pilot fish:If after you talk with a potential buddy and you determine you don't want to dive with them, what do you say then? How do you handle that? I've been taking whatever I get and that's not fair to me.
One way to get a more experienced buddy is when you check in with the charter. I'm always asked when my last dive was, how often I dive and what my certs are. Generally this means that I can get paired with a more experienced buddy since I dive all the time and have a load of dives each year.
If it doesn't work:
I've always suggested that they would have more fun diving with someone else. My style is slower than their's, their air consumption is different than mine etc... Diplomacy first and if they continue to make and #$$ of themselves then I tell them why I won't dive with them. I don't care if they don't like me. For the most part I can dive with anyone and have fun.
There is always time to talk to a person. Generally I assess the group when we are all hanging out at the dive shed or just got onto the boat. If I find someone that I like, I'll ask to dive with them. I also don't mind diving in 3 person buddy teams.