| 1 |
Show Up On Time (Early) |
If it’s your first trip with a dive operation , especially if you need to get fitted for rental gear arrive at least 15 minutes early so you don’t feel rushed or hold up the other divers. |
| 2 |
Stow Your Stuff |
Deck space is limited on board, so once you’ve set up your gear, make sure to stow your dive bag out of the way, and put your mask, fins and wetsuit in the appropriate spot, usually beneath the bench where your gear sits. |
| 3 |
Listen Up |
Stop and listen to the captain and crew when they deliver their briefing. Every dive trip includes several: One explaining basic boat rules, one before each dive, and a closing announcement on the way back to shore explaining where to go and what to do with your gear after the boat docks. |
| 4 |
Wait Your Turn |
The specific procedures for getting on and off the boat are outlined in the dive briefings, but it’s never a good idea to make a mad dash for the swim platform. Let the people at the back of the boat go first and wait until the crew gives you the all clear before hopping in the water. |
| 5 |
Follow the Dive Plan |
No matter how much experience you have, you should always follow your dive master’s plan. The DM is responsible for the whole group, and if you decide to break profile or wander off, it can affect the dive for everyone else. |
| 6 |
Don’t Crowd the Ladder |
As with getting off the boat, take your time and wait your turn at the ladder to get back on board. That means waiting until the person in front of you is on the deck before swimming to the ladder — if you start to climb up before the diver above you is clear, and he or she happens to fall backward, you could end up with a nasty head injury. |
| 7 |
Show Your Appreciation |
Captains, dive masters and crew do more than hang out on the boat and guide your dives. They start work hours before you show up, pumping and loading tanks, rinsing and fixing gear, all to make sure you have a great day underwater. And chances are the next time you’ll get personal attention, like invitations to suggest the day’s dive sites, or the opportunity to be “first in, last out” of the water. |
