Dive Planning Article Dive Journal

7/27/2019 Dive Planning Article Dive Journal

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Dive Planning

A dive begins, not when the diver enters the water, but days to

hours before the time, when the intention to dive is conceived.

From that time on, the diver must progress through a logical

sequence of planning. The greater the complexity of the dive,

the longer and more thorough the period and detail of planning.

The safety of a dive relates directly to how well it was planned.

This allows no room for complacency or tardiness, no matter

how routine or minor the nature of the dive.

Good dive planning will make your diving more enjoyable and

rewarding. Problems that may arise unexpectedly during a dive

will be more easily managed, because all possible eventualities

have already been run through mentally and solutions planned.

Every dive must be regarded as a new experience, no matter

how familiar the location or conditions. No two dives will ever be the same. This is actually one of the most rewarding aspects

of diving.

When planning a dive, here are a couple of key point to cover:

1. Pre-dive planning: This is performed from when the

intention to dive is conceived

• Information. You can never gather to much information

about the dive site, climates, temperatures, tides, winds,

currents, depth, dangerous marine animals & boat traffic.

Dive Planning Article



• Logistics. Depending on the dive you are preparing to

undertake, ensure that you have all the correct and needed

equipment to perform the dive in a safe manner, such as torches,compasses, ropes, Buoys, Demand valves, Boats, Four-wheel-

drive vehicles,oxygen cylinders, helmets, scuba cylinders and

thermal suits.

• Personnel. Make sure you have the right persons to assist

you in performing the planned dive, as in accordance with the

complexity of the dive, such as: Dive boat skipper, Dive master,

Medical personnel, compressor operators navigators, instructors,

standby divers and snorkelers, chamber operators.

• Emergency. Ensure that a person, or persons, are aware of

the planned dive including the planned return time. Ensure that

they have access to: Emergency telephone numbers,

transportation, evacuation routes, first aid equipment, oxygen

cylinders, available rescue skills, emergency personnel such as paramedics.

• Costs. Make sure that you are able to cover the expenses

and organize the amount of backup equipment and divers that

you may need for a demanding or expedition type dive. Are you

covered by insurance for the cost of rescue and treatment due to

diving-related accidents? Have you analyzed the dive profileadequately to insure your safety and the safety of you standby

divers




2. Pre-dive routine: This is performed moments prior to

undertaking the dive

• Site survey. The immediate dive site and prevailingconditions are examined to evaluate execution and safety of the

intended dive.

• Emergency procedures. Ensure access to: first aid kit,

emergency telephone numbers, evacuation routes, oxygen

cylinders, standby divers, emergency/medical trained divers,

location of nearest compression chamber

• Dive activity. The procedure to be followed during the dive

in discussion, and cover points such as: entering the water,

descent, where divers will meet under the water, buddy pairs,

dive master appointment, time of dive, surfacing procedures,

decompression stops and intervals, lost diver/buddy signals,

general dive signals.

• Equipment check. Check that your equipment is

functioning correctly, such as: ABLJ/BC inflates and releases

correctly, DV or DV's and Octopus are functioning correctly.

• Air. Check that you have adequate air to perform the

required dive. Check that the gauge is functioning. Check that

every “Deco Bottle”, has the correct breathing gas and that theMOD is clearly marked




• Gear & Buddy check. Check all gear, including weight

belt, tank release, strap check, power inflator, and air capacity

checked by your diving buddy.

Dive planning must also take into consideration special

conditions and types of diving, including wreck diving, night

diving, cave diving, deep diving, drift diving, navigational

diving, search diving and rough water diving. Do review that

you have the required skills and appropriate equipment before

undertaking any difficult or demanding dive.


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Dive Planning Article Dive Journal