shotthebreeze
Contributor
Maybe this is a stupid question...I dunno, but I'm wondering what you guys look for in a great buddy?
What Makes a Great Buddy?
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Charlie99
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I dive a lot with insta-buddies and am used to discussing a lot of different things before the dive. The one thing that really summarizes everything is
NO SUPRISES!!!
Everything else is just flows naturally from that rule.
NO SUPRISES!!!
Everything else is just flows naturally from that rule.
SnakeRiverPirate
Guest
For me it would be clarity in defining the plan beforehand and sticking to the plan. Each buddy should be looking out for the other's safety throughout the entire process from entry to exit.
I think two things are enough to make somebody a good companion underwater. One is a respectful and careful approach to the act of diving, and the other is the determination to stay together and in contact during the dive. I can work with anything else.
A great buddy is someone with whom you are completely in tune -- somebody who dives like you do; who's always where you expect them to be, and who understands what you want to communicate to them when you've only just begun the signal. Somebody whose own skills are excellent, and who can be counted on to be careful and vigilant about things like gas supply and deco status. Somebody who shares the same enjoyment you have of things underwater, whether that's surveying wrecks or poking in holes looking for wolf eels, or taking photographs. And somebody who's willing to talk the dive over afterward, to see what went well and what might be improved for next time. I'm really lucky, because I have several of those buddies.
A great buddy is someone with whom you are completely in tune -- somebody who dives like you do; who's always where you expect them to be, and who understands what you want to communicate to them when you've only just begun the signal. Somebody whose own skills are excellent, and who can be counted on to be careful and vigilant about things like gas supply and deco status. Somebody who shares the same enjoyment you have of things underwater, whether that's surveying wrecks or poking in holes looking for wolf eels, or taking photographs. And somebody who's willing to talk the dive over afterward, to see what went well and what might be improved for next time. I'm really lucky, because I have several of those buddies.
DNK
Guest
TSM has it right, but I will add a few more.
Knows what your thinking about doing and gives you the NO NO finger wave
You know what he is thinking about doing and you give him the NO NO finger wave
You both look at each other and know your going to figure out a way to do it safely next time.
You take turns turning your lights off during a new moon night dive and nobody freaks.
They see the humor in dropping fake gold coins on the Stolt
You feel safe going spear fishing in 10 foot of vis with them
They drink the same beer as you.
They know that your full of #@^^% when you say you're only going to have one more beer.
Knows what your thinking about doing and gives you the NO NO finger wave
You know what he is thinking about doing and you give him the NO NO finger wave
You both look at each other and know your going to figure out a way to do it safely next time.
You take turns turning your lights off during a new moon night dive and nobody freaks.
They see the humor in dropping fake gold coins on the Stolt
You feel safe going spear fishing in 10 foot of vis with them
They drink the same beer as you.
They know that your full of #@^^% when you say you're only going to have one more beer.
A great pair of legs, a brain operating at full capacity and a good sense of humor.
Oh, you mean underwater. As a long-time solo diver and videographer, I'm very particular about who I dive with. I had too many pick-up buddies in the past (which resulted in an unacceptable rate of problems on dives).
I want buddies who are essentially self-reliant, but enjoy sharing the experience of the dive with me. They need to know where to position themselves relative to me not to interfere with my filming by flailing into the frame, stirring up sediment or frightening my subjects.
My occasional buddies include still photogaphers and videographers, rec divers and even a few spearos. They are all dive professionals.
If I'm diving without my camera (and therefore can be more attentive to the buddy relationship), I will on occasion dive with others including new divers. However, I rarely dive without the camera.
Oh, you mean underwater. As a long-time solo diver and videographer, I'm very particular about who I dive with. I had too many pick-up buddies in the past (which resulted in an unacceptable rate of problems on dives).
I want buddies who are essentially self-reliant, but enjoy sharing the experience of the dive with me. They need to know where to position themselves relative to me not to interfere with my filming by flailing into the frame, stirring up sediment or frightening my subjects.
My occasional buddies include still photogaphers and videographers, rec divers and even a few spearos. They are all dive professionals.
If I'm diving without my camera (and therefore can be more attentive to the buddy relationship), I will on occasion dive with others including new divers. However, I rarely dive without the camera.
emcbride81
Contributor
Dittos on what others have said. Good all around common sense is major, which you can only be sure of if you know the person.
crab lover
Contributor
Personally... someone who likes to go SLOW and look in and at every nook and cranny. And who knows when to turn around so that we can take it SLOW going back. I hate marathon dives where I am struggeling to keep up with my buddy and I just have to wave at all the cool stuff we are passing along the way instead of stopping and actually looking!
Good lens, raw format, fast processor, cheap with good housing, compatible with the rest of my gear - my camera is my buddy
Always near by, always looking where I look! I just have to put a finger on it and it does miracles!!!
Always near by, always looking where I look! I just have to put a finger on it and it does miracles!!!
Zeeman
Contributor
D'oh - someone beat me to it...
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