While the “buddy system” is a fundamental component of scuba diving training, simply agreeing to dive with another person does not guarantee safety. “The qualities that exemplify a good diver are more subtle that one might expect,” says Lee Somers, Michigan Sea Grant’s water safety specialist. “Personal commitment, self-awareness and attitude toward diving safety are of vital importance.”
Somers suggests divers consider their partner’s physical fitness, the condition and appropriateness of their equipment, and the compatibility of themselves and their buddies before, during and after the dive. “A buddy team is only as good as its’ weakest member,” he says. Divers should avoid choosing individuals who scoff at diving rules, are highly competitive or who have been drinking. Most authorities suggest that at least 24 hours should elapse between drinking and diving.
Somers notes that the single most important trait of a good diver is awareness. A diver who is aware of time and air supply, who is oriented to his underwater location, and who is alert to signs of fatigue in himself or his buddy makes a good partner. A good buddy is also someone who can offer immediate assistance in making a rescue or treating an injury. Somers cautions, however, that people not be too dependent on their partner. “A diver should never substitute his or her lack of training, knowledge, skills, and equipment with that of their buddy.
COZUMEL October 7, 1998