I'm one for the buddy system in the ocean. I don't ride ATV's solo out in the dunes, or in the woods, and I probably won't find myself on the ocean without a buddy either.
For one, I am a social fisherman, and fish for the fun and luck of the draw, so having a buddy just makes it more fun and less lonely.
Second, having a family to support at home I feel it is ethically responsible for me to have a buddy in the ocean. Things that can go wrong in the ocean can go wrong really fast, and having paddle buddies can up the odds of a safe return to the beach if a disaster happens out there.