If a diver loses sight of their buddy, what should they do?

When a diver loses sight of their buddy, the best course of action is to stop, look around, and wait. This response emphasizes the importance of maintaining situational awareness and trying to re-establish contact before taking any further action.

By stopping, divers can use their remaining time underwater to assess the surroundings, search for their buddy, and listen for any signals. This approach minimizes the risks associated with making hasty decisions, such as ascending prematurely or continuing to dive without ensuring the buddy’s safety.

In contrast, ascending immediately could lead to unsafe situations including decompression sickness if done without proper procedures. Continuing to dive without looking for a buddy ignores the fundamental buddy system, which is crucial for safety. Signaling for help is essential in some circumstances, but it should follow the initial efforts to locate the buddy, rather than being the primary action taken immediately. Hence, pausing to look for the buddy allows for a calm assessment of the situation while prioritizing safety.