This is a GREAT thread. I live in CA, friend lives in HI, we decided to study for our OW through PADI simultaneously, and then do our AOW`s together in HI. I was SO looking forward to it. Finally, I get to dive with him, and he had this cocky Navy Seal attitude (he`s in the Navy, but not a Seal) and I was scared to death being a new diver and putting my life in his hands. I dove the rest of my stay without him while he was at work! *LOL* Being female, the risks of diving with an anonymous buddy are even more compounded. I`m inexperienced, but I dive safe and calm, and am a good communicator. However, I need to learn more myself so I don`t feel at the mercy of my buddy. So, that`s what I`m looking for - a SAFE and COMMUNICATIVE buddy who is more experienced than I am and is willing to show me the ropes. Scary thing is, how do you know you can trust a stranger? How do you get to know someone on the surface, then transfer a feeling of trust underwater? Any suggestions?