But, the deciding factor is that I have a partner to go with me at night. If you're diving alone, you may want to think twice. I have CAM to dive with me at night. But, I like to dive alone on Sunday mornings if I can. If you insist on having a buddy, the best way is to convince a real-life friend or family member to go with you.
Most kids love diving, and a lot of parents dive with their kids.
You can try advertising for a buddy on one of the AOL message boards or on the alt.dumpster newsgroup on the internet. Buddies are occasionally made that way. But don't feel bad if someone doesn't want a partner even if they live near you. Folks spend a LOT of time developing their sources, and they don't always want to share those sources with others. Divers are especially protective of their food sources.