How to Find a Buddy
Because when you've paid good money to dive, you don't want to be stuck with the last
loser standing.
Unlike the animals on Noah's Ark, dive travelers do not always board the boat two-by-two. In
fact, many divers travel alone or travel with non-divers and depend on their good looks, their
charm or the luck of the draw to find a dive buddy. If you're planning a trip and you're not
bringing your own buddy, what can you do to increase your chances of finding a buddy who
will be a good match for you?
First, understand that agreeing to be someone's
dive buddy is more than a casual relationship—
it also carries a moral and legal responsibility.
By agreeing to buddy up with a stranger, you
assume some liability for his or her safety.
One option for divers who either can't find
a suitable buddy or who prefer to dive without
a buddy is to dive solo. But for now, the reality
is that many dive operations do not allow solo
diving, so if you want to dive, you'll need to find
someone to do it with you.
Do Your Homework — There are several options for finding a dive buddy before your
vacation. While advanced planning isn't necessary, it does offer the opportunity to find out
something about the experience, skills and personality of a possible partner.
Post It. You can post an interest in securing a dive buddy for specified dates and locations
on a national or international scuba message board such as the one at www.scubadiving.
com. Some message boards even have a section dedicated to divers searching for
buddies. You may also post an inquiry to one of the general travel boards that focus on the
particular destination you'll be traveling to, although these often do not have the specificity
or reader traffic of broader-based scuba boards.
Call Ahead. Another option is to contact an area dive club to find out if it has any diving
planned during your stay or can otherwise assist you. There are clubs around the world that
welcome visitors and readily include them in diving activities.
Finding a Buddy on the Boat — It's not necessary to have a partner lined up before your dive
trip. In fact, it's common to find other divers on a dive boat who are also without a buddy.
Dive operators will make sure you're paired with someone, and may buddy you up with a
divemaster in the event there are no other unbuddied divers.
But if you want to increase your chances of finding a buddy you can live with:
Act Fast. As soon as you board the boat, start looking around for someone who might be a
suitable match. You can usually tell which divers are without a buddy when they board the
boat. And you can also usually tell by the equipment they're carrying whether they'll be
shooting photos or shooting fish. Try to find a buddy whose objectives for the dive are
similar to yours so you're not at cross-purposes.
Talk It Out. Strike up a conversation to find out even more about potential buddies. By doing
the work yourself, you won't have to wait for the divemaster to match you up with someone
who may or may not be a good buddy for you.
Go or No-Go? — OK, so you've either chosen someone or been chosen by someone as a
potential buddy. Now comes the moment of truth—you've got to decide whether you really
want to buddy up with this other diver. If you are not willing to take on the buddy
responsibility with this particular diver, you must say so, tactfully but clearly. If you let
another diver enter the water in the mistaken belief that you are going to be his buddy, you
are morally and perhaps legally responsible for the consequences.
Because when you've paid good money to dive, you don't want to be stuck with the last
loser standing.
Unlike the animals on Noah's Ark, dive travelers do not always board the boat two-by-two. In
fact, many divers travel alone or travel with non-divers and depend on their good looks, their
charm or the luck of the draw to find a dive buddy. If you're planning a trip and you're not
bringing your own buddy, what can you do to increase your chances of finding a buddy who
will be a good match for you?
First, understand that agreeing to be someone's
dive buddy is more than a casual relationship—
it also carries a moral and legal responsibility.
By agreeing to buddy up with a stranger, you
assume some liability for his or her safety.
One option for divers who either can't find
a suitable buddy or who prefer to dive without
a buddy is to dive solo. But for now, the reality
is that many dive operations do not allow solo
diving, so if you want to dive, you'll need to find
someone to do it with you.
Do Your Homework — There are several options for finding a dive buddy before your
vacation. While advanced planning isn't necessary, it does offer the opportunity to find out
something about the experience, skills and personality of a possible partner.
Post It. You can post an interest in securing a dive buddy for specified dates and locations
on a national or international scuba message board such as the one at www.scubadiving.
com. Some message boards even have a section dedicated to divers searching for
buddies. You may also post an inquiry to one of the general travel boards that focus on the
particular destination you'll be traveling to, although these often do not have the specificity
or reader traffic of broader-based scuba boards.
Call Ahead. Another option is to contact an area dive club to find out if it has any diving
planned during your stay or can otherwise assist you. There are clubs around the world that
welcome visitors and readily include them in diving activities.
Finding a Buddy on the Boat — It's not necessary to have a partner lined up before your dive
trip. In fact, it's common to find other divers on a dive boat who are also without a buddy.
Dive operators will make sure you're paired with someone, and may buddy you up with a
divemaster in the event there are no other unbuddied divers.
But if you want to increase your chances of finding a buddy you can live with:
Act Fast. As soon as you board the boat, start looking around for someone who might be a
suitable match. You can usually tell which divers are without a buddy when they board the
boat. And you can also usually tell by the equipment they're carrying whether they'll be
shooting photos or shooting fish. Try to find a buddy whose objectives for the dive are
similar to yours so you're not at cross-purposes.
Talk It Out. Strike up a conversation to find out even more about potential buddies. By doing
the work yourself, you won't have to wait for the divemaster to match you up with someone
who may or may not be a good buddy for you.
Go or No-Go? — OK, so you've either chosen someone or been chosen by someone as a
potential buddy. Now comes the moment of truth—you've got to decide whether you really
want to buddy up with this other diver. If you are not willing to take on the buddy
responsibility with this particular diver, you must say so, tactfully but clearly. If you let
another diver enter the water in the mistaken belief that you are going to be his buddy, you
are morally and perhaps legally responsible for the consequences.
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All About Florida
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