How do you find good buddies?

[Kim]

I also dive with my wife. Unfortunately (due to young kids) she didn't dive for quite a while now. I'm dying to get her back!
For the rest I'm lucky - my Japanese mate is an instructor and we have formed a very informal club of diving friends around us. Personally I think that apart from the obvious things about diving skills/levels etc, it really helps if you actually know people topside - gives you some idea of what to expect underwater. I tend to agree with the comments about ScubaBoard. IMO you can tell a fair amount about people from how they post - not particularly about how much they know (that can be considerable) - but how they say it, and most especially how they argue. There are a lot of people on the board I'd love to dive with (at least once!) - there's also a few I wouldn't be so sure about. I realize that these 'first impressions' are probably not the whole thing and I could be wrong - but could they be any worse than diving with someone you met as you got on the boat that you simply don't know? (even then you can get lucky and it's a tight, great dive) Mostly on the board I try to help people if they ask for it - and whenever I've asked a question lots of people have tried to help me. Personly I think that's a great start point for a good buddy! (But I'm still waiting for my wife!!)

 

[fgray1]

The first diver you evaluate is yourself. If your comfortable with yourself then good diver buddies will gravitate to you. Go on dives with multiple people kinda like group dives you'll see who you want to dive with in the future.
Fred

 

[Boogie711]

ok... and who gave that advice on this thread?

I was summarizing, but post # 2 and #3.

I'd stay for starters, meeting several board members in a group

and

I would dive with someone I don't know from here before I dive with anyone I don't know from anywhere else any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Which actually brings me to a similar point - just because I'm friends with someone top side does NOT mean I think they are a good dive buddy. I have several people I'd be happy to share a meal with around my kitchen table who I will not dive with. Just because they're my friend doesn't mean they're a good dive buddy.

 

[oceancrest67]

I have to agree with 'fgray1'. If you feel confident, and you keep a good pace with your dive experiences and skills...like minded divers will eventually gravitate toward you.

There should be no rush in diving...this is not an ego sport for the next win. On dive boats with strangers...I dislike the diver that has to talk it up and constantly prove how great he/she is and how much they spent on their equipment...it is a sign of some character flaw or insecurity.

Someone mentioned having a roommate that borrowed nail clippers and a comb...without asking...can one be more impolite? Why would one borrow toiletries from someone else? Disgusting. I once had a roommate that made a mess in the bathroom...water everywhere...used up all the towels...what gives with grown adults?

Sorry to sound like a snob, in all other things...including diving...consideration for others and good manners goes a long long way. Reading the character of the diver goes a long long way. Good character counts. Unfortunately, many are lacking.

If I am paired up with a strange dive buddy...I usually run through a list with them...tell them what kind of diver I am...how I generally use air etc...it is just a good thing to introduce yourself and to keep them informed.

 

[H2Andy]

I was summarizing, but post # 2 and #3.

I'd stay for starters, meeting several board members in a group

and

I would dive with someone I don't know from here before I dive with anyone I don't know from anywhere else any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

well, neither of those means "meet up with someone from Scubaboard, that should be OK," which was how you summarized them.

the first one is addressing safety (as in, is this guy gonna be a loony?). so meeting in a group would increase safety.

the second simply says that the chances of meeting a good
buddy from SB are greater (all other things unkwnown)
than someone not from SB. while this is open to debate (though i agree with it, from my experience) this is a far cry from saying "just because someone is from SB they will make a good buddy."

i am splitting hairs, but i just didn't think you had characterized the advice that was given fairly.

we were telling the guy to use his judgment when meeting
someone, even from SB, and gave him ways to do so.