Write up by Kelvin Wong >
News forum letters >
Write up by WT >

The recent events of diving incidents highlight the lack of mindfulness in one of the most important part of diving which is the buddy system. Actually, I have noticed a number of diving incidents over the year and a number of which are because the dive buddy system was not followed.

I think this arises either due to lack of good training (i.e emphasis on safety) and an over-estimation of the safety in the oceans. As divers, I think we must constantly remind ourselves that the ocean IS NOT our second home, our body is in alien and dangerous territory that we should respect that, also you are NOT a mermaid! To illustrate the point, try stuffing your head under a basin of water and see how long you can last.

Unless you are trained as a solo diver, the buddy system IS your safety line when you dive, no matter how you hate your buddy. We must also remember that a lot diving accidents happens on the surface of the water, so having your buddy float towards the surface doesn't mean that he/she is safe. Currents at the surface can be also drastically stronger than say 20 metres down, I am sure most divers have dived in those conditions before, even though it may be calm when you went down.

So I hope this is a timely reminder to scuba divers that the ocean is forever a treacherous, yet beautiful place.


Feb 27, 2007
Diving deaths: Strange that victim surfaced alone with her dive buddy

I feel a great sense of regret reading about Ms Serene Teng who is in critical condition after she was involved in the diving accident in Australia. I was surprised to read that she had surfaced alone without her dive buddy. Why had the dive master allowed that?

My husband and I have been divers for more than 10 years. One of the safety precautions of diving is that divers must always remain in pairs with his/her dive buddy. It is a rule which my husband and I diligently adhered to. If he feels uncomfortable and wish to abandon the dive, I will follow suit regardless of how much I was enjoying the dive. Vice versa.

In one of our dives a few years ago, I suddenly experienced shortage of air through my regulator. I immediately signalled to my husband (who was my dive buddy) to let me have his spare regulator. It turned out that my compressed air tank was not turned on to the fullest. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had been diving alone.

The assumption that divers will be safe once they have surfaced (even if alone) is not correct. There could be strong currents at the surface of the water. In times of emergency, the dive buddy can help or seek help.

Being avid divers, I do not wish to have people perceive that diving is a dangerous sport. Like all sports, diving has its risks. However, these risks can be minimised if precautions are taken. The underwater world out there is worth the minimal risks.

Dawn Lee Peck Hua (Mdm)


Feb 27, 2007
Was the buddy system strictly followed?

I have been diving for more than 16 years and have my fair share of wonderful as well as sad experiences.

My heart aches for the victims referred to in the reports, "Woman in coma in Perth hospital" and "Body of diver found on Pulau Hantu coral reef" (ST, Feb 21).

It is a good thing that over the years, interest in leisure diving has increased. However, I have also observed that many new divers are overconfident. So naive are they that they do not realise the danger they pose to themselves as well as those around them while in the water.

There is a buddy system where diving is concerned - where two divers will pair up at all times while in the water.

No matter how experienced I may be, I hold dearly to the buddy system - I would never let my buddy out of my sight more than a body length away because that buddy is my only link to survival if something goes wrong.

In the two reports cited, I am curious what the other buddy was doing. On hindsight, if they had watched out for each other, these tragedies could have been avoided.

I urge leisure divers to go back to the basics of the buddy system for the sake of their partner even if they do not know him/her well enough. Don't be the cause of pain to a family.

Alphonsus Chua Kwong Hwee


Thanks Kelvin for a timely reminder. A good buddy is a joy forever. So often, we pick our buddies because they look sexy in their wetsuits or packs a big bulge. And we take them for granted. It is so easy to assume that they will be there within 10 paces. Following you like a desperate uncle in Towel Club.

If you want a good reliable buddy, we must also remember to be good buddies to others. Check often to see if your buddy is around you. If he finds someone else cute underwater and abandons you, remember the 1 minute surface rule. Please do not be afraid to abort the dive if you lose your buddy.. you can always go down on him again but not if he has been swept by some current to Australia.

Actually this incident in Hantu goes beyond the flaws of the buddy system. The currents there is treachous and the low visibility frankly does not help. What's the point of having a reliable and sexy buddy if you can't see him 10 meters down in the water? I can't imagine why anyone wants to dive there, let alone qualify as OW there. Singapore waters and other fluids always leaves some sticky murky feeling at the back of my throat. Not fun at all.



article by Kelvin and forum letters originally posted here >
article by WT originally posted here >