billt4sf
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Parrothead, I had (and still have) the same experience you are having. My buddy for my first five dives after certification was my OW Instructor (since I was doing AOW), and we never did buddy checks. It bewildered me then, and does now.
After a bunch more training and more experience, I have decided that my team does buddy checks. Period. I'm a bit of a PITA about it. Everybody who dives with me knows that's how I am, and I've had a dive buddy sigh and say, "Okay, Lynne, do your head-to-toe thing."
I don't understand why people don't do this. Once you have gone through it a bit, it's very quick. Solving problems on land or in waist-deep water is SO much nicer than trying to solve them underwater. And yes, I could go through it for myself (and usually have -- but I've missed things doing that) but having two or three brains doing it will make sure I don't leave anything out. Plus I know, then, that my buddies' stuff is all squared away, too.
Have the courage of your convictions. Join me in the pre-dive PITA club!
I wish I were enough of a PITA to do this. For me it's still sporadic. On a recent dive trip with a DM on every dive, my wife and I were the only divers on our boat that did them at all.
I have never had a DM on a vacation dive that encouraged any buddy process whatsoever. Maybe I am overstating the case, but not by much.
- Bill