How to Find a Dive Buddy in Utah

How Can I Find a Dive Buddy?

Mac Garrabrants Oct 21, 2026

You finished your class. You are ready to dive. There is just one problem: nobody to dive with.

This is more common than you think, and it is easy to fix. Here is how.

Why you need a buddy

Never dive alone. A buddy is a second set of eyes, a second set of hands, and someone who can share air if you ever need it. That is what the extra regulator, the octo, is for.

A buddy also just makes diving better. Someone to point out the sea turtle, and someone to tell the story to when you surface.

Where to meet one

Your own class. The people in your Open Water class are in the same boat as you, and they are already trained the same way. Swap numbers before you leave.

Your friends and family. Tell them how much fun it is! We can get them certified with Utah's most affordable scuba certification. Classes starting soon: Find A Class

Dive Shop trips and events. A group trip puts you with people who love diving as much as you do. Our local events work the same way, like the Pumpkin Carving contest and the Bear Lake Treasure Hunt. Show up, dive, and you will meet people.

Ask us. Tell us your experience level and where you like to dive, and we will do our best to connect you with other divers who are looking for a buddy, too.

Before you dive with someone new

Do not just meet at the water. Have a quick chat first:

How many dives have you each done, and where?
What are you comfortable with, and what are you not?
What is the plan, how deep and how long, and when do you turn around?
Do you both remember your hand signals?
Do a gear check on each other before you get in.

If something feels off, it is okay to say no and wait for the next dive. A good buddy will respect that.

Make it a challenge: the Red Shorts Challenge

Our Passport Club is built for divers who want to dive more and meet other divers while they do it. The big prize is the Red Shorts Challenge.

Golfers dream about the green jacket. Cyclists dream about the yellow jersey. In our world, it is all about the red shorts.

Here is how it works:

It is open to any certified diver, at any level.
You get a passport. A Dive Shop rep stamps it at the time of each qualifying dive.
You need at least 3 international and 5 local qualifying dives. There are swap rules, so ask us.
There is no time limit. You can finish it over as many trips as you like.
Only dives marked "Red Shorts Qualifier" count.

When you finish, you get the red shorts with the Red Shorts Challenge patch, an engraved trophy, and a plaque in your name on our Wall of Fame. Rewards can change from year to year, so check the page for the latest.

Qualifying dives are Dive Shop trips and Passport Club dives, so you will be diving with other people from day one. Apply for your Red Shorts Challenge passport here.

Meet Max Diver

Max Diver is our Ambassador to Adventure. He is a figurine, and he is free. Come to the shop, tell us where you are headed, and pick one up.

Take him with you, set him up somewhere fun, and snap a photo. Post it and tag us, #diveshopUT and @diveshopUT, and we will re-post it. So far Max has been spotted in Utah, Fiji, Truk, Micronesia, Belize, and Cozumel.

Fair warning: Max is a great travel companion, but he does not count as a dive buddy. You still need a real person. Learn more about Max Diver here.