| As many of you will know and many more will find | | | | air as she does her own thing in close proximate in |
| out that enter the fantastic sport of diving that | | | | case of any problems that she may have. Checking |
| finding a really good dive buddy can be quite difficult | | | | her air gives her a real accurate idea of the level that |
| at times. How many of you have gone out on a Dive | | | | I am at and that is very reassuring. We both have an |
| Charter only to find that the buddy that you were | | | | interest in underwater videographer and Mel takes |
| put with swims off in a different direction once you | | | | some great footage as well at times sharing the joy |
| hit the bottom, not to be seen again until you reach | | | | of filming. Most of my diving is to a depth of not |
| the surface? I have had this happen on quite a few | | | | much more than 20 odd metres as the light levels |
| occasions and if you are a new diver with less than | | | | are too low below this point for filming. On a lot of |
| 50 odd dives you may find this unsettling. | | | | our dives I encourage Mel to dive and converse with |
| So what should you look for in a dive buddy | | | | other divers aboard the charters as well as join them |
| Well the first thing that comes to mind for me is | | | | under the water. This allows me to film them as a |
| diving with someone that I can get along with above | | | | group and gives Mel experience with other divers and |
| the surface as well as below. Then you really want | | | | to see for her how others dive. |
| to find a buddy that has a similar air consumption | | | | Trust In Your Buddy |
| rate so neither one of you are missing out on dive | | | | When diving we are in a hostile environment in the |
| time. Taking that into account it helps if you both | | | | sense that we cannot take water into our lungs so |
| have the same interest in the diving, an example of | | | | having a buddy that you trust with your life should |
| this would be if you are into photography and doing | | | | the need arise for their help is paramount. I have full |
| underwater video. For many divers it is a real bore | | | | faith in my buddy being able to assist me if I for |
| watching someone shooting film while they hang in | | | | example run out of air. Recently I was very low on |
| the area to make sure that you do not forget or | | | | air not completely as I used the same tank from my |
| overlook your air consumption. | | | | second dive for my third dive. The transition of |
| Now taking the points above into account you really | | | | approaching Mel and taking her alternative air source |
| are limiting yourself of potential buddy possibilities. | | | | was a very calm procedure. This allowed us to |
| Take an active approach to eliminate this problem by | | | | continue our dive for another 12 odd minutes before |
| seeking out like minded dive buddies. | | | | resting at the safety stop on my own air supply |
| About my Current Dive Buddy | | | | before surfacing. This brings me to some interesting |
| My current Dive buddy is only an Open Water Diver | | | | questions that I have been asked! |
| with around 28 dives under her belt compared to my | | | | How many of you can honestly say that you would |
| level of a Rescue Diver with in excess of 280 dives | | | | trust your buddy with your life? Well I trust mine |
| in the last 2years. Some people may wonder why | | | | with my life and that goes both ways. I would never |
| have I chosen someone that is less qualified with less | | | | allow my buddy to risk it all on low air levels in a |
| experience. Firstly we get on really well as friends | | | | failing situation as I would prefer that they went for |
| and talk till the cows come home about diving, and | | | | help. If your buddy was in a serious situation like |
| then there is the fact that I can spend time with her | | | | entangled in a ghost net or fishing line and you were |
| to build her confidence. | | | | low on air would you risk it all to save them? The |
| An example of this is how a while ago I decided to | | | | first thing that comes to mind is self preservation but |
| go on a dive that she had planned with a local dive | | | | I can honestly say I would sooner die trying than not |
| club and she was glad that I went as she was feeling | | | | try at all. Unfortunately for me and other divers |
| very stressed about the crew once she hit the | | | | Melanie is returning to her studies in the coming |
| water. Taking the time I calmed her down and got | | | | weeks but I will look forward to diving with her in |
| her breathing to a nice rate before we made the | | | | the future, as I am sure the others that have dived |
| dive. This was a great dive and we had a good 70 | | | | with her will as well. I am sure she has met some |
| minute dive on 15 litre tanks. The other major factors | | | | other great divers and learned a lot from myself and |
| for me include how our air consumption is almost | | | | others about how to tackle stressful situations and |
| exactly the same at any given depth. She is really | | | | how it is important to calm yourself before taking |
| happy hanging around while I am filming watching her | | | | that dive. |