The Benefits of the Buddy

Though you may find plenty of solo or “independent” divers at your local dive site, it’s not something that’s recommended for beginners - heck, it’s usually regarded as the rule you never break in your Open Water course. But, as with all rules, there are those who bend them. And that’s not to say that independent diving is inherently dangerous - in fact, SSI even teaches a course on how to do it. But that comes with experience, something you won’t have much of (yet!) as a beginner. So, why the heck do we need a buddy in the first place? There’s probably some reasons you haven’t considered.

Let’s start with the obvious: safety. A buddy is not only a second set of air, regs, computers, and equipment, but also a second set of eyes. Sometimes a buddy can steer you clear of entangling kelp, arresting an uncontrolled ascent, or even pointing out some rare wildlife.

Next, consider your buddy as a valuable teaching resource. If they have more dives than you, they may be able to offer advice on your trim, gear configuration, or other tidbits of advice. If they have less dives than you, congratulations! You may be able to teach them something new and reinforce the learning from your courses.

Finally, a good buddy can lend a hand in some of your dive objectives. Out and about looking for that tough to find reef fish? The buddy might help! What about an SAR or salvage dive? There’s a second set of hands that can help guide your equipment and make the process all that much easier.

Tag your favorite dive buddy in the world below!