Since I wrote this in April 2003 the H.S.E have given out a
diver risk DVD to all diving associations and clubs, In The UK!
Before you even say it!
Oh! this is not worth
reading. To much to read. It's boring. Yes May be? Read first.
Like many briefings.
Some go on forever, and if your like me / can lose interest fast
and forget what the fist part was about. Remember briefings must be informative,
and to what they are meant to be, “Brief”. To the point of high lighting the
do's and don'ts, not telling us something we already know. However some times
there are those who just get it all wrong. Make it fun too! When I say get it
all wrong. I mean the divers after the briefing. With the world oceans
changing, weather changes so fast.
We must be ready, and aware.
Dive Active Dive Safe! Know The What If
Rules? (c)
Diving in the UK or anywhere in the world is a risk if you ignore
the rules. For UK diving, and for your information, about how and where,
Being in the UK and Europe, having some of the most hazardous places to dive.
Your diving can still be fun and enjoyed if simple precautions are taken.
Make the Pan, dive the plan, keep with in the plan. Do not exceed
the plan.
As an instructor, dive leader, or even just an open water diver,
you can find forms and information here from this site: Just down load it.
Keep it in your dry box. Use it. Its there free to make your diving day
safer and planned well.
The training you get may not be enough to save you or your buddy
when things go wrong.
Are you prepared for the (what If)?
Let me just briefly say, that I don't want to teach you what you
already know. However, a little reminder does not go a miss.
So many people have that confidence in them selves that they have
been there, done that, and nothing can tell them different.
It’s no good shutting the gate after the horse has Bolted, as the
old saying goes.
Far to often that a diver feels that they are independent, and
beyond others. They feel that they don’t need to listen to a briefing, or do
buddy checks, I must say that having a buddy is another concern for the diver
to think about, However, having a buddy or a trained dive leader can be more
assuring, in fact your buddy keeps your mind in focus reminding you that your
diving in an aquatic environment, often to easily to get lost in, to only
forget about time air and depth. Also some times, a buddy can be on some
occasions, more of a burden, as they are just one more thing to think about.
They may do things wrong, or swim to fast. This is why preparation and good
reasoning not forgetting communication is so essential. PLAN YOUR DIVES And DIVE THE PLAN! This is where buddy teaming is
important.
If your a beginner or unfamiliar with the site. Buddy up with a
higher skilled diver who knows. And has the experience.
Photographers with photographer or a dive leader who is there for
that job.
Some divers may not want to dive with un inexperienced
divers. As they have paid dearly for the holiday and want the best from their
dive. So often, a dive has gone wrong from bad buddy matching. Or stress. Lack
of briefing, lack of sticking to the dive plan. In the tropics, the water is
warm and clear. This allows for more relaxed diving. Most dives being Multi
Level diving on a reef, in calm or slight drift dives.
A classic dive profile 50 min max depth 20 m as
a group. And planned. The profile can be in on 200 bar at 100 bar rise to 10 mts
by this time at 10m when you get to 50 bar, start ascending to 5 m if reef
allows. allowing plenty of time to get all that nitrogen out. Do a nice safety
stop. At 5 mts 50 bar will last a long time as air has expanded in your tank.
Providing you relax!
If your diving with an experienced dive, or you find on your
holiday a diver with the same interest like photography. Surface consumption
rate is about the same. Both of you are diving. Keep within you no stop time.
On computers. you can plan a dive on Max time and 30 0r 50 bar out. As on the
above profile depending on your diving day and saturation and keeping within
dive tables. As you know, I hope you know? Dive computers calculate giving a
diver more bottom time as soon as you start to ascend your bottom time will
lengthen. A dive can be done for longer then a planned time on the tables. But
if something goes wrong or the computer does not read right. Ascend or stick to
tables plan. Do the table plan as a back up. In the tropics on a reef a dive
plan using the above profile can give a good hour diving. Even planned from 30
mts bottom time is 20 min , That means if max time is 20 Min Bottom time. You
should start your ascent before that time.
If your constantly ascending. Remember every dive should be relaxed.
Constantly monitor your air and depth. And ascent rate .
Another plan to use is like this :
Max depth 30m 10 min or fist person to 100 bar, all start to
ascending up the reef to 10 mts . By this time, every one should be
around 80 bar. At 50 be at 5m ready to do safety stop. On computers. If using
tables stick to the table and be conservative. If this was a square profile
ascent can be a little more then 9 m per min but as soon as you get to 10m SLOW
IT DOWN and even slower at 5m per min
To many divers put them selves at risk after the safety stop and
think they are safe, and think they can race to the surface. NO NO NO! This is
when you need to go slower. Air allowing. At your safety stop take time to relax
and think about the dive. See how controlled you can be as at this point you
should not have any air in your BC and be NEUTRALLY BUOYANT with 30 to 50
bar in your tank.
Getting good buoyancy, not being over weighted, take allot of the
struggle out of diving, keep it easy simple safe.
Square Profile:
Done on a square profile.
This is where divers who do not get the right training go wrong.
It is daunting when your in all that weight and trusted up in that thick wet
suit 8mm or dry suit. . You need to be fit and of sound mind to dive the UK and
many other places where bad visibility and cold is against you.. Take it
seriously.
Your plan has been made.
Your briefing given. You jump into the water and wow. Its cold. In the UK, use a dry suit and get trained. do
not use nothing less then an 8mm suit. Do a weight check off the beach on a
nice calm day.
Now I am not putting you off.
I love diving in the UK, it
brings new challenges, and its exiting. As you never know what your going to
find. Take a look at the photos on this site. OK back to square profile. Now
here you have maximum bottom time that must without fail be kept to. DO NOT
EXCEED BOTTOM TIME!
from 18m to mts, as I know you OWDs will do this . Leave the
bottom with 70 or better 100 bar in your tank, before you bottom time has
ended. Until you gain more experience,
In the UK diving on a square profile at 18 m is like diving at 30
in the tropics. You will use more are to reach the surface. Remember this is
only a guide and not what you should do. Get information from a fully trained
diver. Get experience!
Diving on this type of profile takes skill. You must have perfect Buoyancy
control. Even in the tropics from 30m takes allot of skill to come straight
from 30m to 5m in mid water with no
reference, like a rope or reef.
Get a deep diving course. ! just advanced diver is not good
enough.
If you have never done this before and doing a course. Make sure
you go down and an ascent line and come up on one too.
Stick with you dive professional, and he too should have a compass
and torch and most important a SMB in
case you cannot find the ascent line. The SMB should have a big reel and large
enough sausage to not be dragged down.
However, All open water divers should seek a rescue diver or
higher to dive with. It does not matter what level of diving your at, its the
dives you have done, and the scenarios you have been in or practiced. Not
forgetting the locations and conditions you have dived in that build your
skills. This is where speciality programs come in.
Lets not rely on each other when diving though, keep an eye on
each other, and routine checks.
Yes!, remember to look after your self!
So what can us divers do to prevent things going wrong.
Its easy. Go back to basic training when you first took your open
watercourse and go through books and videos, if you have not dived for a
while,.
More important. Get down to your local dive club or find one, and
get a Scuba Up Date!
Divers, PLEASE don’t go off on your holiday expecting dive
companies to have the time to up date you if you have not dived for 6 months,
Call them and tell them , YOU NEED AN UP DATE OR TEST DIVE!
Don’t put others at risk or spoil their dives.
SCUBA up date:
If you have not done so, Take the stress and rescue course.
No its not one of those
money making idea's, Its a preparation in a pool or shallow sea side, to get your orientation and skills as a safe
diver. The skills will give you the chance to practice under the guidance of a
qualified dive controller, dive master or instructor, The skills needed to make
your diving relaxed and stress free.
And to iron out any bad points you may have.
If the Instructor is doing his job
properly!
With your local dive centre, there are many speciality courses you can do.
Its not sitting in a class, that makes you a better diver Its
diving that builds those skills. They are fun too.
Ok, here is a make up of typical UK preparation. And now with changing weather
all over the globe , where ever you go:
BE PREPARED!
Put away the dive computer what if it went wrong , for this time
its now winter, find a deep swimming pool or practice tank. Or go to the med in
calm waters, and practice WHAT IF! ?
Any one in any sport or profession takes seminars and updates
their skills.
If you think “oh I don’t need this, I v done this before, its
boring”. You are just digging a hole for your self and or putting others at
risk!
Later I am going to write about what if, and you may reflect on
them and think, “Yes I’ve done that”. It all boils down to awareness. I would
like to hear your stories too. Send them Click here Blunder dive
How often have you been on a dive, forgotten to put your weight
belt on. Or something silly, you forgot. Even you knife, can make you
uncomfortable on a dive. It could be a strap broke, or pipe twisted. Even
intuition, that gut feeling.
You’re all on the boat, not much room to get kitted, or your all having a joke,
getting ready, people are dropping off the side, and your left with others
waiting. Your exited to get into the water!
You don’t want to get left behind. Yes most of us have all been there!
Remember if you missed the briefing get to know Depth direction
and time, And your buddy.
Buddy Check or check your air is on and 200 bar plus.
.jpg)
