Ocean Diver Going diving - Jackie - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Ocean DiverGoing diving - JackieModule OT3

2. Aims:At the end of this lecture you should:know that diving is an adventurous sport ; that risks need to be assessed and reduced to make it as safe as possibleUnderstand the importance of diving as a buddy pairUnderstand that diving is controlled by a Dive ManagerUnderstand the importance of the dive plan, briefing and buddy checkKnow how to use diving signalsKnow what to expect and what to consider during a diveHave a basic understanding of the environment underwater

3. GOING DIVING Module contentThe practicalities of going divingKeeping safeBuddy divingDive managementDive planningDiving signalsGoing on a diveThe environment underwater

4. Keeping safeIdentify hazards/problems such as .. ?Running out of gas:Equipment failure - rareDiver consuming all air - avoidableSeparation:Insufficient care or bad buddy monitoringNot a hazzard but a contributing factor in many accidentsEntanglement:a specific risk – especially on wrecksFishing nets and lines

5. Keeping Safe cont/dPlan – to keep safe and minimise hazardsGas monitoring Check regularly trainee + instructorKeep to the plan – turn around at agreed gas level Extra care - new locations + deeper depthsSeparation: keep close – good communicationEntanglement: carry knife/net cuttersCaution monofilament nylon nets/linesFollow safe diving practicesKeep in control and follow the plan i.ePlan the dive and dive the plan!It is your responsibility to do this as divers in a buddy pair!!

6. Buddy diving What is are the benefits of buddy diving? ..Monitor each other and assist if necessary on a dive eg fin strapHelp with kitting-up, entry, exit and de-kitting – there is no need to struggle!Develop diving skills with more experienced buddiesShare, compare and learn from diving experiences – continue to learn and develop skillsDiscover the type of diving you enjoyWrecks / marine life identification / photographySharing gives increased safety + enjoyment!

7. Dive organisation – a good triangleDiving Officer (DO)/Lead Instructor (centres)Overall accountability for diving safety + makes sure safe diving practices are complied with. He can cancel a dive or stop someone diving if they fail to comply with safety advice Dive Manager (DM)Appointed by DOResponsible for all diving on site – ensures dives are conducted safely. Can cancel a dive or a diver diving if they fail to comply with safety adviceBuddy pairDuty of care to self and buddy and other diversIf thought unsafe – speak up

8. The Dive ManagerResponsible to the Diving Officer – what does he do? ..Selects the site – taking into account weather/site conditions/diver qualifications . Especial max depth and dive time.Creates overall dive plan – timetable/ pairings/ reason for dive/ boat/ gas mix – all happy?Gives dive brief – where/ why and howControls entry to and exit from the waterMonitors dive progress i.e. weather and sea conditionsRecords dive detailsMay ask you to assist other divers with kit andManages incidents that occur by co-ordinating and managing a rescue as required

9. The buddy pair – who are they responsible to? ..Responsible to the Dive Manager - what do they have to do? ..Listen to dive brief – ask if not clearPlan your dive within the limits given by the DMAgree and lodge dive plan with DM/DO – is a skill involved / training / or just a fun dive?Be ready to enter water on time with all kit required. Any problems tell the DMLodge dive details with DM after dive:Dive time, max depth and gas remaining + any problems or issues that may have happenedHelp other divers as requested by DMAbove all, Dive the Plan – this is your responsibility as divers in a buddy pair!

10. The dive planDive objectivesTraining – any skills required?Experience – nominate a leader for the buddy pairShould be funPlanned depth – keep to the max depth givenDive duration – what limits it apart from depth?Experience, physical fitness levels and conditionsGas use – air or nitrox to 36% are you:Surfacing with a reserve – shallow dives/very sheltered conditions - leave the bottom with 70 bar remaining and exit water with 50 barRule of thirds – in the sea - 210 in cylinder start returning at 140 and reach the surface with 70 bar remaining

11. The dive plan cont/dManaging any risksThe plan should also include any specific actions that are to be taken to deal with any specific risks:On the surface – safe entry and exitsUnderwater conditions/hazards which involve poor viz or snagging risks and entanglement – need net cutters/torch – know where they are!Navigation – consider how to navigate either by compass or pilotage

12. Buddy pair safety briefing – SEEDS ? ..SafetyFitness to dive – colds, good health, alcohol and drugsWithin capabilities and qualifications - happy?Site specific hazards – are there any?Exercise – dive objective – the reason for the diveDepth and time – check within the tables and DM briefingBreathing gas – correct mix and enough to do the diveEquipmentWhat is needed – Is it all ready and does it all work?DisciplineConfirm dive leaderStay together – poor viz?Separation procedure andSignalsHighlight any special signals

13. Diving signalsBasic signalsOKUpDownSomething is wrongStopYou or meSafety signalsGas checkDistressOut of gasOut of breath

14. Diving signals (2)Dive flags – a visual warning of divers in the waterThe International ‘A’ flagLetter A in flag alphabetI have divers down, stay clear and reduce speedOnly used when divers are in the water and not when travelling to and from a site andAmerican Sport Divers FlagDivers below, stay clear

15. Buddy checks why do we do them?..Check all kit there and working and familiarisation BuoyancyDirect feeds workDump valves workDry suit or BC?Air (gas – could be air or nitrox)Primary demand valve worksBuddy to practise releasing and breathing from ASGas contents – valve openReleasesWeight belt or weight systemBCDry suit direct feed GasReleasesBuoyancy

16. Quiz 1What information will you get in a buddy pair safety brief?SafetyExerciseEquipmentDisciplineSignalsWhat are the main elements of the buddy check?BuoyancyAir (gas)Releases

17. Entering the water – Always air in BCD and mask on!Shelving shoreWade in – buddy helpAssist with fin fitting – buddy helpLarge boat, vertical dropsStride or forward roll Sufficient water depth. 2 – 3.5mClear of other divers + hazardsSmall boat – rib – main advantage is it can be towed to different sitesBackwards roll Clear of other divers – cox controlsFollowing entry wherever:Diver to give OK to surface cover and to buddy

18. The Descent – shore or boatDescent depends on site:Shelving shore:Descend as soon as depth allows and follow the slope of the seabed to your intended depth.Boat:A shot is used which generally marks the dive site. Do not pull on the shot!

19. The descent – shore or boatStart descentOK signal to each otherGo downStay togetherClear earsBuoyancy control – get heavier as descend therefore adjust your buoyancyA few metres down…Check depth gaugesCheck breathing gas + bubble checkCheck buoyancy – trim for neutralOK to continue? Repeat process on reaching the bottom andAim to hover before you hit the bottom

20. On reaching the bottomTrim buoyancyAim to hoverCheckBuddy with you and OK – exchange signalsCheck breathing gas for self and buddy – see amount usedLook at buddy, all kit still in place and done up eg weightbeltLook for streams of bubblesAsk am I happy to continue or abort?Establish direction of travel – does it confirm with the plan?

21. During the diveStay together and regularly communicateSee interesting things / avoid separationMonitor:ConditionsDepth – always – on any type of dive where, when - during the whole diveRoute - check going the right wayBreathing gas – check for ‘turn-around’ pointBuddy Check alternative supply ok and not leakingWeight belt feels OK can become loose or move around the waist andKeep to the planIf unhappy, uncomfortable or cold abort the diveRemember -Plan the dive and dive the plan

22. Separation procedureIf separated from your buddy – what do you do? ...StopFocus on direction of last contact, look around and up and flash your torch30-60 seconds maxAscend in a controlled way and signal to the boat when at the surfaceAt surface make yourself buoyant and await instructions from the DMTrio divingIncreased risk of separationBuddy monitoringIdeally self-reliance on gas supply

23. Finding your wayPilotage – what is it? ..Mentally map underwater features on outward journey for the return eg weed or coral heads, individual rocks, piece of rubbish and sand ripplesMonitor depth and do not get distractedCompassYour instructor or buddy may a use compass to navigate Using a compass is a Sport Diver skill that will ensure a safe return to the start point. All that covered in the SD training.

24. The environment under waterWater conditions vary enormously between different dive locations. As do conditions with seasons and weather conditionsLight white light eg sunlight, is made up of light from across the colour spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo + violet Colour: water absorbsIndividual colours oflight at differentdepths

25. The environment underwater Red goes first as a diver goes deeper and the bluer the surroundings become. In natural light, marine life that is red will appear blue at depth. – only by using a torch do you get the true coloursVisibility: viz – is distance seen and is measured in metres. Divers cannot see as far underwater as they can on land – there is less available light. The particles in the water will reduce overall light levels further by preventing light penetration from the surfaceMagnification – masks need air space to see underwater. Light rays passing from air into water are bent and things seem 25% larger and closer

26. The environment underwater cont/dSoundSpeed - sound travels 8 times faster through water than airDirection – In air we can determine the direction of sound by measuring the time difference in the sound reaching our left and right ears. This mechanism is not sufficiently sensitive to cope with the faster transmission speed of sound in water and we are unable to identify the source of sound.Temperature – water temperatures can vary alot with depth starting warm at the surface and steadily cooling with depth.Thermoclines – water is made up of layers determined by temperature. The top layer mixes with the wind and the waves and distributes the warmth. At the bottom is the cooler deep water. In between is the thermocline which is the transition layer between the warmer mixed water at the surface and the cooler deep water below. Sudden change in temperature and gets colderhazy

27. The environment underwater

28. The ascentStart ascentGive OK signal and start goingUp – how shelving, shot line or reel?Buoyancy control using a depth gauge or computer – no yo-yo profilesStay togetherControl ascent6m (5m) check depth – do stopsGood buoyancy controlAfter stops - controlled 1 min ascent to surfaceSurface actionsInflate BC - safetySignal OK to buddySignal OK to surface cover - flagKeep demand valve in mouth for safety

29. Exiting the water – ALWAYS keep DV in and mask on!Shelving shoreWade towards shoreAssist with fin removalLarge boat, some inland sitesSteps or ladderMask on, demand valve in, gas in BCStay clear of diver on ladder/lift

30. Exiting the water cont/d.Small boatRemove weight beltRemove scuba equipmentFin up into boat

31. After the diveDive detailsTo Dive Manager for branch recordsFor own dive logbookRecord weight/kit usedBuddy dive debriefWhat you have seenWhat you have learnt or experiencedAny areas for improvement/more practiceAny kit configuration adaptations for future dives

32. Quiz 2What are the responsibilities of the Dive Manager?Assessing risksBuddy pairingsDiving grade and depth limitationsMonitoring conditionsIf separated from your buddy what should you do?Stop and wait for 30-60 secondsFocus on direction of last contact but look all around and upAscendMake yourself buoyant and await instruction

33. SummaryThe practicalities of going divingKeeping safeBuddy divingDive managementDive planningDiving signalsGoing on a diveThe environment underwaterModule OT3