Pre-dive routine?

Do you do a dive planning checklist and equipment check before each dive?

  • Yes

    Votes: 65 65.7%
  • No

    Votes: 34 34.3%

  • Total voters
    99

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TSandM

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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?
 
On land:
Pre dive SADDDD brief (Using the checklist in the wetnotes)
Mod S and Mod V
And last a head to toe inspection of each others gear

In the water:
Bubble check
Full S drill

After the dive:
Dive team debrief... maybe even a beverage if we arne't driving

Too much? :)
 
Ben_ca:
On land:
Pre dive SADDDD brief (Using the checklist in the wetnotes)
Mod S and Mod V
And last a head to toe inspection of each others gear

In the water:
Bubble check
Full S drill

After the dive:
Dive team debrief... maybe even a beverage if we arne't driving

Too much? :)
Add to "In the Water", on the Surface:
SPG check, actual reading and any neck/swivel leaks (champagne bubbles?);
Breath all regs, backgas & deco, with face in water & check for wet breathing/malfunc;
Check long hose deployment --especially if you've got numerous stage/deco bottles;
Activate Instrumentation (Bottom Timers, Watches, and Canister Lights);

Descend and hold at 30':
Do S Drill & Valve Drill;
Check that all Bottom Timers read the same depth;
Re-check SPG reading;
Reset all running times back to Zero;
Primary Light signal "okay" and Go!
 
Turn on air...
Check gauge....
And cuz its happened a time or two and is annoying coming back to boat... make sure AF is working...

Back roll....

K.I.S.S.... :D
 
Mike Veitch:
Turn on air...
Check gauge....
And cuz its happened a time or two and is annoying coming back to boat... make sure AF is working...

Back roll....

K.I.S.S.... :D
Hey DB Safety! I'll wave the ball in your face as I burn you for Six-Points on a Deep Post-Route!:lol:
 
I think the poll needs something in-between the hyper-detailed DIR-style pre-dive routine, and nothing.

I always discuss a basic plan for the dive, route, approx max depth (more important on Nitrox dives), what to do if separated. If it's a new buddy, I discuss relative skill levels and dive experience. I would always want to check the basics on each other's gear, such as air on, BC inflator working, regs working, alternate air location and share method, location and method for ditchable weight, do lights work (if a night or dark dive) and the like, but I don't go quite as far as the list mentioned by TSandM. That said, with regular dive buddies at a well-known location, the check gets considerably abbreviated.

But without an intermediate option, I think I'll have to boycott the poll. :-)

(Unless you think my pre-dive routine reaches the level described by the OP.)
 
My first 30 dives I was a real stickler for the pre-dive checklist, bubble check and briefing. I slowly backed away for a couple of dives as I was irritating my dive companions.

Then, on 2 - count 'em - 2 separate dives I caught divers without their freakin' gas turned on! They had turned it on initially. I mentioned it pre-dive and one gal reached over and saw zero psi on her gauge. Last week as I'm forcing another check I just asked my buddy if his air was on. He pulled his gauge up and I saw it had 2500 psi. He reached over and rolled his valve on and it shot back up to 3000. Unbelievable. I just rolled my eyes.

So, I was taught to scuba dive by professional instructors that impressed me to establish a routine and adhere damn close to it. So I do.

Equipment list is checked off as it's packed, that's pretty easy because when it's all clean and dry I re-pack it then just load the bags and tanks when it's time to go.

Lynne said:

"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."

Yup, got the same thing drilled into me by my PADI instructors, too. Just never de-prioritized it over time. I assume they stress it for a reason.

Dave
 
We always check and re-check our gear, before it goes on the boat and after it's on the tanks. We could check each other a bit better, though. We do check, just not as thoroughly as we could.

We always review hand signals, emergency procedures, etc. before diving. Since neither me nor my buddy have a lot of experience, we both want to be sure we're not forgetting anything. We haven't dived enough to become too complacent, I don't think, but could always improve.
 
I stick to a strict procedure when doing overhead/deco dives - reg check, inflator check, back up lights, primary light, reels/spools, cutting tools, spare mask, computer gas settings, gas management, dive plan, then bubble check and s drill. Not so strict procedure for the recreational, single tank dives - reg check, inflator check, cutting tools, computer gas settings, dive plan (usually just to descend, look at stuff, and ascend :D ), sometimes a bubble check, rarely an s drill.
 

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