Sa-Su

Safety Stops

Although the Recreational Dive planner is designed for no decompression diving (which allows you to make a direct, continuous ascent to the surface), there are times when you’ll want to make a safety stop for added conservatism and safety. A safety stop is a delay in ascent at 15 feet fro three minutes. This delay assists your body in slowly eliminating excess nitrogen. It also gives you a moment to pause and fine-tune your buoyancy before ascending through the final 15 feet.

Hoofer SCUBA strongly recommends that you make a safety stop at the end of every dive. In fact it is encouraged. However, ALWAYS make a safety stop if:

1. Your dive has been to 100 feet or deeper.
2. Your pressure group at the end of the dive is within three pressure groups of the no-decompression limit.
3. You dive up to any limit on the Recreational Dive Planner.

Separated Divers

If divers become separated underwater, a brief attempt (approximately 1 minute) to visually re-locate should be made, after which the divers should surface. If the dive is subsequently recommenced appropriate decompression planning must first be carried out.

Sharing Air

See Assisted Ascents.

Signals

Divers should be completely familiar with the standard code of visual signals and should give them accurately and clearly. All signals should be acknowledged. The 'Come and get me' signal by a diver at the surface is to be used only for distress, and not as a 'Pick me up' signal. Buddies should review signals as part of their dive preparation.

Also see: Diving hand signals (Wikipedia) and How to communicate underwater (eHow.com)

Smoking

Smoking is undeniably detrimental to your health and should be avoided altogether. If you do smoke, abstain for several hours before diving because smoking significantly decreases the efficiency of your circulatory and respiratory systems.

Solo Diving

There are occasions, e.g. in zero visibility or when working underwater, when the 'buddy' system is ineffective. On these occasions a solo dive may be required, with the diver being securely roped and in constant rope communication with a surface 'tender', who should be a diver themselves. As Hoofer SCUBA club only promotes recreational diving, solo diving is not allowed within the club.

Stand-by Divers

On the majority of dives your stand-by diver is your buddy. A stand-by diver is usually only required when a solo dive, using a rope tender, is in operation. But when several dive teams are in the water, it is advisable to have a person designated as a shore support person. This person remains on the boat or shore to aid any diver that resurfaces and requires attention.

Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)

SMBs should be used in significantly moving water, when operating well off shore and in areas with heavy surface traffic. There may be times, other than these stated, when their use might be deemed prudent by the dive marshal. It is essential that correct training is given to new members in their use, as for any unfamiliar equipment. In some situations e.g. wreck sites with slack water, they are unnecessary and can actually be a hazard to the diver.

Surface Signaling Devices

If you become separated from a boat or dive group, you may need to attract their attention with a surface signally device.

Safety Whistle
Waterproof safety whistles are an invaluable addition to any diver’s equipment. The sound can be heard at a great distance, and you won't wear yourself out yelling. One benefit of a safety whistle is that you can make your presence known in the dark if necessary.

Safety Sausage
The safety sausage is a bright red, green, yellow, or orange inflatable tube that stands 3 to 5 feet out of the water and makes it much easier to spot a diver from boat or shore. It can also be laid flat on the water to signal aircraft. It's inflatable by regulator, or orally. After each use, it can be rolled up to fit into a BCD pocket. A safety sausage should not be considered for use or substitute as a lift bag.