When diving with new buddies...

[ucfdiver]

When you dive with people for the first time, what are your pre-dive actions?

Here's my list of what I think should be done. I'll be the first to admit the reason I'm thinking about this is I haven't done a great job of this, I got used to diving with my dad and not new buddies.

1- Establish who's the least trained, and who has the most limiting gear. Dive according to the most limited gear and skill level.
2- Establish that each one of you agrees to turn the dive at any discomfort of any kind. Also assure each other that turning the dive is completely OK. Seems simple, but I think it's good to get this verbal commitment before the dive, especially with younger divers.
3- Review hand signals. There are several basic signals, make sure you're all on the same page and using the same ones. Let everyone know that an "action signal" requires prompt action. Not doing so is grounds for turning the dive.
4- Review light signals. Once again, let everyone know that an "action signal" requires prompt action. Not doing so is grounds for turning the dive.
5- Observe each others equipment and ask any questions you may have. If you think somethings wrong, get it out in the open. Have each member agree to hear each other out and come to an agreement.
6- If a new site for anyone, walk to the site and create an entry plan. This isn't so necessary for Ginnie and other commercial sites, but dives with difficult access, it's a must.
7- Establish a dive plan. Keep in mind what you determined in #1. Always remember a safety stop.
8- Determine an exit plan. For instance, Blue springs has a long spring run. Save some extra gas to swim this rather than walking your gear.
9- Develop a pre dive safety check. Have each member of your team veryify there's no air leaks in your gear. Do an "S" drill to confirm all backup regulators and 2nd stages are working. Confirm gas supplies, and calculate each of your dive turning pressures.
10- (optional, but useful IMO) Often I like to reenact drills that were done during classes that I need practice on with that last 1000psi of air, after all, I paid for it, and there's no discount on an air fill if I bring them a tank that needs topping off, or one that's empty. Decide who will do what drills, and what type of safety support they need.

 

[Doc]

11- Decide who is making the decisions when underwater. Make it understood that this diver is the leader and their decision will hold. In this era of the egalitarian society, young folks have problems in selecting, following, or being that leader. Somebody's gotta steer the ship.

23a. Who's got a slate? With noob divers or complex situations, this is advisable.

14c. In case of separation at this particular dive site, we will...

 

[Garrobo]

Every time I go diving I am diving with new "buddies" since I travel alone. If I'm diving a dive without a DM I ask my buddy if he/she can find our way back to the boat. That usually sorts them out. If the answer is in the affirmative I tell them that they are the leader. Then I show them my reg with the yellow hose and tell them that it is theirs if they have an air problem and to leave the reg in my mouth alone. Then I ask which of their regs I can use if I have an air problem. Then whatever my new 'leader" has to say is what we will do on the dive unless it is something really stupid or dangerous at which time I will ask the captain for another 'buddy'. So far it has worked out nicely.

 

[TSandM]

One thing I frequently forget to do is verify what gas everybody's breathing. My buddies and I all dive the same gases, so we frequently don't even talk about it. But when I dive with others, it's important to limit the dive depth/time to the shortest NDL.

I think it's also very helpful to talk about team positioning. I used just to say, "Please stay where I can see you," but I found out a lot of people don't really know where that is.

 

[ucfdiver]

One thing I frequently forget to do is verify what gas everybody's breathing. My buddies and I all dive the same gases, so we frequently don't even talk about it. But when I dive with others, it's important to limit the dive depth/time to the shortest NDL.

I think it's also very helpful to talk about team positioning. I used just to say, "Please stay where I can see you," but I found out a lot of people don't really know where that is.

Agreed. Sometimes telling someone to stay where you can see them is interpreted as "swim right on top of me". :no

With overhead it's easy, dimmest light goes in first, brightest goes in last, but open water leaves a lot of wander room.

 

[khblair]

great ideas. any more out there that i need to take note of?

 

[kawasakign]

Great thread....

1- Establish who's the least trained, and who has the most limiting gear. Dive according to the most limited gear and skill level.

This is good in theory, but it assumes that training=skill level. Which in my opinion is no where near true. Its very subjective and honestly until you actually dive you really have not basic for comparison. Course your right in establishing a guy/girl that just did their checkoff dives last week vs somebody with more experience.
As far as limiting gear, what is limiting? If your talking tanks size, then you also have to take into effect gas mixtures/SAC/etc...

2- Establish that each one of you agrees to turn the dive at any discomfort of any kind. Also assure each other that turning the dive is completely OK. Seems simple, but I think it's good to get this verbal commitment before the dive, especially with younger divers.

Perfect idea

3- Review hand signals. There are several basic signals, make sure you're all on the same page and using the same ones. Let everyone know that an "action signal" requires prompt action. Not doing so is grounds for turning the dive.
4- Review light signals. Once again, let everyone know that an "action signal" requires prompt action. Not doing so is grounds for turning the dive.

Again a great idea

5- Observe each others equipment and ask any questions you may have. If you think somethings wrong, get it out in the open. Have each member agree to hear each other out and come to an agreement.

Great idea, especially since I have never even dove with anyone in a BP&W like my setup. Some people assume my equipment some ancient hand me down and others think I dive for a living doing commercial stuff.

All the rest seem like great ideas. I too would add just a step to confim gas mixtures and if anyone is diving nitrox/trimix.

 

[BabyDuck]

review hand signals *in some depth*. make sure everyone's using the same system for 'psi remaining', for instance.

great post!