What Makes a Good Dive Buddy?

[Peter_C]

One thing I learned about lights. Keep them turned on until you have them safely clipped to your D -ring. I turned off my light and was clipping it to my D-ring and dropped in 60 feet of water at Point Lobos. I lost it. If I would have kept it on I could have easily found it.
$120 learning experience.

Bogie, make sure you post where you lost it, and the type of light in the NorCal forum. There is a good chance you will get it back eventually. Most people are really good about getting gear back to the rightful owner as you well know from returning the drysuit you found

 

[Bogie]

I have yellow Apollo fins that you can see for 50 feet.
I think they are sort of ugly but I got them for my dive buddy so they can see me in low visibility. I noticed in my classes the instructors that had bright fins were so much easier to spot and track especially in 5-8 foot visibility.

My regular dive buddy has bright green fins that are easy to see. It makes it a lot easier to spot each other while diving in poor visibility. It also eliminates unnecessary surfacing because your buddy got 10 feet ahead of you in 6 foot visibility.

 

[Mike Boswell]

For me, a good dive buddy is someone who adds joy to the experience, either above or below that water. They can do this in many ways: They can show up with mugs of hot Starbucks Coffee, tell a good joke, chip in for gas, bring food to share, be interesting to talk to, or just be the perfect buddy underwater. But, by far, the best buddy is a new diver who needs my help.

 

[tight rope walker]

Mike has made a very good point.

This is how I run my life..............I do not stand sooo tall, that I can not stoop to help a fellow diver, new or other wise.

DER SEILTAENZER

 

[Luku]

One criteria for me would be someone who is not preoccupied taking photographs, video, or anything else that distracts them for long periods of time.

 

[Bogie]

A diver that is prepared helps.

Checking out and making sure everything fits and works properly before you get to the dive site is a plus. It saves a lot of time and adds confidence to your buddy's dive.

I have always believed that the dive begins way before the actual dive. Being prepared in all areas is important to me. (equipment, knowledge of dive site, dive plan, buddy, mentally ready, and physically ready)