Diving Recommendations

• The Marshal should try and arrange that all dives are carried out in buddy pairs, with threesomes being be avoided if possible. This really isn't too difficult, as the Marshal can either add himself to the list of divers, or take himself off, so that the numbers are equal.
• Air reserves will normally be stipulated by the Dive Marshal - with due regard to diver ability & cylinder size. In the absence of any specific instructions, a sensible rule of thumb is to get back to the surface with 50 bars.
• Equipment advice will be made according to the nature of the dive. Experienced divers should plan to have suitable personal equipment with them to make all dives safe.
• Do not share computers! Dive leaders should ensure that a sensible back up plan is in the brief. (BSAC recommend 3 minutes at 6 metres, but read the manual for your computer) if a computer should stop working on a routine non-stop dive.
• Decompression diving must be carefully planned and applied to diving situations appropriately as well as being cleared with the Marshal or Diving Officer. The sort of considerations to take into account is: spare air availability, experience of the divers, water visibility and movement.
• Dives deeper than 30m must to be planned very carefully including the use of a secondary air source such as a pony cylinder. Considerations similar to those for decompression diving should be considered.
• You may wish to consider at least a one-minute stop at 6 metres on every dive. This helps reduce the decompression gradient and hence is a really sensible precaution. Please use this in addition to any mandatory stops that are required.
• Safety cut-out lanyards are to be worn at all times when driving the RIB. If you feel that, during low speed manoeuvering, the lanyard keeps tugging, then ask the Equipment Officer to buy a longer one.
• While is the Coxswain's duty to check safety equipment such as oxygen and first aid kits - it is the Marshal's responsibility in the end. Ensure that this is done during boat preparation. Ask the Equipment Officer for some tamper-proof tags that are easily removed in an emergency and which can show that the kit has not been fiddled with since the last check. Bear in mind that the presence of a tag does not mean that the oxygen cylinder hasn't bled itself empty since it was sealed!
• The Dive Marshal's brief to all divers should include the following - on all club dives.
  • The nature of the dive, depth, duration, buddy pairings and order of entry in conjunction with the log sheet.
  • The method of entry and exit.
  • A SEEDS brief
  • A REAP debrief at the end of the day to all divers - especially those undergoing training.
• The coxswain must also brief his divers, and this should include:
  • Safety - how to hold on, conduct movement, stowage of equipment, diver recall method, entry and exit.
  • Exercise - how the diving will be conducted
  • Equipment - what is on board and where it is stowed.
  • Discipline - actions and behaviour on board.
  • Signals - pick up and drop off signals from the boat etc.