Diving With a Scuba Buddy Underwater
Dealing With the Separation of a Dive Buddy While Scuba Diving
Jul 30, 2009
There are a number of reasons why scuba buddy pairs separate underwater. Once separated, the safety and unique experience of sharing the time underwater is reduced.
Becoming separated from a buddy can be difficult for an anxious or inexperienced scuba diver, as it can be daunting when a diver discovers they are alone underwater.
Why Scuba Divers Become Separated Underwater
Some, but not all, of the reasons why scuba divers become separated underwater are:
- Different objectives. One diver may want to explore a wide area while the other may prefer to remain within a smaller area. For example, one diver may be a photographer and want to continually stop to take shots.
- Poor dive plan; or no dive plan. Without a good dive plan, where each diver knows where they are going, when underwater a buddy pair may simply swim apart.
- Differences in equipment. Maybe the divers are wearing different thickness wetsuit and one gets cold before the other. Or the dive buddy team may have different sized tanks so one diver may run out of air before the other.
- There may be a significant difference in the physical ability and/or experience of each diver in the buddy pair. The weak swimmer may tire first; or need to surface before the stronger swimmer is ready.
- Attitude. Either to both divers may have a selfish attitude towards their buddy. Or maybe impatience; or the myriad of other personality clashes that could arise.
- Limited visibility. The divers may simply lose sight of each other in poor visibility underwater. Or on a night dive.
- Switching buddies underwater. One of the dive pair may swim off with another diver. This can be accidental, for example if there are a number of divers underwater and in some situations, divers can look alike same underwater. Or one diver may want to buddy with a friend they have spotted underwater.
- Lack of communication underwater. If the dive plan changes underwater, then the problems in communicating underwater can lead to the buddy pair splitting.
Relocating a Buddy Underwater
If a buddy pair separates underwater, the following are initial steps for relocation:
- Stop and do a slow circle looking as far as possible into the gloom for the missing buddy.
- Swim in the direction the buddy was last seen for about 40 to 50 feet.
- Ascend about 10 to 15 feet from where the buddy was last seen and do another full rotation.
If the missing buddy carries out the same procedure then the buddy pair should meet up again.
The dive plan the dive buddy pair develops before going underwater may have another tactic for re-locating. Maybe something like “return to the bottom of the anchor chain and wait there.”
Use of a Scuba Buddy Line
A scuba buddy line is a short rope that each diver holds onto during the scuba dive. A scuba buddy line can be used in the following situations:
- An inexperienced diver with an experienced diver
- An anxious diver wanting the reassurance of another diver close by
- In very limited visibility
- One a night dive.
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