A Dive Manager’s or Skipper’s dive briefing contains a lot of useful information. It's interesting to consider how much of it covers standard procedures learned in basic training that are the same for every dive! As a trained, current diver this is stuff that is good to be reminded of, but that should already be part of your diving routine.

Is everyone fit to dive?

Since COVID-19, if you unwell you should not even be present at the briefing! If you have other fitness-related issues e.g., fatigue, hangovers, injuries, drug effects or excessive anxiety that mean that you are not fit to dive, then you should not need the DM to ask in the briefing ... you're not fit.

Is your equipment checked?

BSAC teaches comprehensive equipment-assembly checks from the first practical lesson of diver training.

Mandatory safety items

All divers in our club must carry a surface marker, snorkel, cutting device and whistle on open water dives whether the Dive Manager reminds you or not.

Teams

Work as a team, not only in the water but before, between and after diving. Communicate and help each other from equipment assembly and kit-up through to de-kitting after the dive. Discuss a team dive plan with your buddy. Sometimes it might be 'just have fun'! But if one of you is carrying a large camera or using special equipment, gets cold easily, is starting with less gas than normal or using a different breathing gas, for example, a more detailed plan may be prudent. Address any unique team signals.

Pre-dive checks

Conduct mindful pre-dive buddy checks before every dive using BAR acronym or another effective equivalent. These checks are designed to pick up the most common causes of diver incidents - but only if they're performed!

Entries and exits

Before entry ensure your buddy is also ready to enter the water with you. Enter the water together or immediately after one another. Add gas to your BC before entry but do not over-inflate. Check below you for other divers. Clear the platform. Signal OK to surface cover. Clear the entry area for the next diver. If possible watch your buddy enter the water and be ready to assist and move together on the surface.

When exiting keep your mask on and demand valve regulator in your mouth. Keep three points of contact. Stay out from under exiting divers in case they fall. Keep your fingers out from under hinged ladders that can crush them. Clear the exit area for the next diver.

Starting the dive

Start every dive with the correct command signals. Stay together on descent. Control your descent rate. Equalise your ears gently and frequently. If there is a problem with equalising ascend shallower and continue to try gently. During descent check each other’s equipment for bubbles and other problems.

During the dive

Manage your buoyancy, trim and finning so that you are relaxed and efficient and do not disturb or damage the site. Monitor your depth, dive time, gas and no-deco time remaining. Tell your buddy and the group leader or guide (if applicable) at when you hit standard amounts of gas remaining: 140 bar; 100 bar; 70 bar. If a team member's no-deco time remaining falls below 10 minutes the team should ascend to a shallower depth to continue the dive. Dive as a team. Follow your plan. Stay together. Check regularly that your buddy is OK by looking at them and by asking. Be alert and situationally aware. Dive to the conditions and adapt your plan for safety if necessary.

Don’t touch!

Don’t touch, pick up, prod, poke, remove or otherwise interfere with items that belong on the dive site. This protects the living organisms and structures. It also protects you from cuts, bites and stings from a creature trying to defend itself. If you must touch the bottom or any structure, look first and gently fan the area to reveal dangerous creatures or items.

Problem-solving

If you have problems tell your buddies. Do not try to deal with them alone or the situation could deteriorate with them being unaware. Manage as a team and if necessary return to surface together.

Diver separation / lost buddy

Know the standard diver separation procedure: look around for no more than one minute. If not found perform a controlled ascent, omitting the safety stop and surface. Signal the platform. Wait for your buddy on the surface and do not descend again until your buddy surfaces. If they do not surface get to the dive platform, brief the Dive Manager and follow their directions.

Ending the dive

End dive with the ascent command signal. Ascend together – the recommended rate is 10m/minute. Perform a safety stop. BSAC is 6m for at least 3 minutes. Take at least one minute to ascend the final 6m. Face your buddy if possible. Look and listen out for surface traffic above.

Safe on the surface

The surface is the most dangerous place on a recreational dive! Surface as a team, staying close together with your head up, looking around. Move together on the surface. This makes you more visible to surface cover and other boats, helps you stay situationally aware, makes for easier boat pickup, and allows you to assist each other if there is a problem. Signal the platform. Keep your mask on and demand valve regulator or snorkel in your mouth. If away from the platform and/or if there is surface traffic, all divers should inflate their surface markers.

Stowage

Lie cylinders and scuba units down when not attended or secured. On boats, secure kit carefully to prevent damage and injury. Stow fins and extraneous items neatly in one place so that they will not be damaged or be a trip hazard.

Sharks and Manta Rays

When interacting with sharks or manta rays move slowly or keep still. Do not get in their way. Do not block entrances to gutters or caves. Obviously do not feed or try to touch them. Do not chase them - they will come to you if they want to do so. Do not use mechanical devices such as horns or scooters or shark deterrents.

What's left?

Plenty!

The other half of the Dive Manager's briefing should address unique aspects and changing circumstances of the day and planned dives. This includes specific site information, actual and forecast conditions, the dive platform being used, crew members, environmental aspects, events that have unfolded, and the timing and sequence of the day's activities.