To quote Mr. Hirsch ... "Worrying about buddies on a full DIR boat is like worrying about where you're going to score weed at Burning Man." -Rainer
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Though I guess the potential would still exist, it's been my experience that DIR style divers tend to migrate toward and dive with other DIR style divers. Thus eliminating the problem with the poorly skilled "insta-buddy".
....might attend the DIR curious dive/bbq on 10/9 if I can get the day off.
I agree that someone should take charge. Generally, that would ideally be the most advanced diver. I'm AOW with 69 dives (start of day). My two friends are rescue but with fewer dives and much less cold water/kelp/low viz experience than myself. Instabuddy here claimed nearly 200 dives and mostly local. I knew as soon as we entered, those were either inflated numbers or he had never led a dive. So I led all three. No briefing could have predicted him coming up under me like he did, wandering off on his own, etc. No one just wanders off with any common sense. He also was with us when he decided to surface. He simply didn't catch the girl in front of him to let her know. I don't know anyone that says in pre-dive brief, "Hey, if you decide to surface, let me know." That's common sense. Clearly absent in this case.
For those asking, the dark side I believe is DIR. Kevin....might attend the DIR curious dive/bbq on 10/9 if I can get the day off.
I enjoyed reading the comments on this thread. As a novice that relies on insta-buddies and/or being one myself - I hope this does not discourage the practice. I want to be a safe buddy and a good buddy but for not having a dedicated dive buddy, the only way I can learn to be better is by being around better divers. I can't help but wonder why anyone would deliberately over-state their experience level to another buddy. To me - I think it's not only an obligation to be truthful to your buddy but also to yourself because it becomes your safety issue too - not just that of the buddy you're diving with.
Should Insta-buddy be hyphenated or not?