Letting a third person join my buddy team. I almost always dive with my wife as my buddy. On more than one occasion in the Keys, someone will say "can I buddy up with you?" There was little time to understand their experience or expectations, and I didn't want to be a jerk.
These were all OK until one time a guy left us to surface by the boat, and then continued solo. My anxiety level soared when I realized he was not on the boat, and most other divers were. It turned out OK, but was a lesson in communicating dive plans BEFORE we were at depth.
These were all OK until one time a guy left us to surface by the boat, and then continued solo. My anxiety level soared when I realized he was not on the boat, and most other divers were. It turned out OK, but was a lesson in communicating dive plans BEFORE we were at depth.