The Dive Buddy's Creed

[Fish_Whisperer]

well let's face it, unless your buddy has already been proven an asset they are still a possible risk. But when a buddy is necessary I like the old cave diver approach, "any diver can call any dive anytime without any questions". Whoever I may be diving with my only rule is that if I don't feel comfortable and call the dive, for me it is over, and I am surfacing. I once had a buddy that shook his head and argued with me under water, I left him. I explained my actions to the divemaster, who took care of the other diver. My buddy didn't realize that I was low on air. But when I get ready to call a dive I don't answer questions period. I respect everyone else's right to call the dive, the better damn well respect mine.

Right on, Sam. I've thumbed a couple of dives so far, and didn't feel a bit bad about it. For my buddys' parts, they didn't give me one bit of grief over it. In fact, they were a little relieved that someone had the chutzpah to say, "Forget it. I'm not diving in these conditions."

 

[RockPile]

This thread is amusing. I'm picturing a dive trip where the biggest knucklehead in the boat is getting into the water covered with athletic-tape names-tags "pre-calling" all his gear.

Thank God we aren't that mean.

Be understanding; be patient; be instructive; and when the time comes, be the executioner and end the dive without hesitation. And when a dive is axed because of negligence or ego the time for kindness is gone. Understanding and patience aren’t attributes of a lecture an idiot is likely to remember.

 

[ItsBruce]

I was really pretty sure it could not get better than Sideband always getting only the lead weights. Then I saw the bit about the labels pre-calling gear. Now I'm picturing how the knucklehead will react when I start looking over his gear while we are still on the boat and I ask if I can pre-call some of it.