9 Essential Tips to Become an Excellent Diving Buddy
December 16, 2024
If you want a great diving buddy, you first need to become one yourself. But what goes into making a great buddy? It might sound simple enough, but there are some things to master to ensure you are the best buddy you can be. So here are our top tips to up your game and be the buddy that everyone wants on their next dive.
How To Be a Great Diving Buddy
1. Discuss your dive plan before you dive
No matter what, you should always discuss your dive plan with your buddy. Even if you go diving with a dive center and receive a group briefing, you should still discuss your dive plan with your diving buddy.
Check what your and your buddy’s goal is for the dive, as well as who will be the "leader" for the dive. Having a leader prevents disagreements underwater, such as where you want to go and how fast you swim, which can easily lead to buddy separation. Knowing who the leader is becomes even more important if one of you wants to take photos.
A dive plan discussion also allows you to discuss your air consumption and decide how deep you want to dive. You might want to stay shallower than the dive group’s planned depth if you or your buddy get through air quickly, to allow for more dive time.
2. Check you use the same hand signals
We are told that hand signals are universal and taught the same all over the world. While this is true to an extent, some divers may know additional hand signals from advanced diving courses. Some divers may signal their air consumption in PSI instead of Bar or vice versa. Do you and your diving buddy communicate the same?
It is essential to be aware of this before the dive so that you do not have any unnecessary miscommunications underwater, which could lead to a dangerous situation, especially where air consumption is concerned.
3. Do a pre-dive buddy check
Have you ever had a diving buddy who keeps to themself and wants to jump into the water before you are ready? Make sure you tell your buddy that you want to do the predive check with them, even if they feel they do not "need it".
A predive or buddy check is not just to discover any faults in the equipment assembly or the wearing of diving gear. It also allows each of you to learn how your buddy’s equipment works. You do not want to be fiddling about with your dive buddy’s gear and trying to find the BC inflator button at the surface in an emergency.
Most dive gear has a standard setup, but there are always exceptions, and it is good to know where you can find all the parts of your buddy’s dive gear in case you need to assist. Additionally, it is good to check that no hoses have been trapped inside the BC, the tank is open, and the alternate air source is working properly. You certainly want to ensure this before you need it during a dive.
4. Offer underwater support
Scuba diving, especially in challenging conditions, can be mentally and physically demanding. A good diving buddy provides emotional support and encouragement, helping to calm nerves and boost confidence.
They provide stability by acting as physical anchors when needed, which not only conserves energy but also fosters trust. Buddies assist each other during descents and ascents, they stay close to help with issues such as ear equalization, and they ensure safe, controlled movements.
Being prepared for emergencies is a responsibility shared by you and your diving buddy; make sure you practice procedures like air sharing and administering first aid. Additionally, offer emotional support to help alleviate anxiety and provide encouragement, creating a more relaxed and confident diving experience for both of you.
If you want to become a skilled diver capable of handling emergencies, consider becoming an SSI Stress & Rescue Diver. Many divers say this is the best course they ever did.
5. Help with navigation
Underwater navigation can be tricky, especially in unfamiliar environments. You and your diving buddy will work together to navigate the dive site safely, staying together and helping each other to maintain the right orientation.
By working together, you can navigate tricky sections, identify key landmarks, and make sure you reach the right exit point. If you want to become more confident at underwater navigation, check out the SSI Underwater Navigation course.
6. Solve problems together
Despite careful planning, unexpected situations can arise during a dive. Good diving buddies are prepared to handle emergencies and unexpected challenges, working together to troubleshoot problems and find solutions. When a problem arises, it is nice to know that you are not the sole decision maker and each of you can provide valuable input to solve the problem.
7. Be prepared to end the dive
Being a good diving buddy has many more benefits than disadvantages, but it can sometimes mean sacrificing your dive for the safety or care of your buddy. As a good buddy, you must be prepared to end a dive when either of you needs or wants to. Remember, on the next dive, it could be you who needs your buddy to make that call.
8. Make diving fun!
Being a good diving buddy is not just about providing support, it is also about having more fun! Sharing the underwater world with a reliable partner ensures you are both relaxed and makes the dive more memorable and enjoyable.
By embodying our tips for being an excellent buddy, you not only contribute to your safety but also the safety and enjoyment of your diving partner. Added to that, you will foster a culture of responsibility and camaraderie in your diving community.
9. Get diving insurance
Finally, make sure you have active diving insurance – whether you are diving locally or overseas. If you are unconvinced you need diving-specific insurance, check out this guide: Scuba Diving Insurance - Do We Really Need It?
There are a range of different diving accident and travel insurance policies that cater specifically to divers’ needs.
In the event of an emergency, your diving buddy will thank you for being prepared.
This article was written by Elizabeth Langenberg / Tal Tamir in cooperation with our insurance partners at DiveAssure.