I was thinking about this after last night's dive.
Of all the things I like about diving with DIR divers, one of the big things is that they don't object to, and in fact expect, a complete dive briefing and a thorough equipment check.
I was taught to do a buddy check in my OW class, but when we actually got to the dive site, nobody did it. Subsequent, more "advanced" dives also showed that even the instructors did not do an equipment check, and the pre-dive discussion was often skimpy.
We were taught a thorough system for dive planning and equipment checking in Fundies, and every time I have gone to dive with a GUE instructor (more than one), he has been strict in ascertaining that we have, in fact, followed the protocol. By the time we start the dive, we know the sequence, the responsibilities of the divers, the depth limits, time limits, expected course of the dive, and what we are going to do with our ascent. We have checked air supplies and discussed gas management strategy for this particular dive. We have looked over each other's equipment, down to and including what we have in our pockets, and we're sure everything is working.
How many people do this? And if you don't, why not?
Of all the things I like about diving with DIR divers, one of the big things is that they don't object to, and in fact expect, a complete dive briefing and a thorough equipment check.
I was taught to do a buddy check in my OW class, but when we actually got to the dive site, nobody did it. Subsequent, more "advanced" dives also showed that even the instructors did not do an equipment check, and the pre-dive discussion was often skimpy.
We were taught a thorough system for dive planning and equipment checking in Fundies, and every time I have gone to dive with a GUE instructor (more than one), he has been strict in ascertaining that we have, in fact, followed the protocol. By the time we start the dive, we know the sequence, the responsibilities of the divers, the depth limits, time limits, expected course of the dive, and what we are going to do with our ascent. We have checked air supplies and discussed gas management strategy for this particular dive. We have looked over each other's equipment, down to and including what we have in our pockets, and we're sure everything is working.
How many people do this? And if you don't, why not?