As a new diver, I quickly encountered several concepts that piqued my curiosity after completing my open water training. When I turned to the Internet for answers, especially ScubaBoard (a mixed blessing), I found a lot of contradictory advice and overly scientific explanations. All I wanted was something simple and easy to understand.
These sections are designed for NOVICE divers who are approaching these topics for the first time. For those who consider themselves experts, I'll provide links to more in-depth resources at the top of each section.
One of the greatest fears of showing up for a dive without a buddy you know is the "idiot" insta-buddy. In my opinion, the traditional Buddy Check is not effective in this situation, I propose an alternative that accomplishes the same thing and is more likely to actually happen.