When people imagine all of the possible things that could go wrong while diving, they are usually dramatic scenes that play out underwater. It’s actually not the case, many dive accidents and incidents occur while divers are on the surface or returning to it.
It’s easy to be lured into a false sense of security while at the surface and able to breathe unaided. However, it’s not a time to drop your guard or become distracted.
The majority of surface incidents can easily be avoided by developing and practicing good scuba surface habits. These good scuba surface habits can be broken down into two main sections: pre-dive and post-dive habits and procedures. Let’s take a look at what these involve.
Good Scuba Surface Habits: Pre-Dive
Pre-Dive Safety Check
This is when the dive really begins. If either you or your buddy is not fully prepared for the dive, you are more likely to encounter problems. Take the time to check that your equipment is secure, your weights are in place, weights are easily releasable, no straps or gear is trailing, and your tank valve is open.
Boat and Dive Site Briefings
Listen! These briefings contain important information about entry and exit methods as well as any surface swims and boat pick-up information. If you are unfamiliar with boat diving, take the PADI Boat Diver Specialty Course to learn more.
Entry
Enter the water with all gear in place – including your mask and regulator. You should have a reasonable amount of air in your BCD so you will float at the surface and be prepared to add more after you have made your entry if you are not positively buoyant.
Surface Swims
If you need to make a surface swim to your descent point, switch to your snorkel and keep looking up to check you are on course. Maintain buddy contact at all times.
Proper Descent
When you are ready to descend, use the 5-point method from your Open Water Diver training. If you switched to your snorkel for a surface swim, remember to change back to your regulator pre-descent!
Good Scuba Surface Habits: Post-Dive
Surfacing
Remember the 5-point ascent from your training? There are good reasons for it. Remember to stay close to your buddy and confirm you are planning to ascend by hand signals to go up and OK. Ascend slowly and underneath the surface marker buoy. Keep looking up and listening for any surface boat traffic. Keep your BCD inflator hose above your head to release air and control your ascent speed. When you breach the surface, do not drop your inflator, immediately inflate your BCD.
Stay Positive
Whenever you are at the surface, ensure that you remain positively buoyant. You should not need to kick or expend energy to keep your head above the surface. Remember you have multiple options for achieving positive buoyancy: Inflate your BCD using the inflator hose, orally inflate your BCD, or in an emergency, drop your weights.
Stay Together
When divers are on the surface, they are much more visible in numbers than individually. Stay together and close to the surface marker buoy. Being visible will not only assist your boat in seeing you but other boats too. Keep your mask on and your snorkel or regulator in depending on surface conditions. If you remove your snorkel or regulator to communicate, keep hold of it so it’s easy to put it back in when you are ready.
Stay Alert
It’s easy to get swept away in the excitement after a dive, but it’s also easy to get swept away in surface currents. Keep an eye on the shore, if you have it in view, to check if you are drifting. Stay close together and keep watching all around you. Listen for boat engines and keep a constant eye out for your boat pick-up. Once your boat comes into view, keep your eyes on it and be ready to follow the boarding procedure.
Gear Removal
If you are removing your gear in the water, remove your weights first, followed by BCD. Do not remove your fins without having contact with the boat either via a trail line, ladder, or other means.
Follow the Briefing to Exit
Follow the exiting procedure as directed by the crew. They know best how to reboard their boat. Stay clear of the ladder while other divers are climbing it to avoid being in harm’s way, should they slip and fall backward.
Stay Calm
While it may seem odd to list this as one of our good scuba surface habits or skills, staying calm is key. Once panic sets in, it becomes easy to forget your training and make mistakes. Advancing your dive training and becoming a PADI Rescue Diver is a great way to learn about staying calm, recognizing panic in others, and how to deal with it.
You can also learn more about PADI Rescue divers in this PADI Blog.
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