For what reason might you need to utilize a buddy line?

Utilizing a buddy line is particularly important for maintaining contact in low visibility conditions during a dive. In situations where visibility is significantly reduced—due to factors like murky water, particulate matter, or darkness—visual contact with your dive buddy can become challenging. A buddy line serves as a physical tether, ensuring that both divers remain close to one another and can provide support and safety in a potentially disorienting environment.

While options like communication and navigation are critical aspects of diving, buddy lines are specifically designed to address the safety concern of maintaining proximity when visibility is compromised. This enables divers to stay connected and ensures that emergency assistance can be more readily provided. Similarly, while gear adjustments are essential, these typically do not require the use of a buddy line, as they can be handled in clearer conditions without the need for a tether.