Scientific Diving Dive Planning

Moral of the Story It is difficult to identify every potential hazard. Some risks may be deemed acceptable. Emergency plans will never include every contingency. Keep plans flexible so that common sense may be incorporated into instructions!

Dive Planning Dive plan/emergency mgt. plan can range from simple to complex Required Information: lead diver, diver qualifications, emergency plan, number of proposed dives, estimated depth and bottom time, repetitive plan, proposed work equipment and boats, hazardous conditions

Considerations Any diver has the right, in fact, the responsibility, to terminate a dive, without fear of penalty, when the diver determines it is unsafe to continue, unless it compromises the safety of another diver already in the water. Dive plans must be based on the competence of the least experienced diver. Divers in Training must buddy with a Scientific Diver Depth Certification levels may be extended only to the next deepest level and only then if one of the buddy pair is certified to the deeper level.

Evacuation Plan What does it take to get help? –Communication Phone numbers Frequencies –Transportation –Hospital Location –Egress Plan/Location –Emergency Equipment Oxygen/First Aid Kits

Risk Assessment and Control Assessment Identification of Hazard Nature of Risk Degree of Exposure Potential for Injury Control Measures

Risk Assessment

Risk Control High Current Elimination—dive slack water or call the dive Elimination/Substitution—dive into current or use non-diving techniques Substitution/Redesign—live boat Redesign—granny lines, trail lines, tethers Protection—safety sausages Control Measures Eliminate the hazard Substitute (e.g. exchange compressed air for nitrox) Redesign task to make it safer Administrative Controls (lookouts, oxygen kit, supervisor) Personal protective equipment (dive knife, shark repellent)

Risk Control—Your Turn! Cold Water Control Measures Eliminate the hazard Substitute (e.g. exchange compressed air for nitrox) Redesign task to make it safer Administrative Controls (lookouts, oxygen kit, supervisor) Personal protective equipment (dive knife, shark repellent)

Predive Brief Signals—Before the dive, go over all the signals you will need to communicate during the dive. Emergencies—Make all the divers aware of the evacuation plan as well as the location of phone/radio, first aid/oxygen kit and keys to any transportation. You’ll also want to cover diver recall, lost buddy and share air procedures. Activity—What’s the purpose of the dive? How deep will you go and how long will you stay? Make sure everybody understands the plan. Buoyancy—Weight System? Release? BCD? Release? Connected? Air—On? Full? Alternate air? Gear—Computer On? Tools?

Predive Brief Hazards—currents, marine life, any other potential hazards unique to the dive site

Helpful Hints Don’t forget to check on your divers post dive. Web sites with dive planning examples: – –and at many OM’s websites If using outside (NURC, SI) evac plan, get a copy Include pressure in and pressure out—guards against divers going in (and coming back) with no gas Planned bottom time can be max allowed (computer check) or actual planned time to allow intervention Verify that outside divers are up to date via LOR’s early in the process Phone numbers and insurance numbers are your friends

Old Chinese proverb- When things go badly—be brave, when things go well—reflect.