What's a good way to find a buddy

[sealionesse]

To make a long story not so long, I basically just got back into diving a few months ago after several years hiatus. I used to dive in San Diego and was very involved out there and had a lot of buddies to choose from.

Now I live on the East Coast and really want to dive (especially out of Virginia Beach, VA and Moorehead City, NC and possibly Ocean City, MD). I've found some dive shops and some nice looking charters they do, but I don't really have any buddies and I don't know anyone in the diving community here like I still do in San Diego. I joined two dive clubs in my area, but I am still new to them (and one meets once--but unfortunately it conflicts with something else).

One of the instructors I met though one of the clubs offered to let me hang out with some of his classes (quarry diving). That was very kind and generous of him and I will take him up on the offer, but I really need a buddy for open water/ocean diving too.

What's a good way to meet up and find buddies? I am registered here of course, but I am also looking for other ways. Does anyone know if the dive shops or boats out here help you find a buddy if you sign up for one of their charters? Is there some kind of buddy matching system (online maybe) that I haven't discovered? I plan on calling some of the shops I plan on booking charters though and asking, but it would be nice to have a general idea first. I just hate to spend a lot of money on a charter, drive down there, get on the boat and then not be able to dive.

I just feel like it's one of those Catch-22s in life. To make buddies I need to just get out there and dive and meet people... but to get out there and dive, I need to find a buddy.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Lorenzoid]

I've often just shown up at the boat and insta-buddied with another diver who similarly lacked a buddy, or else glommed on to a buddy team as the third buddy. Neither is anywhere near as ideal as having a known and reliable buddy. Sounds like you're doing the right things, though--dive club, etc.

 

[Searcaigh]

From a different part of the world, but when I moved from Jeddah in Saudi to Dubai in UAE I did not know any other divers plus my work involved a lot of traveling.

I met people in dive shops, found out where the diving was and the dive centers in UAE and just booked dives without a buddy. All of this was pre-internet, how hard could it be now?

 

[TSandM]

There are a lot of generic answers to this question, but since you are trying to figure it out in a specific region, you might consider posting in the appropriate regional forum. That way, your question will likely get viewed by people who are familiar with the clubs, boats and dive sites in your particular area.

On a semi-humorous note, take a GUE class -- you will never lack for dive buddies again!

 

[DiverAmy]

There is that website, divebuddy.com, maybe you can find someone there.

 

[chrpai]

I used to frequent Millbrook Quarry years ago. Throw my gear in the car and just go. Troll from one "beach" to the next asking for a buddy. I never had it fail. After awhile you'll have your regular buddies and then you can start talking about wreck diving trips.

 

[iluvtheocean]

Find Meetup groups near you - Meetup is a good place as well. i've found several dive clubs in my area using it (as well as for other interests)

something i found interesting is that many of the people in one of them are in the others as well.

 

[Peter_C]

Dive clubs are excellent, and how I met many of my friends and dive buddies.

Meetup works for many folks.

Make your own dive buddies! Take friends or your partner and get them certified. I have done both. I took my friend for his first post open water dives this past Friday.

Up in my neck of the vineyards I am the only GUE trained person that I know of. They do make excellent dive buddies and I know I will be on the same page as any other GUE trained diver. It actually is a great way to meet other divers assuming there is a group in your area. Either way the class is the best I have ever taken.

 

[sealionesse]

Thanks for all the advice! I've done a lot of what's already mentioned here (joined two scuba meetup groups, dive clubs, etc). Unfortunately, one group I am in only meets quarterly and the other has their meetings on Tuesday nights (which conflicts with my Girl Scout meetings--I am the troop leader so there is no skipping that). I might try the trolling for buddies method mentioned. I am lucky enough to have an instructor tell me I can hang out with his classes when he goes to the quarry, so I can look around then. As for the boat dives... guess I will just sign up and hope for the best. Just makes me nervous is all.

In the meantime, I will also check out the regional forum.

Thanks again!

 

[fjpatrum]

Well, showing up at millbrook is an option. I'm told they require you to have a "buddy name" when you show up but I've never actually been asked when I go there. Alternatively, PM me. I know of several people around here always looking for buddies, including me. I rarely get to dive when other people want buddies, but I like keeping an ongoing list of people I might be able to dive with when I get a chance.