HOW TO TELL A GOOD DIVE BUDDY FROM A BAD ONE
If you have found a good dive buddy, hold on to them: they are an active partner in risk management, an extra set of eyes when you can’t see everything going on around you, and a secondary gas supply if things go totally pear-shaped. Whether you’re diving a few times a year recreationally on a tropical reef or regularly conducting complex, multi-gas technical dives, you need to be sure you can rely on your buddy—one hundred percent... or more.
But if you’re still looking for the perfect buddy, how can you tell the difference between one most likely to earn a place on the good list and one who's more of a so-so?
Key Qualities of an Exceptional Dive Buddy
While the nuts and bolts of what makes an exceptional buddy depend so much on personal chemistry, there are some basic things to look for and agree on before breaking out the dive gear.
Basic dive planning and preparation
First, agree on the basics: depth, bottom time, turn pressure, the route and waypoints, including the goals, PLUS emergency protocols, before you even think about what gear to pack.
Second, discuss the use of dive checklists, pre-dive S-drills, and buddy Checks. This really follows on seamlessly from the planning... It’s all part of risk management... and should be talked about and agreed on at the planning stage. How will you do them and what will you include? Never skip, rush, or diminish the importance of pre-dive equipment safety checks (using a formal written checklist, for example), and details such as procedures for gas analysis, tank labelling, and in-water gas switches, if they are an option.
Thirdly, get to know and agree upon gear configuration. Do you both (or all) store backups in the same way and location? Does everyone have a long hose, and does everyone breathe it throughout the dive? Can you agree on gas-sharing protocols? Leaving these things out until something goes wrong will not end well.
Lastly, are you and your buddy a good match in skill and comfort level? If not, be sure you agree to plan all your dives around the least experienced or least comfortable diver in your team: No ego, no peer pressure.
In-Water Situational Awareness and Discipline
The "Two-Second" Rule: They stay close enough that either diver can reach the other within a couple of seconds in an emergency (typically within arm's reach or slightly behind/beside, depending on visibility).
Constant Gas & Depth Monitoring: They manage their gas conservatively, track their no-decompression limit (NDL), and regularly check their partner's status with clear hand signals.
Good Trim & Buoyancy Control: They maintain horizontal trim and efficient propulsion (such as a frog kick) to avoid kicking up silt, disturbing marine life, or creating unnecessary hazards.
Communication, Emotional Control... Calm Demeanour
A good buddy gives clear, deliberate signals when they’re needed. They communicate using standard hand signals (or light signals) when “making a lane change.” They also stick to the plan and deviate only when circumstances dictate it’s the right thing to do.
Having “Poise Under Pressure” is critical. Overreacting to a simple failure, like a free-flowing regulator, a minor entanglement, or sudden current, can set off a domino effect. Doing so usually signals someone diving beyond their training and experience. Someone who remains calm, stops, thinks, and reacts systematically rather than panicking is a keeper.
Embracing a Team Mindset
While a great dive buddy will help their buddy, a reliable dive partner stays self-reliant (carrying appropriate backups, cutting tools, and SMBs) and regularly practices emergency/contingency skills. These folks are a resource, not a liability.
A good buddy also takes dive debriefs seriously and contributes. They help analyze what went well or what could be improved. They also follow the advice that a dive isn’t over until everyone is home safe... for example, they watch for delayed signs of decompression sickness or fatigue after surfacing.
If you have a buddy who measures up to all that... and you do too, you are guaranteed to have fun and enjoy diving for a long time.