Access/Egress
Ensure that your access to the water is safe and that you can successfully regain contact with your boat/beach/shore. Always ensure, when diving from the land, that it is possible to climb out at the planned exit point, even if tidal conditions exist.
Accidents/Incidents
Any member involved in a diving accident or incident should notify the Hoofer Office. An incident report form will then be sent, which should be completed and returned as soon as possible. Reports are treated as strictly confidential and are used to prepare an analysis of safety performance each year. If there is any possibility of a third party insurance claim arising out of the circumstances it is particularly important that a form is completed without delay.
The Accident/Incident Report Form should be completed after any accidents, incidents, near misses (close calls) or property/equipment damage that occurred during a Hoofer activity. If you are not sure if the incident warrants the completion of a form, go ahead and complete it. Turn all completed forms into the Outdoor Program Office.
Air Reserve
Always ensure you have an adequate reserve of air (at least 25% of cylinder(s) capacity is strongly recommended) at the termination of a dive. The amount of air deemed to be an adequate 'reserve' will obviously depend on a number of factors including the size and working pressure of your main cylinder together with the depth and type of the dive – a standard figure is not appropriate. The reserve should be sufficient for a normal ascent, plus any safety stops, and to allow adequate amounts for surface swimming. Remember that rates of air consumption can vary enormously with the effects of cold, fitness, experience and depth and you should monitor your own and your buddy's air supply regularly.
Rule of Thirds
This is the rule that is considered a more conservative rule, and widely used by technical divers worldwide. It’s quite simple and easy to remember. For air consumption you'll use one-third of your air to go in, one-third to go out, leaving one-third reserve. For a 3000 psi tank that basically means you use 1000 psi from the beach to some point in the dive where the tank pressure reads 2000psi. This is called the turn-around point. You then consume another 1000 psi returning to the beach, leaving 1000 psi in reserve should you need it on your way back.
Rule of Halves
This is the rule most recreational divers unknowingly use when determining their air consumption for a dive, but it is also a little more complex in determining your turn around pressure. Simply put you determine the air you will want to use in the first half of your dive by halving the difference between your beginning pressure and your ending pressure. Most dive resorts and dive charters using 3000 psi tanks tell divers to return with about 750psi in their tanks.
Turn around pressure = beginning pressure – ((beginning air pressure - ending pressure) /2)
If a diver that has a 3000 psi tank, and wants to return to the boat with 750 psi remaining, at some point during their dive they will have to turn around when there is 1875 psi remaining in their tank.
3000 psi - ((3000 psi – 750 psi) / 2) = 1875 psi.
Hoofer SCUBA recommends using either of these rules when planning your dive, but that as a diver you should make an informed decision on which rule you wish to follow on your specific dive type.
Alcohol Policy
Federal law prohibits people under the legal drinking age from consuming alcoholic beverages. It is also forbidden for anyone to provide for or assist an underage person in obtaining alcoholic beverages. It is for this reason that Hoofer SCUBA has established an Alcohol Policy which clearly stipulates:
If a problem with alcohol use develops, Hoofer leaders/agents have the right and responsibility to confiscate any and all alcohol. Being a Registered Student Organization, Hoofers holds the right and responsibility to report any student who causes problems of any nature to the Dean of Students. Hoofers has the right and responsibility to actively control any situation including those involving alcohol.
The University of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Union, and Hoofer Council is concerned with the alcohol use and possible abuse. We must remind you that Hoofers is a departmentally sponsored activity of The Wisconsin Union, and as such, is a part of the University of Wisconsin, and thereby falls under any and all legal policies of the University of Wisconsin. We expect you to act as responsible adults and remind you that each state you will be traveling through has a 21 year old drinking age.
REMEMBER: STATE AND FEDERAL RULES AND LAWS PERTAINING TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE DO NOT CHANGE WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN A HOOFER ACTIVITY. There are also well known dangers associated with the consumption of alcohol prior to SCUBA diving. Therefore Hoofer SCUBA has a strict policy: IF YOU DRINK BEFORE A SCHEDULED DIVE, YOU WILL NOT DIVE THE DIVE. IF YOU DRINK AFTER ANY DIVE, YOU ARE DONE DIVING FOR THAT DAY.
Alternative Air Sources (AAS)
Hoofer SCUBA strongly recommends that all divers carry an alternative air source (AAS) in the event that they may need to share air underwater. The most common form of an AAS is alternate 2nd stage (or octopus) fitted to the same 1st stage of the regulator. In this case divers should be aware that a first stage failure on their regulator would affect both second stages, rendering them inoperative, usually causing one or both second stages to free flow.
A recommended alternative is a totally independent air supply such as a 'Pony cylinder' (a small 6 to 20 cubic foot auxiliary cylinder attached to the main cylinder with its own regulator assembly) or separate regulators attached to each cylinder of a matched pair. If a manifold is fitted to the pair of cylinders, making them into a 'twin-set', it should allow the diver the ability to isolate each cylinder/regulator assembly should a failure occur. Auxiliary cylinders having a capacity of less than 20 cubic feet and ABLJ/BC mouthpieces are not considered adequate AAS.
Altitude
Diving at altitude, or traveling to altitude (including flying), either before or after diving, involves the diver being exposed to a reduced atmospheric pressure. This can both affect a diver’s no-decompression limits and increase the diver's susceptibility to decompression illness. Hoofer SCUBA recommends special procedures when using the PADI Recreation Dive Planner (RDP) at altitudes between 1000 feet or greater to a maximum of 10,000 feet. At no time should the RDP be used at altitudes greater than 10,000 feet. The following guidelines and procedures should be followed:
Also see PADI Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) and Theoretical Depth at Altitude Chart.
Ascent Rate
Maintaining a safe rate of ascent is vitally important in preventing possible decompression illness and the risk of gas embolism. The PADI Recreational Dive Planner has been calculated on a maximum ascent rate of 60 feet per minute up to 15 feet depth and 30 feet per minute from 15 feet to the surface and this must be adhered to when using the tables. Some dive computers incorporate slower ascent rates of 20 feet per minute but all divers are recommended to follow the practice of ascending at 30 feet per minute from 15 feet to the surface.
Repeated multiple ascents should be avoided as they may result in decompression illness. Particular care should be taken when carrying out the various ascent-training drills, for which specific advice is available. 'Sawtooth' dive profiles that involve repeated ascents and descents over an uneven bottom should be avoided, but the practice of returning to the surface from maximum depth in stages is encouraged.
Some diving agencies are now recommending that recreational divers should stop their ascents for one minute at about half their maximum depth before continuing upward to the 15-foot mark for a second safety stop. Computer makers Suunto, Mares, Dacor and Zeagle also recommend similar stops for recreational.
These stops are commonly referred to as Deep Stops and new research into the mechanics of decompression sickness (DCS) suggests that by adding this deep stop to a slow ascent and the traditional three- to five-minute safety stop at about 15 feet, recreational divers will enjoy a greater margin of safety against DCS and leave the water with less nitrogen.
Hoofer SCUBA recommends a one-minute deep stop at half your maximum depth on all dives deeper than 40 feet. Once the stop is complete, you should ascend slowly (no faster than 30 feet per minute) to the traditional safety stop at 15 feet. Keep in mind that deep stops are a recommendation and not mandatory if conditions aren't right. For example, if there is a current at 40 feet and you're drifting away from your vessel, this may not be the time."
Assisted Ascents
PADI strongly recommends the use of an alternative air source (see Alternative Air Source) as the prime method of assisted assent, and that all divers should carry such equipment. If you or a diver you’re with becomes low on air, you can make an assisted ascent by sharing you or your buddy’s octopus. Be certain to complete all safety stops, assuming there is enough air to do so for two people.
Assisting Another Diver
See Distressed Diver.
Authorized Club Dives
An authorized club dive is one carried out with the prior knowledge and approval of the club’s executives. The minimum number of divers required for such an activity is three club members. Memberships are only $35 a year and are available at the Hoofer's Office Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Drive Trip Leaders shall be in charge of all diving activities for the duration of the dive/expedition. Qualifications for Dive Trip Leaders are outlined in the Hoofer SCUBA Trip Leader Protocols document. All club dives should be carried out in accordance with current Hoofer SCUBA rules and recommendations for safe diving. Trip Leaders must check with the Club Executives prior to announcing the trip to ensure equipment is available for the trip. They must also file a trip form with the hoofer office.
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Sponsored by Wisconsin Union Directorate, a part of the Wisconsin Union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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