Buddy Diving
There is a reason that you are supposed to have a buddy when diving – a few scenarios for you to consider the next time you go diving with a buddy and don’t make an effort in diving WITH them;
You followed the line down with your buddy and then did the “ok” check to make sure your buddy cleared ok and then you swim the wall…
You are at 100’ diving a wall, enjoying the corals watching the fish. The visibility is ok for up-close viewing but not so great for seeing very far.
Enjoying your diving? Is your buddy doing the same? You realize that you have not “seen” your dive buddy, you turn to see that you are alone! Where’s your buddy?
What do “you” do?
Are you the type of diver that goes on, as you were, assuming that your buddy is out there somewhere doing just as you are? Are you the type of diver that goes back, looking for your buddy?
How often do you make contact with your dive partner? Do you know where your dive buddy is right now?(while you are underwater) Sure, it’s an easy answer if you are following the leader but if you are the leader, are you turning around, making visual contact every so often with the one who is behind you?
In recent weeks, there has been a spike in reports, some we have heard about, where a diver has gone missing. The dive party surfaces, the head count is done, and one diver is missing! THAT IS TOO LATE… by then the missing diver is already in serious trouble.
Would you want to be the one forgotten? Me either…
It doesn’t matter if you have been diving for a week or a decade… don’t assume anything when it comes to the safety of your dive buddy!
Be a good dive buddy, plan ahead, talk about where you want to go and who should take the lead or if you are diving side by side, set a system so that you are looking at your dive buddy from time to time. Please understand that the reason this should be done is because you could be the one who gets in trouble.
A hose could blow, an “o” ring could fail, a valve could start leaking all your air out… if you are alone you do not have the back-up you should have.
How about this; you are diving a favorite fishing hole, otherwise known as a good reef, your buddy is there just ahead and you are swimming close to the reef. All the sudden, you get hooked! An angler has hooked you! You are unable to free yourself and your dive buddy has no idea… because there is no connection, no eye contact. You can imagine what happens next.
Don’t let this happen to you and don’t let this happen to your dive buddy! Watch out for one another and always know where the other one is… save a life save a buddy! Dive safe!
