Whether you're looking for a great dive buddy for all of your adventures, or if you find yourself faced with the task of pairing up with another diver on a liveaboard or at a resort, making the wrong choice could leave you holding the short end of the proverbial stick. Here are some tips for making the best possible choice when faced with this important decision.
Fitness
Be realistic about fitness levels, and pick someone who is on about the same par as you are. A much less fit buddy is going to be a drag, while someone who stands head and shoulders above you in the fitness department is probably not going to enjoy being saddled with someone less fit.
Look for someone who will probably consume air at about the same rate as you will; younger and more fit people consume less air than those who are overweight, older, or smoke cigarettes, in most cases.
Another important, and related, consideration to make, is experience level. You and your dive buddy should complement one another. You should both be experienced to dive competently at all the sites on the itinerary. This will affect not only your safety, but your enjoyment of the dives you plan to take.
Responsibility
You can tell a lot about people by the level of responsibility they display. If, for instance, they carry their own gear and offer to help others, you're looking at a person who is probably going to be a dependable buddy. If someone appears to be a complete shirker on the other hand, he or she is probably best left off the list of potential buddies.
While we're on the subject, watch out for anyone who seems to be a braggart. Constant bragging and attempts to impress others could indicate potential problems.
Equipment
How well-equipped are the divers you could potentially be buddying up with? Take a look to see what they have in terms of redundant gear, and also make note of whether items look as though they have seen any use or not. Some people do go out with completely brand new gear, but the best divers usually have a good selection of quality equipment that looks as if it has been underwater a few times before. If someone has a lot of toys, or loads of camera gear, and you would rather just relax and enjoy diving, you might want to move on down the line to the next candidate. If, on the other hand, you're someone who loves photography, it might not hurt to hook up with another photo buff.
Log Books and Qualifications
Don't go on looks alone! Look for someone who has a well-kept dive log, and if you have dived in some of the same locations, look for evidence to confirm that the other diver was indeed there. Log accuracy will tell you a lot about another diver. In addition, be sure to look for qualifications. You might or might not want to dive with someone who is an instructor!
Last, but not least, look for a dive buddy who has a personality you like. You're going to be spending a lot of time together, and you might as well make the most of it.