Diving in exotic locations as a solo female traveler: Surviving "Insta-buddies"

In 2021, I originally planned a three-month solo sabbatical to travel and dive. But I didn’t return home for two years. Every dive was with an “insta-buddy” — usually assigned on the boat moments before descent.

This presentation will focus on my solo diver experiences worldwide. How do you decide which dive centers to book? How is it different than diving consistently with your regular buddy, significant other, or family member? What mental checklist should you use. What questions should you ask? I’ll also outline stories of erratic buddy behavior, what I learned, and how I responded in each situation.