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Chapter 6- Dive Planning and Recording Dive Planning and Recording 153 Verify What You Have Learned Review the following questions about preparing to dive: 7. One item that should go towards the bottom of your dive bag is ___________________. 8. One item that should go towards the top of your dive bag is ___________________. 9. You should abstain from drinking alcohol at least _______ hours before diving. CONDUCTING YOUR DIVE When you and your buddy arrive at your selected site, you must agree on how you will conduct your dive before you enter the water. The acronym, SEABAG, is an easy way to remember the series of steps that you follow to plan a dive and check each other’s equipment. SEABAG stands for: • Site survey • Emergency plan and information • Activity • Buoyancy • Air • Gear and go See Chapter 3 for the steps for buoyancy, air, and gear and go. The steps for site survey, emergency, and activity are covered in this section. A checklist for the steps is included in Appendix C. Site Survey Before you even suit up, evaluate the conditions at the site to determine if they are acceptable for your planned activity. If the conditions are bad, travel to an alternate location or do not dive. Never be afraid to say that you do not feel good about diving in poor conditions. The purpose of a dive is enjoyment, and there is no fun if the conditions are bad. Once you decide you can dive, you must determine which buddy will be the leader of the team. This person is in charge of the decision-making during the dive, including when to change course, when to begin the return leg, and when to surface. Partners can always make suggestions, but both must agree that most decisions be made by the dive leader. The leader does not necessarily need to be the most experienced or qualified member of the team. The person who is most familiar with the area should lead on the first dive, and the other buddy can lead on subsequent dives, or the pair can alternate. Emergency Plan You must discuss contingency plans, emergency procedures, and accident management. Agree on what to do if one of you runs out of air under water. Agree on what to do if you get separated under water. One suggested plan for a lost buddy is fully explained in Chapter 3 – Buddy System. Agree on how to summon help if you need it. Discuss the steps you will take if an accident or emergency should occur. Make sure you have the information about local emergency contacts available and that you know the location of the nearest phone. Take some time to be prepared for emergencies, because little time will be available if one occurs. Accidents can happen any time you are diving. You must be prepared for them. Activity There are many things you can do while diving, but you should select only one activity as the purpose of any one planned dive (figure 6-3). It is unwise, and can be unsafe, to try and combine activities on a single dive. If you try to spear fish and take photographs on one dive, you are not likely to do either very well. It also helps if you and your buddy have similar interests. You must agree on the activity and objective of your dive. Discuss what you want to do, how you will accomplish the activity, and any special signals you will be using. You must also review your standard hand signals. Communicate as much as possible before the dive, because it is more difficult after you are under water.


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