Diver Buddy Positioning:
How to Stay Together in Teams of 2, 3, or 4

Every dive briefing says “stay with your buddy,” but few divers are ever taught how to actually do it. Buddy positioning isn’t just about being “somewhere nearby”. It’s about maintaining clear visual contact, swimming the same speed and direction, and staying close enough to respond immediately if something goes wrong.

Whether you’re diving in a pair, a trio, or a team of four, knowing how to hold formation makes your dives safer, smoother, and more enjoyable. This guide breaks down the core principles of buddy positioning, common mistakes, and how to apply them at different team sizes.

Why Buddy Positioning Matters

• Prevents separation and lost diver incidents
• Makes gas checks, signals, and air sharing faster and less stressful
• Builds team rhythm, confidence, and safety
• Reduces confusion when navigation or conditions become challenging
• Enables coordinated ascents, descents, and safety stops

This isn't just about being close it's about being a functioning team in the water.

Core Principles of Good Positioning

• Same depth: Vertical stacking breaks eye contact and increases risk
• Same direction: Eyes and shoulders aligned to avoid surprises
• Same speed: Match the slowest diver or the one with the most task loading
• Close enough to act: Typically 3–6 feet apart...about 1–2 kicks
• Visual contact: You should be able to see your buddy without looking around constantly
• Assigned sides: Decide before the dive who’s on the left/right don’t assume
• Light positioning (if used): Place your light beam ahead and below the lead diver, they’ll see the glow without turning around

Positioning in Buddy Pairs (2 Divers)

• Side-by-side, slightly offset (staggered) to avoid overlapping fins
• Same depth and trim
• One diver may lead slightly if agreed upon, especially for navigation
• Keep your buddy within your peripheral vision
• Agree on sides before descent to avoid in-water reassignments
• Descend together while facing each other, this allows immediate communication if something changes during descent

Positioning in Teams of 3

Trio formations require a bit more planning and discipline. Two common setups:

Option 1: “V” Formation

• One lead diver at the front
• Two divers slightly behind and well outside the kick zone of the lead diver. More spread out than Inline Lead.
• Ideal when the lead diver is navigating or when one diver is less experienced (put them in the lead)

Option 2: Inline Lead

• One diver leads
• Two divers side-by-side as if diving in a Buddy Pair so closer to each other than "V" formation.
• Allows strong forward awareness
• Requires good control to avoid overlapping fin zones

Key Tips:

• Assign lead before the dive
• Rotate lead position mid-dive if needed
• Maintain eye contact between the back two divers and use light communication for the lead diver.
• Avoid pushing one diver too far behind as they’ll lose visual contact

Positioning in Teams of 4

Once you hit four divers, you’re no longer just a buddy team you’re a dive unit. Use one of these options:

Option 1: Two Buddy Pairs

• Keep pairs intact and maintain visual contact within the pair
• Appoint one diver as team leader to coordinate both pairs
• Stay close enough that both pairs can communicate easily

Option 2: Diamond Formation

• One diver leads
• Two divers follow side-by-side behind
• Fourth diver trails behind as sweep
• Requires excellent awareness, spacing discipline and light communication to keep the sweep diver engaged.

Note on Single File Formations

Sometimes conditions require diving in a single-file line—such as narrow passages, tight wreck openings, or extremely low visibility.

In these cases:

• Put the most experienced diver at the back
• Lead diver sets a slow, steady pace
• Middle divers stay close and watch the diver ahead
• Rear diver acts as a safety net watching for separation, buoyancy issues, or hesitation
• Use light signals, frequent visual checks, and regroup as soon as possible in open water

Avoid:

• Long single-file formations when unnecessary
• Stacking vertically
• No clear lead or role assignments in changing formations

Tips for Staying Together

• Assign roles before the dive (lead, nav, photographer, etc.)
• Agree on left/right positioning prevents confusion mid-dive
• Descend together, facing each other
• Turn as a team, not individually
• Pause at waypoints to reestablish formation
• Match kick styles - glide phases help maintain spacing
• Use hand signals regularly to confirm status
• Use light beams wisely - shine slightly ahead and down for visibility, not in your teammate’s face
• Link up at the safety stop to finalize the dive as a team

How to Practice Buddy Positioning

You don’t need a formal class to improve this skill, just awareness and repetition.

• Practice hovering in formation at fixed depth
• Swim slow laps around a platform or structure while maintaining equal spacing
• Add short stops or turns and regroup mid-dive
• Use buddy light checks and spacing cues every 30 seconds
• Rotate lead and roles mid-dive to build flexibility and awareness
• Include team formation in your pre-dive checklist
• Film your team for spacing and movement feedback