my liking. I have a buddy whom I did most of my training with. He and I did our OW and AOW last year together and then this year when I signed up for my wreck class I called him to see if he wanted to take it too. He did and we joined up again. However, I found out that outside of our certification dives last year he had not been out diving. When it came time for our wreck certification dives, he basicly left it up to me to plan and to lead. I felt more like a babysitter then a buddy.

My semi constant buddy now is my Girlfriend with whom we do follow most if not all of your list. However, she is more of a Warm Water diver so I am on the hunt for a semi-permenant buddy who shares the same goals and interest as I do. Kind of something like you and Shane share.

Ty

 

[TexasMike]

You sure you don't have a u/w web camera following me around?

I claim guilty to the "irish setter" description.

Thanks for the things to think about....will make sure other buddies have chances to lead. (and I like the swap rolls during middle of dive idea)

 

[Uncle Pug]

TexasMike once bubbled...
will make sure other buddies have chances to lead.

Just remember... the leader isn't *out in front*... side by side...
The only one out in front is the compromised diver:
OOA on the buddies long hose...
w/o mask on the line...
Freeflowing reg...
Cramped bun...
Whatever...

 

[caymaniac]

Sometimes in low vis like we can have here in the Great Lakes it is hard to stay side by side. Alot of the times we dive on a hot water return from the local power plant, there are high piles of rocks that are a maze underwater. In this maze one can find anchors, fishing lures, fishing poles and even dive gear. Since one can see only 6 ft. is is very easy to get separated. If you become separated you can become your own leader diving solo isnt my favorite but there are times when you have no choice.

Caymaniac =-)

 

[Uncle Pug]

caymaniac once bubbled...
Since one can see only 6 ft. is is very easy to get separated.

Means that you must have even better buddy skills.
The most important adjunct for good buddy awareness and communication is our 10w Pro4 HID canister dive lights... if you ever get the chance to dive with them (or lights like them) you will never want to do otherwise.

I would sooner give up my BP/wing and go back to a BC than give up my HID and buddy similarly equipped.