Dive Briefing Guidelines
This slate includes most common items in a dive briefing. Depending
on the divers, dive site and activity, some of these items may not apply.
Dive Site Name Emergency Procedures
• Interesting facts or story behind name • W hat to do in case of an emergency
• W hat to do in case of buddy separation
Dive Site Description – (may integrate
parts or all with other parts of briefing) • W hat to do if low on or out of air
• R ecall procedures (if applicable)
• Layout – topography, depth, etc.
• P resent conditions (current, visibility, Signal Review
temperature, etc.) • S ignals between you and divers
• Points of interest • E ncourage buddy teams to review
• Unusual hazards and areas off limits signals
• Facilities
Roster/Buddy Check
• Map (if available)
• R oll call (same procedure after the dive)
Your Role • H ave those without buddies identify
• Where you will be themselves so they can choose buddies
• What you will be doing between themselves
• How to identify you Environmental Orientation
• How to get your attention
• P hysical properties
Entry & Exit Procedures (may integrate • L ocal ecosystem and topography
with dive procedures) • A quatic life to be cautious about
• R ecommended techniques and locations • H ow to minimize disturbing aquatic life
for entering & exiting water and the environment – dive carefully
• R easons behind recommended • R espect aquatic life and underwater
procedures cultural heritage
• L ocal regulations
Dive Procedures
• G eneral recommendation – set a good
• R ecommended course to follow example for others when interacting
• R ecommended maximum depth/time with the environment
• W ays to avoid common problems and/or
special dive techniques used locally Predive Safety Check
• S uggested air reserve • R emind divers to perform a predive
• R easons behind recommended safety check and plan their dives
procedures
• R eminder – make a safety stop
© PADI 2021
Predive Safety Check
Begin With Review And Friend
B (BCD)
• B CD secure and functioning properly?
• L ow pressure inflator attached?
• A ppropriately filled for entry?
• B uddy familiar with operation?
• C ylinder secure?
W (Weights)
• A mount of weight appropriate?
• S ystem free and clear for emergency release?
R (Releases)
• A ll buckles and releases functional?
• L ocate release without looking?
• B uddy familiar with operation?
A (Air)
• S ufficient air for dive?
• V alve turned on all the way?
• A lternate air source properly located?
• F amiliar with buddy’s alternate air source?
• A ir pressure at which to turn dive?
F (Final Okay)
• G eneral check of buddy – nothing odd or out of place?
• F ins, mask and snorkel ready?
• P repare to enter water.
Project AWARE’s 10 Tips
for Divers to Protect
the Ocean Planet
1. Be a Buoyancy Expert 6. Make Responsible Seafood Choices
Underwater creatures are more fragile than they Overfishing leads to species declines while harmful
appear. The swipe of a fin, bump of your camera or fishing practices damage and pollute underwater
even a touch can destroy decades of coral growth, ecosystems. You play a critical role as a consumer. If
damage a plant or harm an animal. Streamline your seafood is part of your meal selection, ensure you’re
scuba and photo gear, keep your dive skills sharp, choosing sustainably sourced species and encourage
perfect your underwater photo techniques and others, including restaurants and shop owners, to
continue your dive training to fine-tune your skills. do the same.
Always be aware of your body, dive gear and photo
equipment to avoid contact with the environment. 7. Take Action
Scuba divers are some of the strongest ocean advo-
2. Be a Role Model cates on the planet. Now, more than ever, divers like
New scuba divers are being trained and certified ev- you are taking a stand. Speak out for conservation,
ery day. Regardless of your experience level, be sure share your underwater images, report environmen-
to set a good example for others when interacting tal damage to authorities and campaign for change.
with the environment – while underwater and on
land. 8. Be an Eco-tourist
Make informed decisions when choosing and
3. Take Only Photos – Leave Only Bubbles visiting a destination. Choose facilities dedicated
Nearly everything natural found underwater is alive to responsible social and environmental business
or will be used by a living creature. If you take a practices that include water conservation, energy
coral, shell or animal, you can disturb the delicate reduction, proper waste disposal, use of mooring
balance and add to the depletion of dive sites for buoys and respect for local cultures, laws and
future generations. regulations.
4. Protect Underwater Life 9. Shrink Your Carbon Footprint
Choose not to touch, feed, handle, chase or ride Global warming and ocean acidification are putting
anything underwater. Your actions may stress the your favorite animals and the whole ocean planet
animal, interrupt feeding and mating behavior at risk. Do your part by understanding and reducing
or provoke aggressive behavior. Understand and your carbon footprint and look for ways to offset
respect underwater life and follow all local laws what you can’t reduce.
and regulations.
10. Give Back
5. Become a Debris Activist Ocean protection depends on all of our actions,
An astonishing amount of waste makes its way large and small. Investing in the ocean protects our
underwater, reaching even the most remote ocean planet and lets the dive adventure live on. Donate
areas. Once there, it kills wildlife, destroys habitats or fundraise for ocean protection to fuel the grass-
and threatens our health and economy. Don’t let roots actionand policy change necessary to ensure
your dives go to waste. Remove and report what a clean, healthy ocean planet.
doesn’t belong underwater every time you dive.
Make a conscious effort to buy green, buy local
and buy less.
GET INVOLVED AND TAKE ACTION AT PROJECTAWARE.ORG.
© Project AWARE Foundation 2018
Discover Local Diving
A supervised underwater tour designed to orient certified
divers to different aquatic conditions and environments.
Base ratio on factors including diver comfort, experience, age, environmental conditions
and logistics.
Briefing
• O
verview the dive site, including conditions, hazards and points of interest
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
• E xplain how to interact responsibly with the aquatic environment
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
• E xplain procedures and techniques used locally
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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Guided Tour of Dive Site Supervision
Debriefing PADI Scuba Divers:
iscuss observations
• D • R equire direct inwater supervision by a
PADI Professional
Log Dive • M aximum depth – 12 m/40 ft
• S ign each diver’s log book
Junior Divers – Ages 10 or 11:
• R equire direct inwater supervision by a
PADI Professional or parent/guardian
• M aximum depth – 12 m/40 ft
Junior Divers – Ages 12 or older:
• M ust dive with an adult
Boat Diving Guidelines
Considerations for boat diving activities in addition to those on
the Dive Briefing Slate. Not all apply to all boats/locations, and different
members of the boat crew may handle different portions of the list.
Predeparture
• Confirm vessel has necessary safety equipment
• Check weather and sea conditions
• Check in arriving passengers – administrative paperwork, dive roster, etc.
• Where to stow and secure gear
Orientation to Vessel
• Off limits areas
• Location of emergency and convenience items
• Specially designated areas (cameras, dry clothes, etc.)
• General safety rules
• Where to suit up
• Use of the heads (if appropriate)
• Crew members and their duties
• Passenger behavior during docking and departure
Boat Diving (points to add to the dive briefing as appropriate)
• Boat diving safety rules reminder (exit ladder techniques, etc.)
• Currents and water conditions
• Anchor/mooring and line configurations
• Entry and exit areas and procedures
• Special dive procedures (drift diving, etc.)
• Roll call — predive and post dive prior to departing dive site
ReActivate® Program
Designed to welcome certified divers back to scuba diving by
refreshing their fundamental scuba knowledge and dive skills.
Have divers complete a knowledge refresher with ReActivate eLearning and complete
the following water skills session in either confined or open water. Suggest a Discover
Local Diving dive.
General Considerations
1. During a predive interview, check diver log books (if available) and ask each diver:
• How many dives have you made, and in what conditions and environments?
• When and where were your last dives?
• How did your last dives go? What would help you to improve them?
• What skills do you want to practice?
bserve divers before and during the confined water or open water dive, and based
2. O
on your observations, provide reminders, demonstrations, adjustments and other
remediation and practice as needed to restore mastery.
Performance Requirements
1. Practice and demonstrate general diving skills, including:
a. Remove, replace and clear the mask.
b. Become neutrally buoyant and hover.
c. At the surface in water too deep in which to stand, with a deflated BCD, use the
weight system’s quick release to pull clear and drop sufficient weight to become
positively buoyant.
d. Ascend properly using an alternate air source and establish positive buoyancy at
the surface. Act as both donor and receiver.
2. H
ave divers perform and practice any skills they said they want to practice during the
predive interview and those that require more practice, based on your observations.
a. Only conduct controlled emergency swimming ascents in confined
water horizontally.
PADI Skin Diver
(Advanced Snorkeler) Course
For people who are interested in exploring the underwater world
using snorkeling equipment while building confidence in skills
and developing good judgment about the dive environment.
Conduct a knowledge development session or briefing that covers equipment,
pressure-volume relationships, the dive environment, proper interaction with aquatic
life (if appropriate), the buddy system, problem management, equalization, signals and
communication, proper breathing for breathhold diving, proper weighting and local safe
diving practices.
Skills
1. Assemble, adjust, prepare, put on and remove mask, fins, snorkel and buoyancy
device.
2. Perform the buddy predive safety check.
3. Demonstrate appropriate entry and exit, using local techniques.
4. Adjust for proper weighting as is consistent with freediving practices.
5. Breathe through a snorkel using airway control and swimming at the surface in water
too deep in which to stand.
6. Using the blast method, clear a snorkel of water at the surface.
7. Obtain positive buoyancy at the surface in water too deep in which to stand. Either
remove a weight belt (if used) or orally inflate the snorkeling vest (if used).
8. Continuously stay within 3 metres/10 feet of a buddy while at the surface.
9. Following relaxed breathing at the surface, remove the snorkel from the mouth, hold
the breath and make a vertical, head first dive in water too deep in which to stand.
10. Swim at least 15 metres/50 feet horizontally underwater on a single breath.
11. Ascend by looking up and around while swimming, holding one hand over the head.
12. Upon surfacing, exhale gently, signal their buddy they are okay, and breathe relaxed.
13. From the surface, watch buddy descend and be prepared to dive down to assist. After
buddy surfaces, stay within arm’s reach for 1-2 minutes during recovery breathing.
14. Communicate using hand signals at the surface and underwater.
Open Water Dive (optional)
• Put on and adjust equipment.
• Perform a predive safety check.
• Adjust weighting.
• Demonstrate proper entries and exits for the local environment.
• Demonstrate appropriate application of skills mastered and demonstrated in
confined water.
• Interact
with the environment in a responsible manner.
