Question about buddy diving?

[do it easy]

I've been diving for about 5 years now and I was wondering how do I know if I am ready for buddy diving?

Actually, I was just thinking this morning that I really lost the taste for solo diving. I think it is something that has started this year when I was on a charter with two other divers. We did the first dive together, but the two divers skipped the second dive because it was too cold. I thought about going solo, but 1) I would have felt awkward having the two other divers waiting around for me while I dove and 2) more importantly, I just didn't feel like diving alone.

A few years ago, I was less anxious when I dove alone- I swam slower, lower SAC, etc. Now, I think I would rather dive with buddies, especially on the easy dives in the quarry because it gives me something to do. On the boat dives, I would still rather leave the bad buddies on the boat or with the DM- mostly because I want to actually see the wreck and enjoy the dive.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

 

[dave4868]

I've been diving for about 5 years now and I was wondering how do I know if I am ready for buddy diving?

Actually, I was just thinking this morning that I really lost the taste for solo diving. I think it is something that has started this year when I was on a charter with two other divers. We did the first dive together, but the two divers skipped the second dive because it was too cold. I thought about going solo, but 1) I would have felt awkward having the two other divers waiting around for me while I dove and 2) more importantly, I just didn't feel like diving alone.

A few years ago, I was less anxious when I dove alone- I swam slower, lower SAC, etc. Now, I think I would rather dive with buddies, especially on the easy dives in the quarry because it gives me something to do. On the boat dives, I would still rather leave the bad buddies on the boat or with the DM- mostly because I want to actually see the wreck and enjoy the dive.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

Sure, but I'm extremely careful when buddy diving because of the greater risk. And I don't tell anyone I'm doing it.

Actually, I did some buddy dives yesterday for the first time in quite a while and it was a lot of fun, probably more so than had I dove that site solo, since it was new to me and conditions were a little challenging.

I find buddy dives generally require more skill than solo dives because of the need to communicate effectively and be aware of the other person's needs....so I usually take the easy way by going solo.

Dave C