Experienced SCUBA divers, please tell me, what makes one a "good" diving buddy?

Question

I'm a newbie diver that has logged exactly 3 "real" dives since certification, and haven't had any problems because my partners were an AI from the shop where I did my training, and another newbie like me.

But, I don't want to end up being the diver (new or experienced) that nobody wants to dive with because I'm a bad buddy. So, please tell me, what makes one a good diving partner?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Don't flap your arms. Stay with your Buddy. Check your gages. Carry your Buddy's gear.

Answer 2

A "good" dive buddy is someone you can trust and get to know each other very well especially each others hand signals, everyone seems to have new ones that they make up and you need to know them. When I am diving with a new buddy I stay shallow ( around 40 ft) just in case you never know what could happen. I know I paniced a couple of times when I was brand new. I learned a lots of good lessons one at 90 ft. and another at 40 ft.,I thought I was going to drown both times.Lucky I had a very experience dive buddy at 90 ft. That was 6 years ago and now I am a very  cautious diver. Make sure you and your buddy are doing your pre-checks and watching your computer.and off course have an incredible dive.You know what they say ...the worst day diving is still better than the best day at work.

Answer 3

Okay. I'm at the other end of the diving scale, and have done dives with all kinds of different divers, from newbies to very experienced. Some of the better divers are the recent graduates, because they are paying attention to things. I'm always leary of divers who haven't done any upgrades or recerts and took their test 10 years ago. In my experience, these were the guys (and gals) who tended to become complacent or careless.

To be a good buddy, you need to be attentive, and pay attention to your diving partner, not just be a body in the water somewhere near him or her, but actually be with your partner.

You need to be conscientious, check your gear before you go down, check your partner's gear as well.

Have a dive plan and follow it. Or have an underwater writing board so you can make VERY CLEAR any changes to what you agreed on previously.

A good buddy doesn't panic, doesn't get in a flap, but stays calm. A girl on one dive almost drowned when she got caught in a current and instead of drifting across it, tried to swim against it. Hard. She used up most of her air before someone else was able to get to her and bring her to safety. Her buddy didn't even notice. That's not good. But because she panicked, she wasn't a very good buddy for him, either.

Another 'bad' buddy is the one who wants to poke everything he sees underwater. Fish can be frightened away from their regular habitat by thoughtless divers. And anyone who breaks chunks of coral off of reefs ought to have their certification lifted.

In short, just be a good citizen underwater, and treat your buddy the way you'd want to be treated.

Have fun down there!

Answer 4

Buddy checks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Can't stress it enough. There's nothing more irritating than communicating with a pal to stay beside each other, then see them not there, cran your neck around to find them and get a dose of 40 degree water go down the back of your drysuit for cracking the neck seal. GRRRRRRRRR. Stay where you've agreed to stay, monitor yourself and your pal. Never be afraid to signal an abort over something silly. It's a learning process. I'd rather ditch a dive than have a buddy fretting over a mask flood or something minor. It takes their attention off ME and themselves.

If it's a first dive with a new buddy, don't be afraid to let them know how experienced ( or not) you are. I'd rather know at the surface than find out in current at 90 ft. The dive can be adjusted before the dive, after...well it's a little late.

Get to know all sorts of gear and techniques. Knowledge is power and the more you have, the more people will want to dive with you because they will want you to teach and help them become better divers. Share your tips.

Last but not least. I require my buddies to have a sense of humor, able to back me up on a tall story and enjoy a beer or 10 after a days diving.

BTW...welcome to the sport. It's my office but I still love it. Learn learn learn :)

Answer 5

I am not a diver, but the rest of my family is, and from what I can tell, trust is a huge deal.  Since you are a newbie, no one expects you to know everything - yet.  Keep asking questions and don't worry about not knowing something, because at one point, all of your future buddies were newbies as well.  As long as you try your very best, and hold up your end of the diving buddy code (whatever it happens to be for your certification system), you should be ok.

Answer 6

" A good diving buddy,should be an experienced diver,with a good number of dives in his log book.One that respect the diving rules and the responsability that he has on his buddy  while diving. Helpfull,altruist ".

With the time,you'll increase your experience and will improve in your diving skills. Meanwhile,watch how, more experienced and good divers behave in this sport.Have suggestions from Dive Masters and Instructors.    

Following these suggestions you should be able to become a good one,one day.

Anyway,this is a "big question". Other people could give other good tips too.

"Respect the sea,and he will respect you"

A diving teacher

Answer 7

Super safe.  Follows the rules.  Pays 100% attention.  Enjoys nature as much as I do.  Can carry most of the stuff.    :)