So You've got a Bad Buddy...

Most of us have been there: you’re diving a beautiful reef, the sun is shining, you’ve got plenty of air and the sights are gorgeous… until you realize your buddy is 30 feet away poking around for pygmy seahorses! First of all, not all buddies know necessarily that they are being “bad.” Fortunately, many are just ignorant and had no idea that what they were doing could be dangerous in an out of air situation or other emergency.

The key here is to be understanding and tactful in your approach. After the dive, talk to your buddy about some concerns you had on the dive, and make sure to drive home the point that you were concerned about both of your safety. When they realize that had they had an emergency, they may be more apt to respond positively and adjust their wandering behavior (or at least invite you to come along!). The same holds true for damaging the ecosystem. Some simple etiquette education can go a long way, and taking the extra time to tell them how viewing the reef safely helps it thrive is even better!