Most scuba divers believe the scuba diving rule of “never scuba dive alone” is for safety if something goes wrong. While this is true, there are other reasons the scuba dive buddy system should be used.
A Scuba Buddy Can Assist in an Emergency Underwater Situation
A scuba dive buddy is vital if something goes wrong underwater. Some of the emergency situations in which a scuba dive buddy can physically assist a buddy are:
- Out of air situation
- A diver is trapped or becomes entangled
- A diver is injured, from something like fire coral stings
- Equipment failure
- Loss of consciousness, due to many causes such as a poor air fill, illness, drugs, etc.
A Scuba Buddy Can Provide a Reassuring Presence
Situations can also occur underwater where a diver may need the reassuring presence of a scuba dive buddy. Most of these relate to the physiological and mental state of a diver. Some, but not all, of these situations are:
- Anxiety on a scuba dive
- Vertigo
- Nitrogen narcosis
- Ear squeeze
- Dental problems
- A diver may become fatigued swimming against a strong current
- Reassurance during a decompression stop.
A Scuba Dive Buddy Can Prevent Problems
A further benefit of diving with a buddy is preventing problems before they compound into problems underwater. For example, an equipment check on the scuba dive boat prior to rolling into the water can identify problems like the air not fully turned on, an alternate air supply not easily accessible.
When underwater on the scuba dive, a buddy can assist in keeping track of depths and times if one of the scuba buddy pair gets involved in something underwater.
A Buddy Can Increase Enjoyment on a Scuba Dive
Scuba diving with a buddy can mean more is seen and experienced on a scuba dive. For example, while one diver of the buddy pair may be peering under a coral ledge, the other scuba buddy may see a couple of manta rays flying in from the murky distance. Being in a buddy pair could result in both divers seeing both interesting facets of the dive.
Another aspect of diving with a buddy is the after-dive activities. The discussion on the technical aspects of the scuba dive, the things seen underwater, what went wrong, and what worked well, are all things that can keep a conversation flowing for many hours after a buddy pair poke their heads above the water at the end of a dive.
And well into the future, a buddy pair can be discussing particular dives. A great camaraderie can be built between scuba buddy pairs that will mean the conversation and discussion will easily revert back to those memorable dives many years in the future.
Scuba Divers Diving Alone
Some scuba divers area adamant they will not dive with a buddy. Their logic is that each diver should be able to look after himself. They argue that diving with a buddy can mean one diver’s scuba dive could be cut short if something happens with their buddy.
These are all legitimate reasons not to dive with a buddy. However, there are probably more reasons to dive with a buddy that to scuba dive alone. Not just from the safety aspect, but also from the enjoyment of the dive.
The scuba dive buddy system is simply too valuable not to be used.
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