YouDive educational guide · References checked 30 September 2026 · Independent instructor and medical review pending. This library does not provide certification, individual medical clearance or a dive plan.
Understand the risk
The response depends on the environment and training. An open-water procedure cannot simply be transferred into a cave or a decompression dive. Unplanned solo searching can create another emergency.
Buddy separation and missing divers: what connects
Before
Agree the procedure
- Include the actual environment
Underwater
Follow trained limits
- Avoid an improvised extended search
Surface
Report promptly
- Give last-seen information
Concept relationships from this lesson. These are discussion points, not a dive profile or emergency treatment sequence. Read the cited sources; qualified review is pending.
Put the knowledge into practice
Brief the applicable search, ascent and surface reporting procedures with the team and operator. At the surface, report a missing diver promptly and activate the emergency plan. Keep last-seen details and the planned route available for responders.
What to notice and discuss
| Consider | Why it matters | Planning or learning response |
|---|---|---|
| Before | Agree the procedure | Include the actual environment |
| Underwater | Follow trained limits | Avoid an improvised extended search |
| Surface | Report promptly | Give last-seen information |
PAUSE & THINK
What would you do?
One buddy is missing when the other boards the boat.
Reveal the discussion answer
Notify the crew immediately; do not quietly wait and assume the diver is elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Should I go back down alone to search?
Do not improvise an unplanned rescue dive. Alert the operator and follow the emergency response coordinated for the site.
Sources & further reading
DAN: Dive safety — it’s no accident ↗DAN: Operational safety resources ↗TDI: Technical training pathways ↗These sources inform this guide; their organisations have not reviewed or endorsed YouDive.
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