NAUI Scuba Diver
12 Continual Improvement
LEARNING GOALS
In this chapter you will:
1. Learn the benefit of continual improvement of
your diving skills.
2. Review the processes of advance and immediate
pre-dive planning.
3. Be introduced to a who, what, when, where, and
how method of planning a dive.
4. Review S.E.A.B.A.G. and its use as a memory device
for pre-dive equipment checks.
5. Review the buddy system and its benefits to diving
enjoyment and safety.
6. Review buoyancy control techniques and methods
for fine tuning buoyancy and ballast.
7. Learn about stress and stress management and
the role that fitness, training, and preparation
have on diving safety.
GETTING YOUR ACT TOGETHER
You may be entering the Advanced Scuba Diver
course directly from your entry-level training, or you may
have had some additional diving experience. Perhaps you
are here to refresh your skills after a long period of not
diving. In the course you will be expanding your horizons
with a series of at least six dives that introduce you to a
variety of diving activities.
Just as importantly, with each dive you will be improving
your general diving skills, increasing your ability to
plan and execute safe and enjoyable dives, and further
acquainting yourself not only with specialized equipment
but also with your general diving gear. As you advance your
diving skills, you will be taking more and more responsibility
for your own dives. So, before we begin specific diving
activities of this course, let’s look at the more general skills of
scuba diving – planning, techniques, and safe diving.
DIVE PLANNING
Planning for safe, enjoyable dives demands care and
attention to detail. There are two parts to this exercise,
advance preparatory planning and planning for the dive
itself.
Advance Planning
Advance or long-term dive planning begins
when you decide to make the dive. It may be as simple as
you and your buddy deciding what you want to do
on a weekend day, or it may be booking a week-long diving
vacation to an exotic remote destination. Preparing
for your diving should start immediately. Begin by listing
the who, what, when, where, and how
of your dive.
Who will be your buddy? The decision may be a
matter of course, but with whom you will dive is an
important decision. A good buddy can make the difference
between having fun and not having fun. The proper
buddy can mean achieving your dive objective. A buddy
does not have to have the same skill level as you, but it
should be adequate to the planned dives. Your buddy
should be someone compatible and trustworthy. Your
objectives should be similar.
What will you need? Check your diving equipment.
Can you locate everything? Do not wait until the last
minute. Make a checklist. Do you need to acquire some
additional or special equipment? Is your equipment in
good condition? Does it need repairs or annual preventive
maintenance? Repairs will take time, so you must plan
ahead.
When are you diving? What water conditions should
you prepare for? Water temperatures and dive-conditions
vary with the season. A location that requires only
a shorty wetsuit in the summer may need a full 6.5-mm
suit in the early spring. Are rough seas a possibility? You are
more likely to encounter adverse conditions in the winter.
If you are susceptible to seasickness, be prepared. Be prepared
to not dive if conditions are bad. Commercial dive
boats will not operate if the seas are too high or conditions
are adverse. Shore divers must be especially wary of
winter conditions when waves and surf are more likely to
prevent diving (figure 2-1).
The time of day can make a difference as well.
Easier diving in calmer water is more likely in the morning
before winds increase and cause chop. If you are