Diving with a buddy is one of the most important rules of scuba diving. It doesn’t matter how experienced or confident you are, you should never be without a dive buddy. When you dive with Gangga Divers you will be assigned a dive buddy on each dive and will be expected to stay close to them throughout the whole dive. If you are wondering why dive buddies are so important, we’re going to do a run down for you.

1. Decision making

If you get in a situation you aren’t so sure about, it’s always better to have someone else to check with. If you are a beginner diver, you will always be paired with someone with more experience. This way you can follow the lead of your dive buddy and learn from them. Even when you are more experienced, two heads are better than one when it comes to decision making.

2. Help with equipment

Diving equipment isn’t foolproof and things can go wrong. There will be times when you may need a helping hand. Your dive buddy can double check your equipment and also help you ascend safely if there is a failure that needs to be checked or repaired on the surface.

3. Getting unstuck

Once in a while you may get tangled or stuck on something. A knife is a key piece of kit for divers, but not everyone carries one. If you have one knife between the two of you it can be a lifesaver. Even if you’re carrying a knife yourself, you might not be able to free yourself. This is where your buddy can really come in handy.

4. Running out of air

There are situations when you can miscalculate your air supply or end up under the water longer than you should be. During your PADI dive course you will learn how to share air with your dive buddy. This is an incredibly important skill to learn and could save you or your dive buddy’s life.

5. Cramps

Cramps in legs and feet can be a real pain for divers. In fact, they can sometimes be dangerous. If you get a serious cramp underwater, your dive buddy can really help out. They can give you a quick massage to get rid of the cramp or help you while you rub the cramp out yourself.

6. Get in photos

How would you get photos of yourself diving if you didn’t have a buddy? It’s not easy taking selfies underwater but with a dive buddy this isn’t a worry. You and your dive buddy can snap photos of each other.

There are of course many other reasons to always dive with a buddy, but these are our top 6. It’s a big responsibility to be a dive buddy and you want to know your buddy takes it as seriously as you do. What’s your top tip for being a great dive buddy? Leave us a comment in the box below to let us know!