Divectionist
Contributor
I go over my equipment post cleaning/drying and inspect it as I pack it up, bp/w, regs, fins, exposure gear goes in a big Pelican air box, pony and accessory clutter into a small box. I like these boxes because they are hard shell and sealed air tight, so if they are packed well, not much can happen on the way to the site or marina.
Other than tools/spares, and seasonal exposure gear variation reflected in what I pack, I always take exactly what goes in the water with me.
For gearing up, I made my own pre-dive checklist with the acronym
BLACK PAW(S)
BCD (hose connected, inflator button test, pull dump, orally inflate wing for entry). Also includes the drysuit inflator check, if I wear one.
Lights (both lights present, chest D ring light bungeed neatly)
Accessories (spare mask, DSMB, whistle in suit pockets)
Computer (on wrist, correct nitrox is set, battery ok)
Knives (Knife and trilobite both present)
Pony (gas turned on, hose neatly bungeed, check pressure and test breathe)
Air (main gas on, pressure ok on computer, and test breathe)
Weights (correct setup for chosen exposure gear based on a list I have)
Slate (optional - when solo diving, depending on the site, I may jot down a contour of the shoreline or site, north point/compass heading info to help navigate back, distance in m converted into kick cycles, turn pressure if relevant)
I run through this when I set up, and once again briefly before I get in.
When buddy diving, I like it if we can give each other an overview of the important parts of each other’s equipment.
I don’t let DMs swap my tanks on boats to make sure my regs stay dry, the tank is at the right height, and nothing gets fiddled with carelessly.
If there are communal rinse tanks on boat trips, I only use it for a quick rinse but have my own rinse routine at home. There is simply no time to do it thoroughly in that setting.
I look after my gear and know that I can trust it at the start of every dive. I use my safety stop to practice or contemplate what to do when certain failures strike, which is always possible, what it would feel/sound like, what the most important thing to get control of would be (e.g., inflator disconnect and air dump, spare mask deployment, or switching to bailout gas).
The only less objective check list may be an attempt to keep my movements slow, controlling the mindset to be ‘observe, think, act’, and watching my breathing to gauge comfort and stay clear of the potential for panic. Gear and theory won’t help you if your head fails you. Equipment failure can be practiced, but won’t assist at all if there’s a stressful situation to manage that has nothing to do with it, and depending on the diving, the latter may be far more likely.
Other than tools/spares, and seasonal exposure gear variation reflected in what I pack, I always take exactly what goes in the water with me.
For gearing up, I made my own pre-dive checklist with the acronym
BLACK PAW(S)
BCD (hose connected, inflator button test, pull dump, orally inflate wing for entry). Also includes the drysuit inflator check, if I wear one.
Lights (both lights present, chest D ring light bungeed neatly)
Accessories (spare mask, DSMB, whistle in suit pockets)
Computer (on wrist, correct nitrox is set, battery ok)
Knives (Knife and trilobite both present)
Pony (gas turned on, hose neatly bungeed, check pressure and test breathe)
Air (main gas on, pressure ok on computer, and test breathe)
Weights (correct setup for chosen exposure gear based on a list I have)
Slate (optional - when solo diving, depending on the site, I may jot down a contour of the shoreline or site, north point/compass heading info to help navigate back, distance in m converted into kick cycles, turn pressure if relevant)
I run through this when I set up, and once again briefly before I get in.
When buddy diving, I like it if we can give each other an overview of the important parts of each other’s equipment.
I don’t let DMs swap my tanks on boats to make sure my regs stay dry, the tank is at the right height, and nothing gets fiddled with carelessly.
If there are communal rinse tanks on boat trips, I only use it for a quick rinse but have my own rinse routine at home. There is simply no time to do it thoroughly in that setting.
I look after my gear and know that I can trust it at the start of every dive. I use my safety stop to practice or contemplate what to do when certain failures strike, which is always possible, what it would feel/sound like, what the most important thing to get control of would be (e.g., inflator disconnect and air dump, spare mask deployment, or switching to bailout gas).
The only less objective check list may be an attempt to keep my movements slow, controlling the mindset to be ‘observe, think, act’, and watching my breathing to gauge comfort and stay clear of the potential for panic. Gear and theory won’t help you if your head fails you. Equipment failure can be practiced, but won’t assist at all if there’s a stressful situation to manage that has nothing to do with it, and depending on the diving, the latter may be far more likely.
