BUDDY CHECK

Before entering the water all of us diving professionals always remember to our divers to perform a complete buddy check with their buddies.

But are we looking at them during their check? Do we pay attention and correct them if we notice something wrong?

In my day to day activity I see a lot of experienced divers directly skipping this step, or carrying it on very superficially, just inflating the BCD and taking some deep breathes from the regulator. Moreover, all the attention of the divers is usually directed to their own equipment, they only give a brief look at their buddies configuration.

When performing it, divers must keep in mind that the buddy check is the moment where they have the chance of knowing and getting familiar with their buddy’s equipment: this step is very important especially when divers are on holiday and they get assigned potentially to a new buddy every day.

But why is this step so important? If we think about the role of the buddy, we all agree that he’s the person that will help us in the water in case of necessity (this works of course both directions). He must be in the condition of using and operating with our equipment, by example by arranging our BCD, removing / adding weights to our pockets, fastening the cylinder, and so on...

Thus, the buddy check has two specific purposes: making sure that we are ready to dive safely, but also making sure that we know exactly where to locate and how to operate our buddy’s gear.

We all remember the magic formula for the buddy check “BWRAF", so go through it together again:

B - BCD

• Is the low pressure hose attached and functioning properly?
• Check if the BCD has any air loss.
• Check and operate all the damp valves.

W - WEIGHTS

• Did we wear the appropriate amount of weights?
• Where are the weights located?
• Is our buddy familiar with how to release our weights, in case of necessity?

R - RELEASES

• Are all the releases closed properly and easy to locate?
• Is our buddy familiar with the releases of our BCD? Is he able to open them indipendently in case of necessity?
• Divers often forget the most important release(s): is the cylinder properly secured on our back?

A - AIR

• Is the cylinder open?
• Enough pressure to dive?
• No leaking between cylinder and 1st stage?
• Take a couple of deep and long breathes from the regulator, by looking at the manometer. If the needle is not moving from 200 bar, the cylinder is open.
• Check also the alternative air source same way as above, make sure that your buddy is familiar with its position and operation.

F - FINAL OK

• General final check.
• Are all the hoses in the right position?
• Mask ok?
• Fins ok?
• Computer ok?
• Other instruments (torch, compass…) ok?

And you? Do you have your magic formula for the buddy check?