Buddy check
Encyclopedia
The buddy check is a procedure
carried out by SCUBA divers
using the buddy system
where each diver checks that the other's diving equipment
is configured and functioning correctly just before the start of the dive. A study of pre-dive equipment checks done by individual divers showed that divers often fail to recognize common equipment faults. By checking each others equipment, it is likely that these faults will be recognized prior to the start of the dive.
The wide variety of types of buoyancy compensator, diving suit
s and types of SCUBA equipment
, means that it is important for each buddy to understand the other's equipment configuration in the event that one has to help or rescue the other.
BWRAF formula is as follows:
B - BCD : Check function of BCD. Operate inflator and deflator to ensure that BCD can accept and release air. Test oral inflator. Operate all dumps to check that air can be dumped quickly. Ensure straps (shoulder straps, cummerbund) have no slack, and are lying flat.
W - Weights : If a weight belt is worn, check that the belt is secure, and the strap arranged so that it can be released with the right hand of the diver. Ensure that weights on the belt are not likely to shift during movement, and are suitable for the diver. If a weight harness is worn, or the BCD possesses an integrated-weights system, test system for adequate operation. A secondary aim is to ensure that the buddy is familiar with the weight system of the diver being checked, and is able to operate them in an emergency
R - Releases : Locate and check that all of your buddy's releases are properly secured and you know how to undo them in an emergency. This includes their Velcro waist band and at least two shoulder clips. Many BCDs also have a chest and stomach clip. It's a good idea to touch each clip as you check it and even count each one out loud as you do so. Remember to check the tank strap and clip. You can do this by placing one hand on the bottom of the tank and the other on the first stage regulator and trying to move the tank up and down to see if the strap moves.
A - Air : Open air valve on tank. Most divers then close the tank a quarter turn for an added element of safety. Breathe the air through the regulators to ensure that it is fresh and dry: impure air is extremely dangerous underwater, but can usually be recognized through an unpleasant, often oily, taste or smell. Test operation of primary and secondary regulators. Both should breathe comfortably, and not 'free-flow' when purged. Check hoses for damage. Ensure that the secondary regulator (the 'octopus') is attached in the triangle between the chin and the base of the ribs, and can be released easily: this ensures easy access for a buddy in the event of an emergency.
F - Final Check : Conduct a final check of the diver. Ensure that hoses are clipped to the diver neatly, and are in the correct configuration. Make sure the diver has fins and a mask, and any other accessories (cameras, reels, knife, compass, torch etc.) needed for the dive. Check that these are secured to the diver, or else placed in a spot where they can be handed down once the diver is in the water. Correct anything else that needs doing.
PADI teach the mnemonic Begin With Review And Friend, but many divers have their own. Burger With Relish And Fries is one of the more popular. Children are often taught Big White Rabbits Are Fluffy. Bangkok Women Really Are Fellas is a favourite in Thailand. Less politically correct versions include Bruce Willis Ruins Action Films, Blondes With Reputations Are Fun, Big Women Release Air Faster and Bring Weed Rizla And Fags.
B - Buoyancy : Test and demonstrate how each buoyancy device, such as a buoyancy compensator or dry suit
is inflated or vented. It is important to test common failure modes, for example, that the device remains inflated when required and that the inflation stops when required. Rebreather
divers may test the breathing loop to ensure that it does not leak under a positive internal pressure and negative internal pressure.
A - Air : Test that each air source has its pillar valve open, has sufficient gas, is functioning and tastes good. If the indicating needle of the contents gauge vibrates when the diver inhales that may indicate the diving cylinder
pillar valve is only partially open and will not provide enough gas at the higher ambient pressures at depth. An oily taste to the gas may indicate a contaminated gas fill. Some rebreather divers breathe from the loop for 2 or 3 minutes before entering the water, to check that the soda lime
of the carbon dioxide
scrubber is active.
R - Releases : Demonstrate how to operate the releases that can be used in an emergency to separate the diver from the weighting system
, buoyancy compensator and SCUBA
unit.
uses the acronym SEABAG to address all pre-dive preparations:
S - Site : Is the chosen site diveable under the prevailing weather and tidal conditions? Are currents, riptide
s, or other hazards present?
E - Emergency : What are the established emergency procedures? Is emergency oxygen available? Where is the closest decompression chamber?
A - Activities : What is the purpose of the dive? Are there any special risks or concerns that must be addressed?
B - Buoyancy : check negative and positive buoyancy control devices, this includes environmental suits and equipment, know where your buddy's weights are in case you have to drop them.
A - Air : Both buddies check each other's first and second stages, confirm the locations of their octopuses, and proof check by breathing from each other's equipment. Know Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rates and how much air you and your buddy have before you get wet.
G - Gear- check your gear! Then go.
. At the beginning of the dive, all members of the diving team
in turn examine and announce to other team members the
of each item of their standardized diving equipment
. This is a part of the check.
The complete dive plan review is: SADDDDD
In 2006, SADDDDD was replaced with GUE EDGE which stands for :
Procedure (term)
A procedure is a sequence of actions or operations which have to be executed in the same manner in order to always obtain the same result under the same circumstances ....
carried out by SCUBA divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
using the buddy system
Buddy system
The buddy system is a procedure in which two people, the "buddies", operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other.-Advantages:...
where each diver checks that the other's diving equipment
Diving equipment
Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....
is configured and functioning correctly just before the start of the dive. A study of pre-dive equipment checks done by individual divers showed that divers often fail to recognize common equipment faults. By checking each others equipment, it is likely that these faults will be recognized prior to the start of the dive.
The wide variety of types of buoyancy compensator, diving suit
Diving suit
A diving suit is a garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment. A diving suit typically also incorporates an air-supply .-History:...
s and types of SCUBA equipment
Scuba set
A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....
, means that it is important for each buddy to understand the other's equipment configuration in the event that one has to help or rescue the other.
BWRAF
There are several forms of buddy check, but almost all cover five definite principles. The Professional Association of Diving InstructorsPadi
Padi or PADI may refer to:* Padi, Chennai, India* Padi , a musical group* Paddy field, a type of cultivated land * Professional Association of Diving Instructors, a scuba organization...
BWRAF formula is as follows:
B - BCD : Check function of BCD. Operate inflator and deflator to ensure that BCD can accept and release air. Test oral inflator. Operate all dumps to check that air can be dumped quickly. Ensure straps (shoulder straps, cummerbund) have no slack, and are lying flat.
W - Weights : If a weight belt is worn, check that the belt is secure, and the strap arranged so that it can be released with the right hand of the diver. Ensure that weights on the belt are not likely to shift during movement, and are suitable for the diver. If a weight harness is worn, or the BCD possesses an integrated-weights system, test system for adequate operation. A secondary aim is to ensure that the buddy is familiar with the weight system of the diver being checked, and is able to operate them in an emergency
R - Releases : Locate and check that all of your buddy's releases are properly secured and you know how to undo them in an emergency. This includes their Velcro waist band and at least two shoulder clips. Many BCDs also have a chest and stomach clip. It's a good idea to touch each clip as you check it and even count each one out loud as you do so. Remember to check the tank strap and clip. You can do this by placing one hand on the bottom of the tank and the other on the first stage regulator and trying to move the tank up and down to see if the strap moves.
A - Air : Open air valve on tank. Most divers then close the tank a quarter turn for an added element of safety. Breathe the air through the regulators to ensure that it is fresh and dry: impure air is extremely dangerous underwater, but can usually be recognized through an unpleasant, often oily, taste or smell. Test operation of primary and secondary regulators. Both should breathe comfortably, and not 'free-flow' when purged. Check hoses for damage. Ensure that the secondary regulator (the 'octopus') is attached in the triangle between the chin and the base of the ribs, and can be released easily: this ensures easy access for a buddy in the event of an emergency.
F - Final Check : Conduct a final check of the diver. Ensure that hoses are clipped to the diver neatly, and are in the correct configuration. Make sure the diver has fins and a mask, and any other accessories (cameras, reels, knife, compass, torch etc.) needed for the dive. Check that these are secured to the diver, or else placed in a spot where they can be handed down once the diver is in the water. Correct anything else that needs doing.
PADI teach the mnemonic Begin With Review And Friend, but many divers have their own. Burger With Relish And Fries is one of the more popular. Children are often taught Big White Rabbits Are Fluffy. Bangkok Women Really Are Fellas is a favourite in Thailand. Less politically correct versions include Bruce Willis Ruins Action Films, Blondes With Reputations Are Fun, Big Women Release Air Faster and Bring Weed Rizla And Fags.
BAR
BAR is another acronym for the parts of a buddy check. It is used by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC):B - Buoyancy : Test and demonstrate how each buoyancy device, such as a buoyancy compensator or dry suit
Diving suit
A diving suit is a garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment. A diving suit typically also incorporates an air-supply .-History:...
is inflated or vented. It is important to test common failure modes, for example, that the device remains inflated when required and that the inflation stops when required. Rebreather
Rebreather
A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where...
divers may test the breathing loop to ensure that it does not leak under a positive internal pressure and negative internal pressure.
A - Air : Test that each air source has its pillar valve open, has sufficient gas, is functioning and tastes good. If the indicating needle of the contents gauge vibrates when the diver inhales that may indicate the diving cylinder
Diving cylinder
A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of a scuba set. It provides gas to the scuba diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator....
pillar valve is only partially open and will not provide enough gas at the higher ambient pressures at depth. An oily taste to the gas may indicate a contaminated gas fill. Some rebreather divers breathe from the loop for 2 or 3 minutes before entering the water, to check that the soda lime
Soda lime
Soda lime is a mixture of chemicals, used in granular form in closed breathing environments, such as general anaesthesia, submarines, rebreathers and recompression chambers, to remove carbon dioxide from breathing gases to prevent CO2 retention and carbon dioxide poisoning.It is made by treating...
of the carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
scrubber is active.
R - Releases : Demonstrate how to operate the releases that can be used in an emergency to separate the diver from the weighting system
Diving weighting system
Divers wear weighting systems, weight belts or weights, generally made of lead, to counteract the buoyancy of other diving equipment, such as diving suits and aluminium diving cylinders...
, buoyancy compensator and SCUBA
Scuba set
A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....
unit.
SEABAG
The National Association of Underwater InstructorsNational Association of Underwater Instructors
The National Association of Underwater Instructors is a non-profit 501 association of SCUBA instructors. It was officially CE and ISO certified in May 2007 in all three diver levels and both instructor levels.-History:...
uses the acronym SEABAG to address all pre-dive preparations:
S - Site : Is the chosen site diveable under the prevailing weather and tidal conditions? Are currents, riptide
Riptide
A riptide is a dangerous ocean current.Riptide or Rip Tide may also refer to:* Rip Tide, a Doctor Who novella* Riptide , by Douglas Preston and Lincon Child* Riptide , short story anthologies...
s, or other hazards present?
E - Emergency : What are the established emergency procedures? Is emergency oxygen available? Where is the closest decompression chamber?
A - Activities : What is the purpose of the dive? Are there any special risks or concerns that must be addressed?
B - Buoyancy : check negative and positive buoyancy control devices, this includes environmental suits and equipment, know where your buddy's weights are in case you have to drop them.
A - Air : Both buddies check each other's first and second stages, confirm the locations of their octopuses, and proof check by breathing from each other's equipment. Know Surface Air Consumption (SAC) rates and how much air you and your buddy have before you get wet.
G - Gear- check your gear! Then go.
DIR equipment check
The equipment check is the DIR diving equivalent of a buddy check procedureProcedure
Procedure may refer to:* Procedure * Medical procedure* Algorithm, in mathematics and computing, a set of operations or calculations that accomplish some goal* Instructions or recipes, a set of commands that show how to prepare or make something...
. At the beginning of the dive, all members of the diving team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
in turn examine and announce to other team members the
- presence,
- configuration,
- functionality,
- place and form attachment
of each item of their standardized diving equipment
Diving equipment
Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....
. This is a part of the check.
The complete dive plan review is: SADDDDD
- Sequence: Who leads, who follows, what are the responsibilities of the team?
- Air: Turn pressure, actual deco, bailout deco.
- Distance: penetration of a cave/ wreck, how far from boat/ shore, etc.
- Depth: max and average depth of the dive.
- direction
- dive
In 2006, SADDDDD was replaced with GUE EDGE which stands for :
- G : Goal, dive objectives
- U : Unified team, team strategies
- E : Equipment match
- E : Exposure, depth/time
- D : Decompression strategies
- G : Gas strategies
- E : Environmental issues