When descending with a buddy, how should divers position themselves?

Choosing to descend feet first while facing your buddy is crucial for maintaining good communication and visual contact. When divers are positioned this way, they can monitor each other's stability and orientation, which is especially important in a potentially limited visibility environment. This position allows divers to quickly respond to any issues, such as equipment malfunctions or changes in buoyancy, ensuring safety throughout the descent.

Positioning feet first also helps to protect the divers' instrumentation and allows for a more controlled descent. Being able to visually assess and react to your buddy’s signals can enhance safety and teamwork, allowing both divers to adjust their descent rates or signal if they need to stop or return to the surface. This method is particularly effective in a night diving context, where visibility is reduced and constant monitoring of each other’s status is key to a safe dive.

In contrast, headfirst positions either facing each other or side by side can complicate visibility and coordination. These positions may lead to a greater risk of losing sight of each other during the descent, which is not ideal when working as a buddy team.