Help with Dive Plan Basics

[cadiver67]

Hi Everyone,

I am a beginning diver and was wondering about dive planning.

How detailed do you plan your dive.

Do you map out your underwater path, because I can't seem to find many maps showing the underwater terrain for my local Southern California dive spots, I have seen some maps but they are very general.

Or is it just a matter of planning out my air and dive depth and time, and winging the underwater route.

I understand that I need to check tides and currents and such but for example I want to join a beginner group on a dive boat to the front side of Catalina Island.

First of all the dive location will be determined by weather and conditions so I don't know exactly where we will dive. So would I just make a generic on size fits all plan?

Thanks for your help

cadiver67

 

[Nomad]

A typical dive plan should include:

Max depth
Direction of travel
Turn around time (or pressure)
Safety Stop level and length
Basic handsignals
​

If you (or your buddy) are more familiar with the site, your dive plan may include specific destination information such as "There is a small canyon at about 55 that runs accross the current. There is usually a couple of big lobsters under the overhangs in the canyon. Let's enter the canyon at the north end, then follow it for about 100 yards or so..."

Unless you are diving with a very specific goal in mind, you typically don't need to map out your dive beforehand.

 

[webjr]

If it's your 1st time diving a new location I'd strongly recommend finding a very competent guide . Before the dive he should give a VERY thorough briefing . If there's anything you don't understand , don't be afraid to ask for clarification !
Key points should include ...

Hazards
Navigation
Entry's and Exit's
Review signals and emergency proceedures
Depth , bottom time and ending air limits

The navigation part is where a professional guide will really pay off.
He's probably made that dive countless times before and will know where all the cool stuff is !

 

[Scottri]

If I'm planning a dive I plan max depth, max time, direction, agree on a plan if I get seperated from my buddy. I also read and plan around tide tables which is a factor where I do most of my diving. I also like to review hand signals with my buddy if I have not been diving with them.

 

[rhlee]

For California dive-site information, Chuck Tribolet has compiled a list of site-descriptions published in California Diving News: http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/CDNDiveSites.html

I find these to be generally useful in selecting new dive sites.

 

[TSandM]

Most of the time, when you dive off a boat, the captain or a DM will give you a brief on the site and conditions on the way there or when you get there. The briefing includes the expected depth, an idea of the topography and suggested direction. It may include a time limit (everybody expected to surface after 45') or a gas limit (everybody back on the boat with 500 psi). It should include information about returning to the boat -- do you have to find the boat, or will the boat pick you up? It should include some information about the reboarding process (Where's the ladder? Gear off in the water or on the boat?)

Once you know the expected depth, you can use your tables or your computer to plan how long you expect to be able to stay down. If you have been following your air consumption, you can do a quick calculation of supply and demand and make sure you have enough air to do the contemplated dive and your ascent and stops. You can plan your turn pressure based on whether you have to find the boat or the boat finds you. All of this should be discussed and clear with your buddy before you hit the water.

Once you've been at it a while, you gain a pretty shrewd idea of what you can do. I know, for example, that any dive with a max depth of 70' done with my 95s here at home will be ended by cold before it's limited by NDLs or air

If you do a lot of shore diving at the same sites, you get pretty familiar with the underwater scenery. In that case, the dive plan can be, as ours was last night, "Descend at the third buoy, swim downslope and swim through the little sailboat, go down to the rock pile and across to the deep pilings, up to the Honey Bear and then swim upslope to shore." Describing it that way, we all knew what the max depth was going to be and what the duration of the dive was going to be within fairly close tolerances. That just comes with experience at a site.

 

[DelightedDiver]

You'll get a lot of info from the DM and often the dives will led by the DM. But always remember to dive your plan and turnaround when you hit your pre-determined air level. In the end, your safety depends on you.

Have fun and safe diving.

 

[cadiver67]

Thanks All - Great Information.

I guess I just need to get some dives under my belt and learn along the way.

I will definately be diving with beginner groups and following a DM for a while.

Thanks Again

 

[Robert Phillips]

Where in California are you?

If I am diving an unfamiliar site, I will usually go out with someone familiar with the area.
If you are planning on going to an unfamiliar site and do not have the aid of a guide, you should choose sites that are not subject to frequent and unexpected changes in conditions. Choose sites that are best suited for beginning divers and be aware of the hazards the site may have, like shallow wash areas and crotches that you may get stuck in due to surf or surge. Don't venture too far from your entry/exit point in case conditions do change.

I always plan my dives with the acronym SADDDDD:
Sequence: who follows who/side by side, who is leading.
Air: Mix/MOD, turn pressure (when you turn the dive depending on where you are going to exit, eg: different exit than entry, back to entry,) Rock bottom (air pressure the dive is thumbed at.)
Depth: What is our expected max depth (MOD or site limits.)
Direction: Which way.
Distance: How far.
Deco: NDL? minimun deco, what depth are our stops, how many
Dive...

If you are in the Orange County/San Diego/South LA area, let me know and I can take you to some of our local sites and get you familiar with them.

Dive safe,
Robb

 

[ShakaZulu]

Make sure you let your buddy know where your DAN card is and find out where the closest Deco chamber is.