Collapse of the "Buddy System"

[KeithG]

I think another big problem with the buddy system these days is the cookie cutter standardization mentality that a buddy is a buddy and it should all work the same, it doesn't. There are so many variables in people, dive styles, comfort levels, skill levels, risk tolerance, personalities, etc.
I say find people that dive like you and only dive with them. That goes for any style from strict buddy team to loose solo same ocean same day.
If you are going to only dive a strict very regimented buddy team style then find people like yourself and perfect your protocols, if that's your philosophy. This pretty much eliminates the insta buddy in most cases. Take your well oiled buddies where ever you go, plan your vacations with them, have those people in place where ever you might dive in the world. Many people do this.

If you are the independant type and have assessed the added risks of not being in a strict team environment and are OK with that, and the people that may be with you somewhere in the ocean on the same day and if they are OK with that, then have a great dive.
I agree that there is no in-between, it's either or, and it needs to made clear what it is so there is no confusion.

If you agree to be a buddy then be a buddy. All this need to be discussed thoroughly before you splash.
I agree that it's not fair to buddy up with someone under false pretenses. That's just wrong and does nobody any any favors.

I also agree that the "follow the leader" dive is not really a buddy dive. That is the number one style most prone to failure as far as a buddy team goes, in my experience.

Great thread, some good observations. You have identified (at least) 3 different types of "buddy systems" most of which are not buddy systems at all:
- group cluster diving (we are all buddy's, so no-one really has a buddy, who's your buddy?)
- buddy diving
- solo diving (no buddy by definition)

Buddy diving is really very easy. Very little skill required. It is mostly attitude, not skill. A shared, common attitude. My buddy is awesome. We share the basic desire of wanting to enjoy a dive together. It all starts with some preplanning to ensure we are on the same plan with the same objectives and then once wet the application of some basic situational awareness. This is not rocket science people.
<rant>
If you are cluster diving, then do not complain about how the buddy system does not work. It never happened. You failed before you hit the water. I refuse to cluster dive. My pro-active communiction to the DM before EVERY dive is "we will not follow you, we will do our own buddy dive".
</rant>

 

[ev780]

To the OP.

Thank goodness! Is there anything we can do to hasten the death, cremation, burial, and recovery from the buddy system? I for one cannot see it go fast enough! A stupid custom that only gives the illusion of increased safety.

That being said. I think there is a time and place for it. Cavers, for sure. Deep wreck work. Low viz/cold. And other dangerous situations. Maybe.

Look, I am a life long single guy who has never had a consistent buddy. Almost all of my 400 or so dives have had a different buddy. From the Type-A follow the rule book type to the Same Ocean Same Day type. After a year or two of being and receiving the insta-buddy you get pretty jaded and really come to the conclusion that everyone is and should be on their own. The implied buddy contract has always bothered me. I don't know you from Adam yet I am being asked to be responsible for you?!?! I have sworn to do that in my real life and I swear that I will give you my all to rescue you if I can. But, you like me are an insta-buddy, and that comes with an understanding that we are both going into this thing blind so don't try and pin your incompetence on me. And I will not pin my incompetence on you.

If you want a perfect buddy then marry one. Otherwise, you get what you get. I took a solo class to help me through this dilemma. So can we please kill the damn buddy system for most "look at the pretty fishies" type diving. In a group setting just go to the closest help, get organized and solve the problem. If we develop the "team" mindset instead of the "buddy" mindset it will be a much better place for everyone.

---------- Post added October 3rd, 2014 at 11:07 AM ----------

I think another big problem with the buddy system these days is the cookie cutter standardization mentality that a buddy is a buddy and it should all work the same, it doesn't. There are so many variables in people, dive styles, comfort levels, skill levels, risk tolerance, personalities, etc.
I say find people that dive like you and only dive with them. That goes for any style from strict buddy team to loose solo same ocean same day.
If you are going to only dive a strict very regimented buddy team style then find people like yourself and perfect your protocols, if that's your philosophy. This pretty much eliminates the insta buddy in most cases. Take your well oiled buddies where ever you go, plan your vacations with them, have those people in place where ever you might dive in the world. Many people do this.

If you are the independant type and have assessed the added risks of not being in a strict team environment and are OK with that, and the people that may be with you somewhere in the ocean on the same day and if they are OK with that, then have a great dive.
I agree that there is no in-between, it's either or, and it needs to made clear what it is so there is no confusion.

If you agree to be a buddy then be a buddy. All this need to be discussed thoroughly before you splash.
I agree that it's not fair to buddy up with someone under false pretenses. That's just wrong and does nobody any any favors.

I also agree that the "follow the leader" dive is not really a buddy dive. That is the number one style most prone to failure as far as a buddy team goes, in my experience.

Love this mentality! However, most dive ops think that requiring buddy teams will somehow lessen liability or promote safety. Neither are the case as far as I can tell.

 

[drrich2]

"And I think it's a very valid assumption. Because the fast, constantly swimming buddy keeps &quot;breaking&quot; the buddy system while the slow, &quot;trying to keep up&quot; buddy is trying to preserve the buddy system."

I don't think these types of slow divers are moving slow because they're trying to preserve the buddy system.

Richard.

 

[Storker]

Those of you who are most insistent that there ain't no such thing as a buddy, how do you dive? Guided resort dives? Cattle boats? 'Cause I get an impression that you're living and diving in a completely different world than I am. I dive with friends, family or clubmates, and in those settings the buddy system is living very well, thank you. I've had decent buddies (mostly), I've had great buddies, I've had not-so-great buddies, and yes, I've had a buddy or two who I ain't diving with again. But all in all, since I haven't experienced those instabuddies from h€ll and just a couple I won't - and won't have to - dive with again, the news of the death of the buddy system seems rather exaggerated in my world.

 

[Mike]

The implied buddy contract has always bothered me. I don't know you from Adam yet I am being asked to be responsible for you?!?! I have sworn to do that in my real life and I swear that I will give you my all to rescue you if I can. But, you like me are an insta-buddy, and that comes with an understanding that we are both going into this thing blind so don't try and pin your incompetence on me. And I will not pin my incompetence on you.

All of that can disappear with a simple thing called communication and pre-dive planning. The implied nature of it is due to two insta buddies staring at each other in silence before the dive instead of going through a simple check list of

How you will dive
Proximity
Signals
Turn around
How to end the dive
Lost buddy proceedure

With two people who aren't douches and a little discussion and agreement before the dive, there is little issues underwater. But with two insta buddies who talked about nothing and can't talk once underwater, the dive experience is a crap shoot.

 

[KeithG]

If you want a perfect buddy then marry one.

agreed! best decision i ever made.

she is also pretty good at wine tasting, going to the theatre, enjoying good food, travelling, buying way too many shoes, bringing home a paycheck, feeding the cats and nagging my lazy *ss about getting things done around the house.

so i just bought her a bendomatic on ebay.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

"And I think it's a very valid assumption. Because the fast, constantly swimming buddy keeps &quot;breaking&quot; the buddy system while the slow, &quot;trying to keep up&quot; buddy is trying to preserve the buddy system."

I don't think these types of slow divers are moving slow because they're trying to preserve the buddy system.

Richard.

I find the idea of defining who is at fault when a buddy team breaks down as somewhat artificial. It doesn't really matter, since the end result is a failed team.

However, the idea that the fast diver is at fault is not necessarily valid when drift diving in a current. For years, as I taught my young teenage son to dive in strong currents, I had to KEEP reminding him to keep up!

I wanted him to follow my lead, but NOT really be behind me. Sounds somewhat contradictory but, not really. It is a total pain to have to turn around and look back all the time. I worked hard to get him to understand that if we are drifting and he stops (especially if behind me) he must scream and let me know.

If when diving in a strong current the fast diver is allowed to move too far down current, then the buddy system has failed completely. The faster, (downstream) diver can find himself completely unable to fight the current and go upstream to assist a lagging diver.. even if he can see them.

If we are diving over sandy patches, there is sometimes no way I can swim (or crawl) back. I tried to explain that if my son should be lagging, get tangled in something, he may be completely on his own. So it is really essential that the slower diver keep up in a fast current. It is his responsibility to communicate when he stops for something.

 

[drrich2]

I find the idea of defining who is at fault when a buddy team breaks down as somewhat artificial. It doesn't really matter, since the end result is a failed team.

Agreed. My wife and her brother are certified, but for some reason very 'back of the pack' people (the more I get to know my mother-in-law, the more I think it's genetic). I've had the 'If I can't see you, I can't help you, the weakest link diver needs to stick close to the guide in case of trouble, where more help's available' talk before, to no avail. On a standard Caribbean 'tourist' dive on a cruise stop in Cozumel, she was behind me, he was behind her, and I'm glad he didn't run into too much trouble because...

Wonder if anyone will start marketing a Scuba Rear View Mirror? Think a little 3 x 4" mirror stuck on the back of your right hand, for dive leaders to keep an eye on their buddies. Imagine all the 'It's a gear solution to a skills problem!' posts there'll be on Scuba Board...

Richard.

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . .
Wonder if anyone will start marketing a Scuba Rear View Mirror?

Dive Mirror

 

[Akimbo]

Mako makes on too:
GoPro Status Mirror | MAKO Spearguns