annie
Contributor
I think what we're talking about is trying to judge whether someone would be a good buddy or not.
I know that my first impressions of people are usually wrong, and often I don't have enough time to chat with a new buddy before diving to really decide what they're like.
But I do ask my standard questions about previous dives, experience, and I do a *thorough* buddy check, dive planning, explain about my dodgy ear etc. Their reactions to me (28yrs old, pink drysuit, big smile) tell me a lot about them. The humble types are ok with it, the cocky ones try to rush me, diss me, act like a matcho, whatever. So I form an opinion. But I never assume anything; some people are good actors.
I know that my first impressions of people are usually wrong, and often I don't have enough time to chat with a new buddy before diving to really decide what they're like.
But I do ask my standard questions about previous dives, experience, and I do a *thorough* buddy check, dive planning, explain about my dodgy ear etc. Their reactions to me (28yrs old, pink drysuit, big smile) tell me a lot about them. The humble types are ok with it, the cocky ones try to rush me, diss me, act like a matcho, whatever. So I form an opinion. But I never assume anything; some people are good actors.