Hi, new to this website, I am doing my dive master course, all good, my question is to those that have done and do, tips on dive briefing. The dive school I am training with is going great, have done the whole live aboard dive trip etc. just believe that can never have enough information and learning from the people personal experience. Especially looking for comments about likes and dislikes of the briefing. Cheers
Dive briefing
- Thread starter Darren Mark Hanlon
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AZNetEng
Contributor
I enjoy getting good information about the site, but brevity is always appreciated. I can understand a DM having a ton of info about a dive site. Having them try and share it with you can be a painful experience.
"Hi everyone.
I'm .......... your DM for today.
This is the map of today's site.
*hold up legible map*
We will enter here (point)
Depth is ..... at entry point.
Max depth at site is....
Here are some navigation markers with depths.
Dive time is max .....
The boat will fetch you/ swim back to boat.
If anyone would like any info about wildlife or a recommended route, I'll be sitting up front and will be happy to assist.
Any questions?
Safe and enjoyable dives to all!"
Any more than that and you need to be sure it's essential.
I'm .......... your DM for today.
This is the map of today's site.
*hold up legible map*
We will enter here (point)
Depth is ..... at entry point.
Max depth at site is....
Here are some navigation markers with depths.
Dive time is max .....
The boat will fetch you/ swim back to boat.
If anyone would like any info about wildlife or a recommended route, I'll be sitting up front and will be happy to assist.
Any questions?
Safe and enjoyable dives to all!"
Any more than that and you need to be sure it's essential.
When the dive brief doesn't include it, I always end up asking if there is any current, what is the current bottom temperature (if known), and what the current viz is (or is expected to be).
I also think it's good to let people know whether there is any kind of recall signal that might be employed.
Also, water exit procedure should be covered. Particularly on a boat where the ladder could be fins-on or fins-off.
I also think it's good to let people know whether there is any kind of recall signal that might be employed.
Also, water exit procedure should be covered. Particularly on a boat where the ladder could be fins-on or fins-off.
Briefings generally include (although there are no DMs on UK boats, and briefing is given by the skipper, they are the same):
Before leaving the dock:
Length of the journey to the wreck
Boat safety and emergency procedures
First aid, O2, life raft, fire extinguisher location
How to get on and off the boat if there are any new to the boat customers
Filling out the log sheet with expected dive times, emergency contact info, and gas mix
If it's a shuttle and not a charter the "Please don't make your run time longer than X as we have to get back for the next run. So those of you planning on more than 15-20 minutes of deco, please re-plan your dives" speech.
And handing out of tea/coffee/hot chocolate followed by banter
At the dive site
Approximately where the shot has been dropped, and it's relation to certain features on the wreck. Current depth, which shouldn't be a surprise as people know what they booked onto
How to ascend, either coming back up the shot (rare) or putting up a DSMB (most common)
Re-iterate max run time allowed if applicable
Re-iterate how to get off the boat and exiting procedures
Re-iterate how to get back on the boat, where to go once you surface and the boat begins to head towards you, and any other site specific exiting procedures (there is one area where I dive quite often, inside a harbour. More often than not, as most of the wrecks aren't too far from the harbour wall, we need to swim away from the wall before the boat can safely pick us up).
Before leaving the dock:
Length of the journey to the wreck
Boat safety and emergency procedures
First aid, O2, life raft, fire extinguisher location
How to get on and off the boat if there are any new to the boat customers
Filling out the log sheet with expected dive times, emergency contact info, and gas mix
If it's a shuttle and not a charter the "Please don't make your run time longer than X as we have to get back for the next run. So those of you planning on more than 15-20 minutes of deco, please re-plan your dives" speech.
And handing out of tea/coffee/hot chocolate followed by banter
At the dive site
Approximately where the shot has been dropped, and it's relation to certain features on the wreck. Current depth, which shouldn't be a surprise as people know what they booked onto
How to ascend, either coming back up the shot (rare) or putting up a DSMB (most common)
Re-iterate max run time allowed if applicable
Re-iterate how to get off the boat and exiting procedures
Re-iterate how to get back on the boat, where to go once you surface and the boat begins to head towards you, and any other site specific exiting procedures (there is one area where I dive quite often, inside a harbour. More often than not, as most of the wrecks aren't too far from the harbour wall, we need to swim away from the wall before the boat can safely pick us up).
Don't turn your dive briefing into a dive longing. I remember a dive on the Speigle Grove when she was still on her side. We were moored in fairly heavy seas when the DM decided to give us a detailed account of his role in the sinking of the Grove and how he had single handedly flipped her on her side so she could sink. Well, he didn't actually claim that, but he was def a legend in his own mind and didn't mind divers getting sicker and sicker while he tried to impress us with his tales of daring do. Finally, a guy got up in order to puke, a wave hit and he went over. He grabbed the tag line and yelled "I'm diving". The rest of the boat was over the side before he could really object. 
Only been on a few boat dives but the briefing was always in transit so no waiting for the DM to finish so we could dive.
I appreciated the tips on spotting the more rare sights as much as the safety related info.
I appreciated the tips on spotting the more rare sights as much as the safety related info.
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In general, try to phrase things as positive: do this, do that, take care to... This stategy really can make a bit better mood that a list of don'ts. Good for talikg to preteens and teens too BTW.
On a liveaboard: The general info in the very 1st meeting should include warnings about securing belongings ASAP after a dive, and securing them quite well if the boat will be making a rough crossing. It's always a surprise how many people don't have the experience to know how things can fly and/or get banged up when a boat is moving. With cameras becoming to common you might save 2 or 3 on every trip by always remembering this item.
On a liveaboard: The general info in the very 1st meeting should include warnings about securing belongings ASAP after a dive, and securing them quite well if the boat will be making a rough crossing. It's always a surprise how many people don't have the experience to know how things can fly and/or get banged up when a boat is moving. With cameras becoming to common you might save 2 or 3 on every trip by always remembering this item.
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