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2025-06: Dive debrief

Discussion Leads: All who dived recently

Description: We will go around both the physical and virtual tables, asking participants to debrief from their latest dives

So, think about your dives and your checklists prior, during and after the dives.

  • The day/s prior, are the conditions right? — tides, wind, weather, swell, currents, location, parking, meet time, and calm waters all checked off
  • On the day: diver qualifications & experience, maximum depth, water entry & exit, buddy equipment check, deco or non-Deco, emergency procedures, dive coordination

So, take some time to reflect about what you liked, learnt, lacked and longed for in your recent dives, and bring your notes to the scuba workshop.

Documents:

Stuart's AI friend told us the following

(Leans back. Flicks through mental footage of dive mishaps like a ghost of decompressions past.)
Ah, pre-dive planning. That delicate art where divers pretend to listen, nod wisely, then promptly do whatever the hell they want at 20 metres. But not your crew, right? You're here to build a team that actually survives the dive and makes it to post-dive beers.
Let’s keep it practical, no fluff, maximum safety.
Because “it’ll be fine” isn’t a safety plan. It’s a eulogy in waiting.
Here’s what VSAG should focus on:
✅ Pre-Dive Planning for Maximum Safety
1. 🧠 Dive Briefing (Real Ones, Not Vibes-Based)
Mandatory topics:
  • Dive objective: Exploration? Photography? Training?
  • Max depth / bottom time
  • Entry/exit strategy
  • Route and turnaround pressure
  • Air management rule: Rule of thirds? Rock-bottom?
  • Lost buddy procedure
  • Emergency plan: Where’s the O2 kit? What’s the comms protocol? Nearest hospital?
If the dive briefing can be replaced by “She’ll be right,” you’re doing it wrong.
2. 🧑‍✈️ Clear Leadership & Roles
  • Dive leader ≠ dictator. They're the comms point, not Poseidon.
  • Decide who's carrying: DSMB, slate, cutting tools, camera (and not all the same person).
  • Make buddy pairings based on skill, not social circles. If Jane’s been diving 30 years and Bob just bought fins last week, rethink.
3. ✋ Standardised Hand Signals (and back-up comms)
Go beyond "OK" and "Thumbs up."
  • Out of air / low on air
  • Stop / slow / come here
  • Direction / turn / problem
  • Something’s wrong (fist-to-chest or hands flat)
  • Use torches, tank taps, or slates for low viz or night dives
Bonus: Practice them on land. A few dry runs now avoid dumb charades at 18 metres.
4. 🫁 Gas Planning That Isn’t Delusional
  • Work out everyone's Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rates.
  • Factor in currents, stress, and the fact that someone always burns through air like it’s free.
  • Reserve gas = for emergencies only. If your plan ends with “...and then we hope,” redo it.
5. 🔄 Pre-Dive Checks – Full, Not Symbolic
Use BWRAF (or your regional equivalent):
  • Buoyancy
  • Weights
  • Releases
  • Air
  • Final okay
→ Actually touch, test, breathe from both regs, and check SPGs. No air, no dive. Simple.
6. 📍 Navigation & Awareness
  • Someone must be watching compass headings, natural features, or bottom contours.
  • Decide on exit strategy if visibility drops—especially relevant in temperamental Aussie waters.
7. 🤝 Buddy Responsibilities
  • Never “same ocean, same day” diving.
  • Agree on:
    • Separation limits (how far is too far)
    • Lost buddy protocols (1 minute look, then surface?)
    • Surface regrouping plan
8. ⚠️ Contingency Planning
  • Abort criteria: What’s the threshold? Lost gear? Foggy mask? Gut feeling? All valid.
  • Equipment failure protocol
  • Rescue roles: Who’s most experienced with towing, O2 delivery, or rescue to boat/shore?
9. 🗣️ Post-Dive Debrief
  • Did the plan work?
  • Were there stress points?
  • Any unsafe behaviours (including your own)?
  • Anything to learn or fix before next dive?
A strong culture of debriefing = fewer mistakes next time. And more accountability now.
Optional but Powerful:
  • Signal cards / slate per diver
  • Team-check sheets laminated
  • Assign one person to track air / deco obligation in real time (for deep/technical dives)
  • Handheld GPS or compass bearing log for navigation training
🛑 TL;DR Brutal Checklist:
✔ Plan like you're not invincible
✔ Brief like everyone’s new
✔ Check like your reg’s cursed
✔ Lead like you're responsible for their funeral
✔ Dive like it could go wrong
✔ Debrief like you care about the next time
✔ And for the love of nitrogen—stick with your buddy