Introduction
The thrill of plunging into the underwater world can sometimes overshadow the importance of preparation. One diver, eager to explore a vibrant coral reef, made the embarrassing (and potentially dangerous) mistake of jumping into the ocean without his fins. A rushed, perhaps omitted, pre-dive safety check left him floundering at the surface, much to the amusement of the watchful divers waiting to enter the water.
This incident serves as a blunt reminder that a thorough pre-dive safety check is not just a formality, but a crucial step in ensuring a safe and enjoyable dive.
In this post, we’ll delve into what exactly is a pre-dive safety check, what is the significance, some common oversights, and provide a step-by-step guide to help you avoid similar mishaps and confidently embark on your next underwater adventure.
What is a Pre-Dive Safety Check?
A pre-dive safety check is a thorough, systematic inspection that scuba divers perform (usually with a dive buddy i.e. “Buddy Check”) before entering the water. It involves a visual and physical inspection of all gear and equipment to ensure it is present, securely fastened and properly functioning before the dive. It is highly recommended that the inspection be conducted with your dive buddy and include verbal confirmation that you are both prepared and ready to dive. This simple yet crucial step helps to identify any potential problems before they become serious issues underwater.
Why is it important?
Diving is an inherently risky activity, and even minor equipment malfunctions can lead to serious consequences. A pre-dive safety check helps to minimize these risks by:
- Identifying Equipment Issues: It allows you to spot missing or damaged equipment, such as the missing fins in our example, or faulty regulators.
- Confirming Proper Function: It ensures that all your equipment is functioning correctly, including gauges, lights, and buoyancy control devices.
- Enhancing Communication: It strengthens communication with your dive buddy, building trust and ensuring you are both on the same plan.
- Improving Situational Awareness: It helps you become more aware of your surroundings and the potential hazards associated with your dive.
What are some common oversights?
To many, the pre-dive safety check may seem straightforward, many divers omit the check altogether or overlook critical steps. Here are a few reasons that a diver might overlook the pre-dive buddy checks:
- Rushing: Trying to rush through the check to get in the water more quickly can lead to missed equipment or forgotten procedures.
- Complacency: As we gain experience diving, we tend to become more blind to the importance of thorough planning. This tends to lead to the development of a false sense of security.
- Focusing on Yourself: Whether you’re assigned a buddy or bring one along, we often get caught up in checking our own equipment and not focusing on our dive buddy. The downfall is usually overlooking a more novice diver that is less comfortable in the water or someone that hasn’t been diving in a while.
- Assuming Everything is Fine: Assuming that your equipment is in good working order without checking can lead to unpleasant surprises underwater.
- Peer Pressure: Many divers, especially beginners, may overlook the buddy check due to inferior to more experienced divers in the group.
- Remembering Procedures: Many divers, especially novice divers, might find the process confusing and hard to remember. Utilize the acronym BWRAF to help remember the 5-step process.
Step-by-Step Guide:
To help us remember the procedures, we will use the acronym BWRAF. At Coastal Pro Divers, we teach the mnemonic “Big White Rabbits Are Funny.” Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide to conduct a proper pre-dive safety check.
Step 1: (B - Big) Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)
Make sure your BCD is connected and functions correctly. To do so, test the hose connection, inflate and deflate buttons, the oral inflator and the dump (overpressure relief) valves.
- Check that the low-pressure inflator (LPI) hose is properly connected to the power inflator
- Gently tug on the LPI hose and power inflator without pulling on the quick-connect assembly.
- Use the power inflator or low-pressure inflator (LPI) to mechanically inflate and deflate the BCD.
- Press and Hold the “inflate button” to add air. (Some divers hold the button until air escapes the overpressure valve, which releases air if the BCD is over-inflated)
- Press and Hold the “deflate button” until the BCD is drained of air.
- Orally inflate the BCD by blowing air into the mouthpiece of the LPI.
- Simultaneously “press and hold” the inflate button as you blow into the BCD.
- Use the dump valves to deflate the BCD.
- With the BCD inflated, gently tug the dump cord (pull cord) located on each dump valve and ensure air adequately escapes. Individually test each valve.
Step 2: (W - White) Weights
Visually and physically check that your weight system is in place and properly secured.
- Lift on each weight container to ensure weights are present.
- Gently tug each buckle, handle or snap to ensure pouches are secure.
- Visually inspect that nothing will impede the removal or prevent proper employment during the dive
Step 3: (R - Rabbits) Releases
Visually and physically ensure that all buckles, clips and snaps are properly secured.
- Basic BCDs normally have 6 – 8 releases depending on the brand and model:
- Chest strap
- Shoulder Quick Releases (x2 – one on each shoulder)
- Cummerbund (not all brands and models)
- Waist Strap
- Cylinder Clamp (some brands and models have 2)
- Cylinder Valve Strap
Step 4: (A - Are) Air
Physically check that the air is turned completely on.
- Ensure the cylinder valve is all the way open by turning it counter-clockwise.
- Test breathe you primary and alternate (octopus) second stage regulators
- Visually observe the submersible pressure gauge (SPG) while taking several breathes on each regulator. The indicator (analog or digital) should remain stable during breathes.
- Completely inhale and exhale into the regulators to ensure air properly flows both ways
Ensure the alternate air regulator is positioned within the golden triangle.
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Ensure the alternate air-source is properly placed and secure.
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Place the octopus in the “golden triangle,” which is the triangle formed on the chest by a line from your chin to the lower points of your rib cages
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Ensure nothing will impede easy access to and removal of the air-source in an emergency .
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Step 5: (F - Funny) Final Check (or Fins)
Before entering the water, conduct a final check to ensure you have all your gear and equipment.
- Look over for anything out of place or missing (i.e. fins)
- Ensure your dive computer is in place and functional (turns on, set to gas mixture and readings are correct (i.e PSI)
- Ensure you have your fins, mask and snorkel (if necessary)
- Check specialty equipment such as slates, lights, lines, cameras, etc.
- Briefly review the dive plan and signals
- Ask questions – “How do you feel?” “What is the lost diver plan?” “What is the signal for 1200 psi?” “What is our turn pressure?”
Potential Challenges and Solutions:
Key points to remember:
- “My cookies are spreading too much”: “Make sure you don’t overmix the dough and chill it in the fridge for a bit before baking.”
- “My cookies are too dry”: “Add a little extra moisture, like a splash of milk, to the dough.”
Key Points to Remember:
- Clear and concise instructions: Break down the process into easily digestible steps with clear visuals.
- Audience-focused language: Address the reader directly and use a conversational tone.
- Visual appeal: Incorporate images, GIFs, or videos to enhance understanding.
- Consider troubleshooting: Anticipate potential issues and provide solutions.
- Engage readers: Encourage comments and sharing on social media.
How-to guides, also known as method posts, educate readers on a specific topic. Many people search online for methods to complete tasks, such as baking a cake or learning to sew. How-to guides can provide solutions for questions your audience may have about topics related to your business. These posts can show your industry knowledge, which makes your website more authoritative. If readers find your content helpful, they may be more likely to return to your website, engage with your content or make a purchase.Here are some ideas to help you optimize a how-to guide post:
- Showcase your knowledge by providing a series of steps related to a topic.
- Write in the first or second person to help promote your persona and connect with the audience.
- Add videos to make your content more engaging and visually appealing.
Conclusion:
Start with a topic sentence:
Briefly restate the main idea or thesis of your article. This reminds your reader of the overall context and purpose of what they’ve just read, and how all the parts of the article fit together.
Provided the topic sentence from your introduction is clear and concise, feel free to simply adapt this.
Summarize your main points:
Don’t introduce any new information in your conclusion. Instead, summarize your main points concisely. Make it clear to the reader how these points relate to your introduction, referring to it as needed.
If you’ve made any claims, summarize the evidence. If you’ve made any promises, explain how you’ve fulfilled them.
Leave a lasting emotional impression:
Appeal to your reader’s emotions by connecting the solutions you have offered in the article to the audience’s pain points, interests, or needs.
A few quick pointers on creating an emotional impact with your writing:
- Use active voice.
- Don’t shy away from personal pronouns (e.g. “I”, “we”, “you”).
- Choose powerful adjectives like “bold,” “tremendous,” or “outstanding.”
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- Summary: “With a few simple steps and a little practice, you can consistently bake delicious, chewy chocolate chip cookies.”
- Call-to-action: “Try out this recipe and share your cookie creations with us in the comments!”
