Predive checklist

[Monkey_Gland]

Checklists are good. Pilots use them, astronauts use them, surgeons too - all to increase safety and make sure you've covered the most obvious things.

Having variously dived into the water over the years with A) No weights b) Air turned off c) Nitrox on dive computer set incorrectly d) Not wearing fins, I'm thinking that a written checklist with even the most basic stuff on is a fine idea.

Have you got one? Let's have a look.

[TSandM]

I don't have a checklist, but I have a mnemonic. It goes through the dive plan from beginning to end. Then we do a head-to-toe equipment check (by organizing it that way, I don't forget anything, or if I do, one of my teammates will notice).

I agree that having a formal way to make sure everything is as it should be is a good thing. We have a written checklist for packing for dive trips. But even if I had a written list for pre-dive, I think after a few hundred iterations, I'd have it memorized.

[UCFKnightDiver]

Goal (Dive objective)
Unified Team (Team strategies)
Equipment (Match)
Exposure (Depth/Time)
Decompression
Gas (Gas management)
Environment (Issues)

GUE EDGE :)

[caymaniac]

Having variously dived into the water over the years with A) No weights b) Air turned off c) Nitrox on dive computer set incorrectly d) Not wearing fins, I'm thinking that a written checklist with even the most basic stuff on is a fine idea.

I've done all those things as well, especially in the excitement of a dive...I've also had the DM turn my air off by mistake as I had turned it on.:shakehead:


On another note I've enjoyed a Monkey Gland burger/gravey several times while in South Africa...is this where the idea for your handle came from? :popcorn:

[Monkey_Gland]

I don't have a checklist, but I have a mnemonic. It goes through the dive plan from beginning to end. Then we do a head-to-toe equipment check (by organizing it that way, I don't forget anything, or if I do, one of my teammates will notice).

I agree that having a formal way to make sure everything is as it should be is a good thing. We have a written checklist for packing for dive trips. But even if I had a written list for pre-dive, I think after a few hundred iterations, I'd have it memorized.

Interestingly, the article I read on checklists used in surgery (which is why I posted) was put in place instead of doing things from memory. The reinforcement of the ticking a box catches even the most basic errors before they happen and gives each item equal weighting.

[Monkey_Gland]

Goal (Dive objective)
Unified Team (Team strategies)
Equipment (Match)
Exposure (Depth/Time)
Decompression
Gas (Gas management)
Environment (Issues)

GUE EDGE :)

Is there an actual checklist - those are excellent headings - but is there a broken down set of items to check off?

[Monkey_Gland]

I've done all those things as well, especially in the excitement of a dive...I've also had the DM turn my air off by mistake as I had turned it on.:shakehead:


On another note I've enjoyed a Monkey Gland burger/gravey several times while in South Africa...is this where the idea for your handle came from? :popcorn:

It's a cocktail with a hilariously gruesome back story..

The Monkey Gland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey_Gland)

[kanonfodr]

:classic: I use a mnemonic as well, with simplified and standardized gear. I also keep my gear arranged in 4 groups (exposure protection, bc, x-shorts, mask n fins) so I grab items as a unit instead of piecemeal. It makes it more difficult to forget things when you reduce them to such a small number.

That being said, its only human to forget stuff. I'm horrible about remembering to turn my air on, but manage to catch myself before it will cause me undue suffering. Part of my own little last minute check.

So simplify/consolidate items, standardize with your buddies, and develop your own hands on "this could shag me" check. Then practice it and streamline it so it flows. Head to toe, left to right, however your brain works best.

Peace,
Greg

[under water]

Checklists are good. Pilots use them, astronauts use them, surgeons too - all to increase safety and make sure you've covered the most obvious things.
Having variously dived into the water over the years with A) No weights b) Air turned off c) Nitrox on dive computer set incorrectly d) Not wearing fins, I'm thinking that a written checklist with even the most basic stuff on is a fine idea.

Have you got one? Let's have a look.
Nice idea, but at 200-499 dives are you really going to start checking off a list before you get in line with the others to get off the back of the boat?
I visualize foot to head what is needed and then I have another visualization of taking a photo underwater to make sure I have what I need for my camera gear.
Then there is the buddy check. Do you have a regular buddy? What do you check for them?

[Monkey_Gland]

Nice idea, but at 200-499 dives are you really going to start checking off a list before you get in line with the others to get off the back of the boat?
I visualize foot to head what is needed and then I have another visualization of taking a photo underwater to make sure I have what I need for my camera gear.
Then there is the buddy check. Do you have a regular buddy? What do you check for them?

I'm thinking of something quite simple that covers pretty basic checks. Buddy checks are all well and good but generally people are keen to rush through them or actually embarrased to do them (I'm thinking of instabuddies here - not people I've dived with regularly) in a bid to jump off the back of the boat without thinking too hard about what they mean.

Pretty certain a laminated card with a checklist I can go through by myself or with my buddy would focus us better through our checks and mean that I could confidently approach the dive knowing I had covered stuff in a meaningful way. It might well end up being quicker.

It horses for courses, of course. Just figured taking a leaf out of the books of other life critical procedures might be a good idea.

Here's the article I mentioned about how very simple checklist have improved safety in surgery.

BBC NEWS | Health | Surgical checklist 'saves lives' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7825780.stm)

[jmasin]

No checklist here, more a repetitious approach so I don't forget anything (very similar to my morning routine so I don't forget keys, wallet etc.)

Always organize the gear the same, in the same place etc. Always put things on in the same order... it all lends itself to not skipping a step. The only time I've forgotten something was when I added something new to the routine (when I started photographing for example) but that soon became habit.

I guess making everything a habit is what I'm trying to say.

[UCFKnightDiver]

Is there an actual checklist - those are excellent headings - but is there a broken down set of items to check off?

Not exactly, but I'll give some examples;

Goal: It would be something like, "We're going to go drop in, and head to the wreck following etc compass head, swim around the wreck etc"

Unified Team: This would be things like, who's going to be leading the dive, handling decompression if there is any, or any other tasks that need to be assigned on the dive.

Equipment: This would be your checks, modified S drills, valve drills etc, checking to make sure you all have gear needed to do the dive such as a saftey sausage and spool, wet notes and anything else you might need. Making sure your regs are workings etc. Also making sure you are familiar with each others gear etc.

Exposure: Like it says, how deep you're going, and how long you want to stay there.

Decompression: Do you need to do a saftey stop, mandatory decompression, minimum deco etc. Who might be handling that etc. Different planning if need be.

Gas: This would be for gas matching if need be with dissimilar tanks and pressures, a gas plan, when to turn the dive, when to ascend etc.

Environment: This is to deal with any environmental issues you might have such as certain wildlife, possible currents, wrecks/caves dive profile etc.

Now are my checks this formal usually? No, but most if not all this information is covered or known by all member in my team at some point before the dive, but it's certainly nice to have a mnemonic to help sometimes.

Hope this helps,
Ryan

[cgvmer]

As my son is just finishing his commercial pilots license, I have watched him with pre-flight checklists for each of the planes he commonly pilots. I suspect if you talk with experienced divers, they go through a mental checklist, so having a physical checklist is very reasonable.

[Garrobo]

It's like this: Fins, some kinda wetsuit sometimes, backplate with tank and regs, on?, horsecollar and hose, weights sometimes, miscellaneous safety stuff and mask. I've probably forgotten something though.

[H2O 70]

Great...one more thing we need to carry. Let's add that to the checklist.

Flying a plane, surgery, sure. Diving? Really?

Personally I prefer to the 'mental' checklist, I prefer to do it from repetitive behavior, and from a good buddy check.

[Laurie S.]

I'm just a newbie with 18 dives total, but have forgotten to turn my air on three times. It was before I stood up to walk to the end of the boat, so it's not too bad. But I had to ask for help because I couldn't reach the valve while sitting. So, now, I do a mental checklist and verify that I have all my equipment within reach or attached to the bc. The last thing I do now before sitting down to put the bc on is turn the air back on. When I stand up, I do a visual check that I have everything. It seems to be working for me, so far.

[Anti-Hero]

GUE EDGE if done correctly is pretty good at catching problems. The mental checklist doesn't work for me for a number of reasons.

[TSandM]

Monkey gland, I use the same GUE EDGE mnemonic. The equipment check is the first "E" and is very simple. It just goes down the diver from head to toe: hood, mask, check regulators, check inflators (wing and drysuit), gauges, weights, cutting device, primary and backup lights, pocket contents, fins. Unusual equipment needed for the dive is also checked at this point -- reels, cameras, or anything else to accomplish the dive's objectives. It's not unusual for the person leading the checks to omit something, but since the other divers know the routine, one of them will catch it.

As far as people being resistant to doing checks, I find just being a PITA works okay. We've had dive guides try to rush us into the water before, and we just dig our heels in and do the checks anyway. Today, one of my buddies clearly thought the sequence we were doing was overkill, but the other two of us did it anyway. It doesn't take long, once you've got a routine down, and it saves so many headaches in the water.

[kanonfodr]

In reference to pre-dive checks like I referenced before, the last minute checks, there is also SADDDDD.

Sequence: This is what we are going to accomplish on the dive, and in what order or what fashion we will go about accomplishing the goal. Who's doing what on the dive?

Air: What are we all breathing, MODs, rock bottom, and how much we are bringing. Also check that regulators and inflators are functional

Depth: Planned Max, Planned Average depth, hard bottoms/soft bottoms, hard/soft overheads.

Duration: How long we plan to be in the water. Gas limited, Halves, thirds, or sixths?

Distance: How far we plan to travel.

Direction: How are we going to get to the objective? Follow compass heading, line, or natural features?

Deco: What is our deco plan. MDL, planned bottom time, and deco obligation. How will we shape our deco plan and who will be in charge of it?

I prefer this mnemonic as a) I have been formally instructed in it and b) no catchy agency rhyming. J/k on the last one, ultimately it depends on what the team decides to use. However, other agencies teach their own system and it is perfectly acceptable to seek out instruction in any manner of dive planning that you feel suits you.

Peace,
Greg

PS: Forgive me if I omitted/added anything. I've been up for over 37 hours now, just got to hold on for a few more minutes I hope.

[TMHeimer]

I have 3 situations: boat dive, shore dive that I drive to, and dive at my house. Different procedures for each so nothing is forgotten. The easiest is "house" diving as anything that's forgotten is in the house. My buddy once forgot his hood for our shore dive in about 40F water. He stayed on the surface and watched me on the bottom. He wasn't going down.