It happens to the best of us, and it most certainly will happen to new divers: losing your buddy. In most cases, it can be blamed on becoming so enraptured with the sights below the surface that you (or they) simply lose track of time, and basically anything else. We know, because we’ve been there. But it’s not always due to a lack of attention; sometimes visibility can play a tricky role in keeping track of your dive buddy. If you’re diving in an area with limited visibility, take some extra precautions to ensure you don’t find yourself alone and needing to surface. Nothing kills a SCUBA buzz quicker than having to call a dive short for a non-emergency situation!
Stay By My Side
As much as possible, whenever you dive, try to keep in line next to your buddy. This is the best way to stay in each other’s line of vision, and really get the most out of your dive. If your buddy is right there next to you, complications can be dealt with more swiftly, and you’ll help each other see things you might not have seen on your own. Best of all, you won’t be on your own when you need someone!
Make Some Noise
Disclaimer: this is not an admonition to go about banging on your tank or making unnecessary noise throughout the dive. Because the origin of noise is so much harder to determine underwater, you want to make sure you only make a noise specifically for the purposes of calling attention to your buddy, who is not in your direct line of sight. Underwater noises are disturbing to sea life as well, so try to use this method of finding your buddy the least.
Let There Be Light
A dive light is a handy accessory to have on your BCD, and for more than just night diving. Even during the day, if visibility is low due to the bottom being stirred up, or the water is simply murky, turning on your dive light and searching your immediate area can help illuminate features of your dive buddy, like their fins or BCD. It will also create a beam noticeable enough for your dive buddy to follow back to you.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
In severe cases of low visibility, holding your buddy’s hand or using a line can help tremendously. You’ll want to be sure, if you’re using a line, that the line doesn’t become entangled in corals or other marine life. You don’t want to create an emergency situation through making the effort to stay safer underwater. If visibility is that bad, you may want to call the dive altogether.
Remember SCUBA guys and gals, the number one responsibility of a diver is the safety of themselves, their buddy, and others, so stay with your dive buddy and you’ll have plenty of great dives ahead!
Photos via Marion Doss, Tim Sheerman-Chase, Scuba_thib
yes I am
yes I am
I’m the best dive buddy, at my own expense unfortunately.
I’m the best dive buddy, at my own expense unfortunately.
I dive in Puget Sounds (seattle, WA) and the visibility can be horrible sometimes, so we wear bright colored fins (mine are close to lime green) and flashlights. But the most important part of our gear is our alert system (like my tank banger) which we use if we loose sight of each other. So far we have not lost each other for more than maybe a minute
I dive in Puget Sounds (seattle, WA) and the visibility can be horrible sometimes, so we wear bright colored fins (mine are close to lime green) and flashlights. But the most important part of our gear is our alert system (like my tank banger) which we use if we loose sight of each other. So far we have not lost each other for more than maybe a minute
Most of my bottom time is in poor viz. I always keep a 6 ft. Buddy line in my BCD.
Most of my bottom time is in poor viz. I always keep a 6 ft. Buddy line in my BCD.
I had a woman on my boat once who got tired of her husband losing her on dives. She went and bought a dog leash and now clips it to him on every dive.
I had a woman on my boat once who got tired of her husband losing her on dives. She went and bought a dog leash and now clips it to him on every dive.
My buddy & I just got certified this summer. I’m still a bit freaked out (I’ve never been comfortable in the water). I usually have contact by keeping my hand on his elbow or upper arm, especially in poor viz. Its a good thing too because the last time our viz was REALL bad I had a case of vertigo @ 35 ft. he knew right away there was a problem & we were able to ascend safely. Even with the few “issues” we’ve had I’m loving the sport & I’m determined to conquer my fears & finally let go of his arm! Lol!
My buddy & I just got certified this summer. I’m still a bit freaked out (I’ve never been comfortable in the water). I usually have contact by keeping my hand on his elbow or upper arm, especially in poor viz. Its a good thing too because the last time our viz was REALL bad I had a case of vertigo @ 35 ft. he knew right away there was a problem & we were able to ascend safely. Even with the few “issues” we’ve had I’m loving the sport & I’m determined to conquer my fears & finally let go of his arm! Lol!
This is a great question! You would think someone like your boyfriend or husband would make a great buddy BUT I can remember many times when I’ve found myself left behind a little over 20ft away from each other and when I needed to get his attention I had to swim up fast cause he never really looked behind. Unless he was looking when I wasn’t lol
This is a great question! You would think someone like your boyfriend or husband would make a great buddy BUT I can remember many times when I’ve found myself left behind a little over 20ft away from each other and when I needed to get his attention I had to swim up fast cause he never really looked behind. Unless he was looking when I wasn’t lol
strobes are great or leash em. trust me i dive santa monica 3 ft and your alone alone sucks lol
strobes are great or leash em. trust me i dive santa monica 3 ft and your alone alone sucks lol
I am but had the worst once. He kept going past the dive limits, swimming way out ahead of me. At the end of the dive, I got into trouble – a med sized shark swam in front of me & my octopus came apart (rental equipment). I couldn’t find my alternate, so I had to swim to him & give him the no-air signal. The divemaster later told me I probably started panicking b/c I couldn’t get any air when he gave me his mouthpiece. Thankfully we were shallow enough & I could surface, but those last few seconds were the hardest. Thanks a lot guy.
Yeah, good dive buddies are crucial.
I am but had the worst once. He kept going past the dive limits, swimming way out ahead of me. At the end of the dive, I got into trouble – a med sized shark swam in front of me & my octopus came apart (rental equipment). I couldn’t find my alternate, so I had to swim to him & give him the no-air signal. The divemaster later told me I probably started panicking b/c I couldn’t get any air when he gave me his mouthpiece. Thankfully we were shallow enough & I could surface, but those last few seconds were the hardest. Thanks a lot guy.
Yeah, good dive buddies are crucial.
I never lose them ’cause I always ditch ‘em first.
I never lose them ’cause I always ditch ‘em first.
I have the best dive buddy – to see eachother in low visability we wear neon yellow rask guards.
I have the best dive buddy – to see eachother in low visability we wear neon yellow rask guards.
love to dive……love it..
love to dive……love it..
Most my dives end early bc im afraid to be shot lol.
;was on a live aboard one time and when I dove with a lady when we got back on board she told her husband…..”oh, that’s what a dive buddy is supposed to be like”…..he wasn’t too happy but I had a good
Laugh
definitely! And I refuse to dive with anything less. It’s just too risky.
– Unless there is a specific purpose, rescue, search and recovery or a maintenance reason, why would a diver be in the water in low viz? A rec diver should, IMHO, abort a dive if viz gets low enough you can’t see your buddy. You are putting two people’s lives at risk and judging from the comments posted thus far there may be ulterior motives to getting another in the water under these conditions. Not saying it has to be ideal conditions and things can get stirred up, but safety first folks! Personally I would not want to dive and have to strain just to see my buddies yellow fins!
I’m the best!
What do you call low visibility? In spring, when diving in Zeeland (Holland), the visibility often is less then 50cm due to the algae that are in the water. We’re connected to oud buddy with a buddyline and for our navigation we depend of our the knowlede of compas.
If you’re used to diving in low visibility water, you’re able to go diving everywhere. But if you’re used to diving in tropical waters with unlimited visibility, you’ll be scared when diving in low visibility conditions.