Dear Divers
I am a trained industrial designer who has recently qualified as a PADI open water diver. I have had little experience in diving, however, in the past year as part of my work I have been involved in a research program with the aim of identifying the main causes of scuba diving accidents, buddy separation being one of them.
Through this research it has come to my attention the contradiction between buddy diving theory taught on dive courses and reality. A divers actions and mental attention during a dive include their desire to explore, relax and take in the surrounding environment often results in failure of the buddy system.
This contradiction forces a diver to choose between, on one hand safety and restrictions whilst on the other freedom to spontaneously explore and follow their own interests (key motives for diving in the first place). The latter option often results in separation both mentally and physically with both buddy divers involved in their own personal experiences.
A quote from the article Finned shark found off Florida (Sportdiver, March 2002) demonstrates the contradictory messages between dive theory and practice and the desire for many divers to take risks (although not always perceived) to get the most out of their own diving experiences.
In my lazy meanderings, I had allowed the rest of the team to get a little way ahead of me This is a good example to highlight a more common problem but there is no implied criticism of this particular individual
Why did his buddy diver allow him to separate? Why after knowing the dangers of separating from a buddy diver would a diver choose to drift away? Are both divers happy to separate? Do other buddy couples feel they should look out for solo divers effectively forming a three-diver buddy system? In line with the research findings, this shows how the more experienced divers are the more likely they are to deliberately drift apart to do their own thing. Although it is also important to point out that in many situations separation isnt intentional.
This raises some important questions with regard to future scuba diving training. For example how can dive training take account of the realities of dive practice by understanding how divers think and where they focus their attention? How could buddy divers be encouraged to stay close together? How can divers keep track of their buddy while still getting full enjoyment out of their dive?
Until this contradiction between safety and diver aspirations is resolved separation and accidents will continue to occur because the reasons and practice of diving often contradict the safety practices of scuba training.
The purpose for presenting these findings is to allow other divers to share their own views and experience of separation to help inform the research further.
Best wishes
Paul Banks
I am a trained industrial designer who has recently qualified as a PADI open water diver. I have had little experience in diving, however, in the past year as part of my work I have been involved in a research program with the aim of identifying the main causes of scuba diving accidents, buddy separation being one of them.
Through this research it has come to my attention the contradiction between buddy diving theory taught on dive courses and reality. A divers actions and mental attention during a dive include their desire to explore, relax and take in the surrounding environment often results in failure of the buddy system.
This contradiction forces a diver to choose between, on one hand safety and restrictions whilst on the other freedom to spontaneously explore and follow their own interests (key motives for diving in the first place). The latter option often results in separation both mentally and physically with both buddy divers involved in their own personal experiences.
A quote from the article Finned shark found off Florida (Sportdiver, March 2002) demonstrates the contradictory messages between dive theory and practice and the desire for many divers to take risks (although not always perceived) to get the most out of their own diving experiences.
In my lazy meanderings, I had allowed the rest of the team to get a little way ahead of me This is a good example to highlight a more common problem but there is no implied criticism of this particular individual
Why did his buddy diver allow him to separate? Why after knowing the dangers of separating from a buddy diver would a diver choose to drift away? Are both divers happy to separate? Do other buddy couples feel they should look out for solo divers effectively forming a three-diver buddy system? In line with the research findings, this shows how the more experienced divers are the more likely they are to deliberately drift apart to do their own thing. Although it is also important to point out that in many situations separation isnt intentional.
This raises some important questions with regard to future scuba diving training. For example how can dive training take account of the realities of dive practice by understanding how divers think and where they focus their attention? How could buddy divers be encouraged to stay close together? How can divers keep track of their buddy while still getting full enjoyment out of their dive?
Until this contradiction between safety and diver aspirations is resolved separation and accidents will continue to occur because the reasons and practice of diving often contradict the safety practices of scuba training.
The purpose for presenting these findings is to allow other divers to share their own views and experience of separation to help inform the research further.
Best wishes
Paul Banks
good luck and happy bubble making!
). This particular issue is one of the reasons I am quite particular in who I dive with on advanced dives. 
