Chapter 2- Continual Improvement
Continual Improvement
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FIGURE 2-1. Check conditions carefully before making the decision to dive. It may be wiser to wait for another day.
ocean diving, your choice of dive time may be affected by
the tide. A beach that is an easy entry point at high tide
may be dangerously rocky or slippery at low tide. Tidal
currents are influenced by the state of the tide. Visibility
will be better at high tide when clean water is coming
towards shore. Low tide usually means lower visibility
especially near the mouth of a harbor or other geographic
restriction that produces tidal flow. The times of high and
low tide change from day to day with the phases of the
moon. Consult local tide tables to help
find optimal conditions.
Where are you diving? If you will be traveling
abroad, do you have a valid passport? Without one, your
dive will end at the airport check-in because you will not
be allowed to board the plane. Do you need some special
clothing? Should you take an extra supply of any required
medications? Thinking ahead avoids problems later.
Wherever you are diving, you need to be aware of local
regulations. For example, in many places shore access for
diving is permitted only at certain times of the day, especially
in the summer when the beaches are crowded with
swimmers and parking is scarce. Is taking game, such as
lobsters, permitted and are licenses necessary? You need
to know and comply with relevant laws and ordinances.
Another general consideration is departure time. If
you are traveling to your destination by air or if you are
diving from a commercial dive boat, knowing the departure
time is important. Be sure that you allow enough
time to arrive well ahead of the scheduled departure. This
will also provide some contingency time in case you are
delayed by traffic or a minor mishap on the way. Your
flight will not wait for you (unless it is your private airplane),
and the captain of a dive boat has commitments
to the other divers on board and is not likely to delay
sailing because you are late.
How are you diving? Will your diving platform be
the shore or a boat (figure 2-2)? Organize your plan for
getting there. Can you car-pool? Where will you park? If
you are boat diving, remember that everything you need
has to go on board with you. Some of the other things
you must consider about where you dive have already
been discussed. If you are diving with a group, some
decisions, such as choice of dive site and appropriate
conditions, may be group decisions or will be made by the