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Dive Planning

3/17/2013

2 Comments

 
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We always read and hear this advice: “Plan your dive, Dive your plan”.  What is it then with dive planning that makes it so important? SAFETY… and of course, fun.

Wikipedia defines Dive Planning as the process of planning an underwater diving operation. As simple as it sounds, planning a dive may not always be an easy task for a divemaster who is responsible to make, organize, execute, lead and “dive” a dive plan.

After a dive, divers may describe it as an “excellent dive” in many ways but they will all evaluate a dive based on at least one of the following:

1. A fascinating site

2. A dependable and like-minded buddy

3. A good to almost perfect weather condition

4. Calm waters

5. A stress- free, incident-free trip

6. Easy entry and exit to the water

The above factors constitute an inevitably well planned dive, eventually resulting to an excellent dive. Almost always, a dive master or dive leader in a group plans the dive and relays the plan to the other divers.

A few years back, I was with a group of divers in a boat; everyone was called to gather at the deck for a dive briefing. Holding a white board and a marker, the divemaster started the “planning session” with some site description on the white board including depths, marine life previously sighted, some cautions, and direction of the current and so on. Being a newbie, I didn’t mind listening to all the “talk” because first, I was really curious and second, because it was my first time to dive with the group.  But I noticed some “senior” divers started to become uninterested as the briefing lasted longer. Their faces showed an expression that they didn’t need as much talking. The divemaster seemed surely engaged on his version of a “dive plaaaaaaaaan”. In fact, I even felt a hint of bragging but I just ignored it (the bragging, of course).

So how long should a dive plan be?  If dive briefing equals dive planning, then brief it is!

A good dive briefing conveys the local knowledge about the site that divers need to know. It should be as brief as possible (that’s why it’s called a brief, right). A dive plan should neither be too long with much basic dive course information (geez, we discuss those basics in the classroom!) nor too intrusive (divers need some room for adventures, right?). It should also be informative (I mean correct information, duh!), yet enthusiastic and not boring (a DM without sense of humor isn’t welcome in the dive, haha!).

However, if the divers are students then it is not a dive briefing but an instruction (read: dive planning is a whole lot different than dive instruction).

Diving the Plan.

Now, picture yourself all set for the dive with the “plan” totally stuck in your head. Thanks to the DM who “planned” the dive for an hour (that long briefing!). You dive obediently following every advice and information that your ‘boring DM” discussed. While diving around (following your unexciting DM who happened to be your buddy too), you noticed that there were not much to see (probably two small fishes and a bleached coral, and more mud or silt, etc. etc.). After 45 minutes, he signaled for a safety stop and then it’s time for you to ascend.

Although quite a bit boring, it was a safe dive. Until you hear the other group who went to another direction. They talk big about the manta ray that was suitcase big and a turtle that seemingly stopped while being photographed. Schools of fishes, nice corals, blah blah…then your heart sink with envy.

Here’s the point where you ask yourself, what happened to the dive plan?! And then you recall that long, tedious, and inaccurate plan! Could a dive plan be any worse?

Short and Accurate. Less Means  More.

During my recent dive at Apo Reef Natural Park in Sabang, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, I was amazed by how smart and professional the DM was.  His name is Reuel from Mariposa Dive Center in Pandan Island.  I was with a group of three PADI Instructors, an AOWD (with almost 200 dives in his log, ugh!). I was just recently certified as a Rescue Diver then. The point is, all divers in the group were well experienced, having been active divers for years and traveled many places around the world. But DM Reuel showed wit and authority.  His briefing was short, informative and accurate. I also learned a new hand signal from DM Reuel during that trip to Apo Reef- the “half air signal” which is useful when you want to signal your buddy that you already consumed half of your air.

We asked him to bring us to where the sharks were, and he did. First time for me to see twelve sharks in a dive!

He made us feel that he knows the dive site very well (yeah, as if he was born in Apo Reef in particular!)  He demanded trust and that was well given to him by the group.

An essential dive plan, brief in nature should consist primarily of the following: time and depth of dive and buddy assignment. A short note on possible hazards and emergency procedures, like what to do in case of a lost buddy, are also mandatory.

When you know the plan (from a competent and reliable DM- I’m sure you’ll know one when you see one), stick to it. A dive plan is a diver’s guide to safety and with a safe dive, all the fun just falls into the right places!

Safe diving, everyone! And have fun always!



2 Comments

Safety in Scuba Diving

3/11/2013

10 Comments

 
Since I started diving some*eighteen* years ago, I have always been fascinated with all the thrills and fun of diving- as a sport, a hobby, and as a profession. I have always enjoyed every experience shared with divers in, about and on water- and the elusive life under it. Truly, one has to be a diver to appreciate more of the planet where we live in.
But diving, as any other sport or recreation, has always been associated with risks. While during training, a student (diver) learns how to avoid such risks, each diving activity entails a different risk on itself and to the diver, even after obtaining a certification. Thus, I always tell my students and buddies that knowledge and training are among a diver’s best defenses to avoid inherent risks.
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So, while we are all humans and are therefore susceptible to accidents or uncontrolled circumstances, we always should give our 100% attention to details of safety in diving.

Below are some general safety rules in scuba diving:

1. GET PROPER TRAINING
Enroll in a scuba diving course with a recognized diving organization (i.e. PADI). “DON’T DIVE BEYOND YOUR CERTIFICATION LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE”.

2. BE IN GOOD SHAPE
A diver should have physical ability to manage diving activities, skill in basic swimming (i.e. must be comfortable in water though not necessarily be a swimmer). It is also recommended to undergo a medical or physical examination prior to the start of any diving activity. Know your physical limitations in terms of diving.

3. CHECK YOUR DIVING EQUIPMENT
Prior to the dive, check all your diving gears and equipment to make sure that all of them are functioning properly.

4. NEVER DIVE ALONE
Always dive with a buddy, stay close and keep communicating to your dive buddy to track his/her position and if everything is OK. In any event that you shall need assistance, you can easily reach out for help. NEVER DIVE ALONE. It is also a must to perform the pre-dive safety check (BWRAF – BCD – Weights – Releases – Air & Final OK) every dive.
 
In case something happens, follows these simple steps:

1. Stop
2. Breathe
3. Think
4. Act
5. Signal to your dive buddy for help
 
5. NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATHE
We learned that the number one rule in scuba diving is to never hold your breath while using scuba unit. Continuous deep slow breathing (and/or normal breathing) is recommended while using scuba unit.

6. PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN
Prior to your dive, you and your buddy should know the maximum depth you will go, bottom time you'll have and how much air you should have to start ascending. Check your air supply often. You should also agree on the hand signals you will use to communicate underwater.

7. RELAX, HAVE FUN AND ENJOY
Being comfortable and relaxed underwater will definitely make a dive more fun.

8. CONTROL YOUR ASCENT
After completing a dive, ASCEND slowly – you should ascend not more than 60 ft. per minute / one foot per second to give time for nitrogen gases to be released from your body. A 3 minute safety stop at 15 ft. / 5 meters every dive is also mandatory before you ascend again slowly to the remaining 15ft.

9. PRACTICE YOUR SKILLS FROM TIME TO TIME.   
Dive regularly or as much as you can. The more you dive and practice , each skill becomes second nature to you. Practice makes perfect.

There you have it. Follow the above scuba diving safety rules to greatly increase your chance of a safe and incident free dive.

After all, we are certified divers- we dive for fun and we all wish to keep on diving until we can.


 by:  Raul D. Ausemestre
        PADI Instructor Development Course Staff
      

10 Comments

In Search of the Perfect Fin (A Re-Post)

3/10/2013

1 Comment

 
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ScubaLab 2012: In Search of the Perfect Fin

Behind the Testing

We don’t just grab gear, jump in the water and splash around for a while. Scubalab fin tests revolve around 10 real-world performance categories. Test divers rate each fin in each category below using a scale from 5 (excellent performance) to 1 (poor performance). These are the categories:

-EASE OF DONNING THE FIN is rated both in a...nd out of the water.

-ADJUSTABILITY OF BUCKLES AND STRAPS is scored by evaluating effectiveness, accessibility and ease of use.

-FIT AND COMFORT OF FOOT POCKETS are rated, as is the overall feel of the fin on the diver’s foot.

-SURFACE PROPULSION is scored when divers are kicking on the surface in a face-down position.

-STABILITY is checked by noting wobble, side-to-side slicing, and whether the fin blades have a tendency to hit each other during the diver’s kick cycle.

-POWER VERSUS STRESS is the relationship of the power produced during the kick cycle relative to the amount of effort that’s required to produce that power.

-EASE AND EFFICIENCY OF KICKING STYLES is scored after swimming underwater using the flutter kick, frog kick and dolphin kick.

-ACCELERATION is scored during an underwater swim and reflects how the fin responds to power kicking.

-MANEUVERABILITY is rated by evaluating the ease of getting in and out of tight places — backing up, changing or reversing directions — using small fin movements.

-EASE OF REMOVING THE FIN is evaluated by testing the ease of using the buckle and strap system, the ability to hold onto the fin without losing it, etc.

The Bottom Line

Testers’ Choice and Best Buy In the open-heel category, the Tusa SF-15 X-Pert Zoom Z3 split fin earned the most test-diver votes for top kicker in this year’s go-round, with the Beuchat Power Jet paddle fin coming in a close second. Turning in the best combination of performance and price, the Tilos Saber paddle fin earned the nod for the 2012 Best Buy.

In the full-foot category, the undisputed test-diver favorite was the Mares Wave paddle fin, followed by the Tusa FF-19 X-Pert Evolution split fin. For Best Buy, it was a toss-up between these same two fins. Their prices are nearly the same, and the performance of each fin topped the charts. So it came down to preference: Split-fin fans preferred the Tusa, while paddle fin fans gave the nod to the Mares. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

*Note: Size limitations on the the Hollis F2 and SCUBAPRO Seawing Gorilla open-heel fins prevented all test divers from diving these fins.
1 Comment

The Buzz on the “Viz”

3/3/2013

2 Comments

 
 If there’s one thing in scuba diving that’s overly subjective, I’d say it’s visibility. Divers on the same dive, at the same spot may surface and afterwards discuss about the viz, saying different things and referring to it several ways.

It all started as I fill up a new logbook, apparently my second, (geez, I finally filled up the entire logbook#1---yey!!!), I found a portion about “visibility” and I started to wonder how I should fill it up- by feet? By meters? Or should it be as good, bad, okay, excellent—or what?!

So, I looked it up, (yeah, thru google and all…okay!!!), in my attempt to answer my own dilemma. Dictionary defines visibility as the distance at which an object underwater can be eadily identified. Diving instructors say underwater visibility is measured two ways: There is horizontal visibility — how far you can see looking straight ahead — and vertical visibility — how far you can see looking up or down. Hmmm.. sounds easy?? Don’t think so! Again, how do we measure viz? Jacques Cousteau may have had something called a Secchi disk. They say it's  a white disk, 4 inches/10 cm in diameter, which is lowered into the water to a depth at which it just disappears from sight.  The distance where the disk cannot be seen is recorded, with the length of the line being the visibility. Even more advanced methods with higher precision exist using photometers. Quite an established way to measure, but the problem is that I don’t know anyone in the group who uses a Secchi Disk or where to find it!

So, my next question is: Does measuring visibility accurately really matter?

By understanding the various factors which affect visibility, we can plan our dive excursions to take advantage of better conditions. It’s one way our knowledge of the weather and waves can make each dive a little bit clearer. For photographers, an accurate measurement may be important since their equipment can depend on exact numbers.

For now, as recreational divers, I guess there’s not a very great deal of finding the exact measurement of visibility. Other done bragging (Oh yeah! That dive was an awesome 80 meter viz!”), i think we’re equally safe to just say viz was either terrible or good, okay or excellent.

by: MMO
     
2 Comments

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