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Often overlooked parts of diving are the pre dive briefings.
These usually happen when you are first boarding the dive
boat and when nearing or just moored at the dive site. If
you are shore diving or some other endeavor that does not
require a boat ride, than skip ahead to where it says
Divemaster Briefing later in this article. The orientation
to the boat speech you will likely hear before leaving the
dock. Some of you seasoned divers will remember these; it’s
the speech when eight out of tem times they tell you that
the Head isn’t working. (Head: that’s boat talk for powder
room, latrine, privy you get the idea). If the head is
working, there are instructions that need to be understood.
Not understanding these can ruin your trip, not to mention
your shoes. The orientation to the boat speech is usually
required by the dive operator and certainly required
listening for anyone new to that boat. They will cover some
very important things like, where the drinking water is, how
long the ride is to the dive site, what the conditions are
offshore and where the personal floatation devices are
stowed. They will also cover where the 02 is stowed. Perhaps
they will announce the Captain and Divemaster’s names (It’s
nice to know their names in case you need a recommendation
on where to buy a new pair of shoes later) All these things
if heeded will likely make your ride in and out more
comfortable.
The Divemaster’s Briefing: It’s so important to stop what
you are doing, whatever you are doing, and pay attention to
this. It doesn’t usually take long, a couple minutes
sometimes more, sometimes less but it’s important. If
nothing else, you are likely to get more out of the dive (if
for example you are in unfamiliar water) and certainly not
the least thing is that it will keep you a lot safer. How?
To me, it’s always nice to see a boat when I come up…any
boat if need be, but the one I left would be best. They tell
you how to achieve this miracle of navigation during the
briefing. Ever find yourself sitting on the boat on the way
back in and hearing about all the wonderful stuff OTHER
people saw? Perhaps the dive master suggested a direction to
start your dive to see this cool stuff and you missed it. I
know I have. You have to make it a point to stop gearing up
and pay close attention. If you can’t hear them, move closer
or ask them to speak up. They want you to hear them, and you
need to hear them. This is not the time to be shy. If you do
not FULLY understand something, ask, loud and clear. There
is a good chance that if you didn’t understand something,
someone else on the boat might not have either and they are
just to shy or too embarrassed to ask to have it repeated.
Understand the direction in which you are to start your
dive, and by what means are you to exit and reboard the
boat. Note the direction the Reef, Wreck or whatever it is
from the boat. Do this with a compass or some other
navigational aid. Don’t just look towards the bow and think
it’s to the right or left. The bow will not be in the same
position for long I promise. Note what the time limits are.
Is it an hour from when they give the orientation, or an
hour from when you get in the water? If you are the last one
off a boat of twenty divers, this can be a difference.
Every operator has a different procedure for exiting and
reboarding the boat. Some may want Back Roll, some a Giant
Stride others may just throw you off if there is still
something bad on your shoes from before. Did you bring the
camera all the way from God knows where and remember at
about twenty feet down that it’s all nice, safe and dry on
the boat? Now somewhere about now, I start to wonder, what
did he say about current? I wish I had paid closer attention
when that little detail was being discussed! What was their
recommendation for the lost buddy situation?
Reboarding is kind of a freestyle event when diving from
your own or a friend’s boat, but some operators get
downright picky about it so get it figured out BEFORE you
jump in. What ladder is nearest to your seat? Do I reboard
from a stern platform? Do I hand them my fins or do I slide
them over my wrist? Do I climb back aboard with my weight
belt on or do I hand it to someone? (This is why those among
us with lumpy heads no longer hang around directly below the
ladders or platforms) When you get back aboard, some may
want you to return immediately to your seat with all your
gear, others may assist you at the landing with your gear
(ah that’s nice!) If this a two tanker, do I change over
tanks now or wait for the next mooring?
What we do is exciting enough. We don’t need to add to it
by missing the cues from the Captain or Divemaster. The mood
aboard changes real fast when someone gets hurt because they
attempted to reboard in an unapproved way and are flopping
around on the deck holding onto a bloody knee. Or there are
some very tense and uneasily quiet moments when some one is
late getting back to the boat. It’s a relief when they
surface and you don’t know weather to be pissed off or
happy. Sometimes it’s both. Don’t let this be you. |
