S_SIMON
Registered
I have been diving with my buddy for over 300 dives...we know each others set up but still check prior to each dive and go over the dive plan, even if its in the quarry we frequent and not in an unfamiliar place.
Pre-dive routine?
- Thread starter TSandM
- Start date
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sasscuba
Contributor
My #1 item on my pre-dive checklist is do to a #2 before entering water.
OP
I think part of the reason I started this thread was to encourage newer divers to think about this, and I think it's good that several people have mentioned the negative reaction of other divers when they have attempted to do these checks. I know I allowed myself to be discouraged because I didn't want to irritate or offend others. It's a good question WHY divers get irritated when asked to do checks, and WHY people who are attempting to follow their training allow themselves to get derailed by that irritation.
I don't know exactly how often, but it's often enough that our pre-dive checks pick up something that isn't as it should be. Most often, it's a failure to connect the dry suit hose, which is not an unrecoverable problem on our dives, but IS an inconvenience which is better corrected before the dive begins. Second most common is that somebody's air isn't on . . . and THAT's much more of an issue, and certainly better caught on the surface!
I don't know exactly how often, but it's often enough that our pre-dive checks pick up something that isn't as it should be. Most often, it's a failure to connect the dry suit hose, which is not an unrecoverable problem on our dives, but IS an inconvenience which is better corrected before the dive begins. Second most common is that somebody's air isn't on . . . and THAT's much more of an issue, and certainly better caught on the surface!
PerroneFord
Contributor
Great question Lynne,
When I dive with DIR divers, it is the typical check. When diving in mixed company, if I am leading the dive, it's my check. If they are leading, we do their check, but I run my own checklist in my own head of both them and me. Some things I do not leave to chance if they don't cover it. Like gas analysis, intended run time, pressure checks, and functioning regs. If they don't go over what's in their pockets and I don't consider it crucial for the dive, I don't worry about it. How I treat a 40ft dive around Ginnie springs (where I could literally walk out of the water) is quite different than 100+ft offshore dives where I want to be a bit more thorough. This is somewhat contrary to the idea of having a routine, but reality is what it is.
When I dive with DIR divers, it is the typical check. When diving in mixed company, if I am leading the dive, it's my check. If they are leading, we do their check, but I run my own checklist in my own head of both them and me. Some things I do not leave to chance if they don't cover it. Like gas analysis, intended run time, pressure checks, and functioning regs. If they don't go over what's in their pockets and I don't consider it crucial for the dive, I don't worry about it. How I treat a 40ft dive around Ginnie springs (where I could literally walk out of the water) is quite different than 100+ft offshore dives where I want to be a bit more thorough. This is somewhat contrary to the idea of having a routine, but reality is what it is.
OP
For me, the only "thing in the pockets" that's important for every dive is what cutting implements I have and my buddies have. Anything else is subject to the "if you don't need it, don't take it" rule, so a shallow shore or spring dive wouldn't require a pocket inventory because there's not going to be anything in the pockets you need, right? On the other hand, we do some live boat charter stuff around here, and then it's nice to know somebody has an SMB . . .
R
redacted
Guest
check - yes list - no
Yes, always do some variation of a planning and gear checklist. If it's an insta-buddy, it is very complete, regardless of the dive, including lost-buddy procedure, hand signals, safety stop and deep stop, gear configuration and emergency procedures, etc. If it's my wife, we know our gear and normal procedures, so it's the plan for this particular dive and checking gear. Detail of dive planning depends on the dive, but there is always a discussion of max depth and turn-around. I don't like instructors who teach one thing and do another, so I always go through the procedures I teach the students. It's like parents out riding bikes with their kids. Nine times out of ten, the kids have helmets and mom and dad don't. They've just taught their kids that the "grown-up" thing to do is ride without a helmet. Idiocy.
Scuba-Josh
Guest
I know it sounds cheesy but I still use the B (Bruce) W (Willis) R (Ruins) A (All) F (Films) that my instructor taught me. Tell you what , never forgot that acronym.
Given the small number of responses to this poll, I think you are scaring off the majority who just do some sort of short check from memory.
I'll check my buckles by feel, take a couple breaths of both primary reg and octo while watching the SPG to make sure I've got air and it's turned on, and put a little air in the BC to ensure the inflator is hooked up correctly. As far as buddies go, for an insta-buddy, just a quick lookover to make sure no obvious problems and to see how their weights release. If the buddy is my wife, I'll help her get suited up and check that her air is on.
I'll check my buckles by feel, take a couple breaths of both primary reg and octo while watching the SPG to make sure I've got air and it's turned on, and put a little air in the BC to ensure the inflator is hooked up correctly. As far as buddies go, for an insta-buddy, just a quick lookover to make sure no obvious problems and to see how their weights release. If the buddy is my wife, I'll help her get suited up and check that her air is on.
Sasquatch
Contributor
TSandM said:
"Sasquatch, I had the same experience you did . . . Trying to do what I was originally taught in OW irritated everybody I dove with. Now I have an excuse -- DIR people are EXPECTED to be a PITA
"
Perhaps in some things I'm a little "DIR'ish", but I don't mind when it comes to the important things.
My life has consisted of adventures that required attention to details. I couldn't imagine not doing a pre-flight briefing and equipment check before skydiving (over 80 jumps). Everything I do has at least an idiot factor if I screw up and almost everything I do for work and recreation is detail oriented. Some of the things I do have an element of danger and, for me, I feel better knowing I have my ducks in a row before I embark.
Dave
"Sasquatch, I had the same experience you did . . . Trying to do what I was originally taught in OW irritated everybody I dove with. Now I have an excuse -- DIR people are EXPECTED to be a PITA
Perhaps in some things I'm a little "DIR'ish", but I don't mind when it comes to the important things.
My life has consisted of adventures that required attention to details. I couldn't imagine not doing a pre-flight briefing and equipment check before skydiving (over 80 jumps). Everything I do has at least an idiot factor if I screw up and almost everything I do for work and recreation is detail oriented. Some of the things I do have an element of danger and, for me, I feel better knowing I have my ducks in a row before I embark.
Dave
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