A group of divers, who dive together, should always have a small first aid and oxygen kit handy. All the divers should have at least a basic understanding of first aid and O2 administration. When diving from a boat there should always be someone aboard who is able to operate the VHF radio and other emergency equipment.
If the type of dive and or the conditions dictate, then a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) must be used by each buddy pair. If you are not directly involved with the immediate dive then you should be prepared to give a hand during the first phases of assembling the equipment, dressing and entering the water.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
As part of your dive planning the emergency procedures which prevail in the area or country in which you are diving must be digested.
It will be necessary to know were the nearest telephone is how to get there and how to use it.
In the case of an accident first aid should be given immediately, a case history kept and the injured divers buddy monitored.
Begin the ascent with no less than 50 bar in the cylinder.
A weighted (shot) line in the water will always be useful.
During a night dive the shot buoy must have its own flashing yellow light, visible up to 200 meters.
When diving from a boat it is a good idea for every diver to have a small line with a snap link (Karabiner) on the end attached to the BCD so that it can be attached to the boat after diving for security and support.
When handling the cylinders both on land and sea, care must be taken to avoid injury. Never strain, get help.
When there is current, the dive should generally begin against it if no boat cover is available. In current, swimming near the bottom will lessen its effects.
PRE DIVE BRIEFING
Before each dive a briefing must be carried out. The briefing must be suited to the people undertaking the dive. The Divemaster or the Instructor may explain the following:
-EQUIPMENT
Check the equipment, tank pressure and the instruments It may also be necessary to check your buoyancy / weight requirements.
-GENERAL SAFETY
May include:
Breath normally to avoid hyperventilation & avoid skip breathing.
Carrying out proper equalisation of both ears and mask.
Look out for any danger.
-TYPE OF DIVE
Description of the site and any reference points to be used.
Training, enjoyment, exploration etc.
Method of entering the water:
From shore – Step entry or roll from boat
-DIVE FORMATION
For larger groups the position of each diver and buddy to be kept during dive. All must know safety procedures.
-SIGNALS
To be used underwater and on the surface.
BUDDY SYSTEM
Before a dive it is good to carry out a thorough check with your buddy, helping him/her to prepare and put on the equipment before entering the water. Each half of the buddy pair must be aware of the dive plan, safety / emergency procedures and the signals to be used agreed. It is the duty of the person leading the dive to ensure that this is done.
PREPARATION FOR ENTERING THE WATER
Put on the weight belt, checking the accessibility of the quick-release buckle.
Turn on your air and put on the scuba equipment, if necessary getting help from the buddy. (Check that weight belt is still freely accessible)
The pressure of the cylinder must be checked by taking 3 breaths from each regulator whilst watching the contents gauge.
Set the watch and depth gauge to record the time and depth.
Ensure that your Personnel Dive Computer (PDC) is working.
Connect up any direct feeds to dry suit & BCD.
Put on mask, snorkel, gloves & hood.
Check ancillary equipment is properly stowed e.g. reel and torch.
Finally put on fins.
At this point everything is ready to enter the water as planned.
DIVE PROCEDURES
Once in the water it is a good thing to carry out a last overall check and to make sure that no BCD controls have become unreachable.
At the beginning of the dive, it might be necessary to enlarge the hood to let in a drop of water around the ears.
Before commencing final descent check your buddies kit for any air leaks.
DISORIENTATION DURING DESCENT / ASCENT
A dive without visible reference points i.e. “in the blue” has a particular fascination but can create difficulties, with divers becoming dizzy and disoriented. For the first couple of dives are better to descend down a wall or anchor line which can help as a guide.
If your dive involves using a shot or anchor line, check when able, that the line is holding fast to the bottom.
At the end of the dive check that the line is not caught on rocks or wreckage.
Descending and ascending through the bubbles discharged by another diver below, can cause dizziness, try not to look at the bubbles.
EMERGING FROM THE WATER
How the diver de-kits will depend on the situation. However, if re-entering a boat after a dive then the first thing to remove is always the weight belt. This should be handed into the boat holding on to the open end, opposite the buckle. Once the diver is without a weight belt he will be positively buoyant. The remainder of the kit may now be removed if necessary before entering the boat. In no circumstance however should the mask be removed until safely back into the boat.
Never struggle yourself or let others do the same.
Help each other to exit from the water and de-kit.
The equipment used on your dive must be stored so that it does not get into the way of others. Remember to wash and dry your equipment as soon as you are able, it should then be properly stored. After a dive you should take things easy as over exertion can lead to an increased risk of DCI.
Before leaving the dive site or boat, check that nothing has been left behind.
DIVE LOG RECORDING
After each dive a log sheet should be completed.
The information recorded should
include the following:
Date
Place
Time
Max depth
Sea conditions
Visibility
Purpose of dive
Air consumption
Weight used
This information can then be used in the planning of future dives.
A divelog well kept is a document that shows the divers experience and is of much more value than a certificate.
THE FIRST FEW DIVES
The first stages of any new activity are very important.
In the early days the experiences gained will influence whether or not an individual will go on to actively participate in the sport.
Some of the difficulties, which may be experienced during the first few dives, are:
The suit is tight, I am suffocating!
What a lot of equipment and instruments,
how will I handle them?
What if I fill seasick?
The mask is steaming up!
I can’t get my buoyancy right!
Where is my buddy, I can’t turn around to find him!
It’s so cold! …and so on.
These worries can cause anxiety and fear during the dive. The result can be that little or no attention is paid to the surroundings.
But we have an important suggestion:
Don’t worry before or during dive
Advise:
Always follow instructions given by the instructor.
Give yourself plenty of time when kiting up.
Ensure the equipment is in good working order.
Know how to use all the equipment.
Be aware that feeling awkward is normal.
We all felt the same at the start.
LET’S LOOK AROUND US
Once the pair or group is together and the instructor / dive leader is content that each diver is happy, the slow descent towards the bottom finally begins. During the descent the instructor should encourage the
divers to take in the scene. This should help to calm any anxiety being experienced. During the descent the diver should adjust his buoyancy and monitor his equipment. At the required depth neutral buoyancy must be achieved, equipment checked and the diver settled. Now the diver is ready to follow the instructor in accordance with the DIVE PLAN. At this point the sensitive and relaxed diver could ask:
…. what are the rules of behaviour
in such anunusual
and often fragile environment?
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD BUOYANCY CONTROL
IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE ENVIROMENT
Don’t overweight your belt. The diver with too much weight tends too descend to quickly. A badly controlled descent risks of damaging the sensitive marine environment as the diver crashes into the bottom. The natural way to move through the water is in a horizontal position, face towards the bottom. This way we are able to maintain our position in relation to the bottom. If you were tempted to turn on one’s back then you will run the risk of hitting other divers and or damaging the seabed.
Fins
Using fins well preserves the environment. Avoid finning too strongly near fragile corals, even water pressure created by the fins can damage them. Be careful not to fin too near the seabed and keep a safe distance, especially near a sandy bottom.
MEMORIES
TAKE NOTHING BUT PHOTOGHRAPHS, LEAVE NOTHING.
Your memories should be the only other thing to leave the dive site. Buy your T-shirts from the dive shop.
Don’t collect shells and coral even if dead, they could be a shelter for other living creatures. Breaking these rules in a natural park can bring about severe penalties.
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
Ensure that all ancillary equipment such as console mounted depth and contents gauges and spare second stage regulators (octopus) are not permitted to drag along the bottom when you are swimming horizontally just above the sea bed. This can cause damage to both your equipment and the fragile environment through which you are swimming. Make sure that all such equipment is secured to your BCD.
WEIGHT BELT
All weight belts must have a quick release buckle, which requires a positive action to open them. Accidental opening of the weight belt in the coral reef can have disastrous effects for the marine life as well as the obvious dangers for the diver.
