I can tell you from website stats that most people will look at the buddy wanted forum topic, then send a response via private message.
Also, the topics with good titles are viewed more. Don’t just put "Buddy wanted" as the title. That is the category name, we know you want a buddy. Instead, use a title like "Novice diver in Dallas TX looking to dive weekends from Mar - Aug". That title includes a little about you, your location (including state), and when you’re available to dive.
And if you’re just looking to meet new dive buddies in general, sometime a forum topic is NOT the best outlet. Use the Member Search page instead, find divers near you that are like you and visit their profile to send a buddy request or message.