A scuba diver should plan a dive and then stick to the plan. That is, “plan your dive and dive your plan”. A dive plan helps make a dive safe and stress free. A bommie covered in a multitude of colour, a cave full of crayfish, or the skeleton of a long dead pilot in the cockpit of a sunken plane are not missed if covered in a dive plan.
At the Dive Site
As part of the planning, consult with the divemaster; they probably have dived the site before and would be willing to impart their knowledge. Just make sure they have finished their work first. Divemasters have a lot to do when reaching a dive site: securing the boat, putting out safety lines, supervising divers into the water.
Plan with your Dive Buddy
When coupled with a buddy you have never dived with before, find out what they want to do. Some sportdivers like to stay in a small area while others want to cover as much seascape as possible. Both are good, as long as both divers want the same. Trying a combination can ruin the dives for both. Underwater photographers should be together. Fish collectors should be a buddy pair and crayfish hunters will increase their catch working as a team.
Once you’ve got a rough idea of what you are going to do, the next part of dive planning is to check the safety aspect. Are the conditions right for the type of scuba dive? Is the current in the wrong direction, is the boat moored too far from the wreck? There are multitudes of questions to ask. Discuss these with your buddy and amend your original dive plan if required.
Equipment Checks in the Plan
One important item in every dive plan is an equipment check. Your gear might be in good condition but what about your buddy’s? Have they enough air for the dive? Is it turned on? They should have an alternate air supply - where is it? Check the location of buckles for their weightbelt and buoyancy compensator. Also check that they are dressed for the occasion. Are they only wearing a swimsuit and tee shirt for a cold dive or maybe a bulky wetsuit for a long dive in warm water. If your buddy checks all your gear the possibility of problems reduce.
Dive Your Plan
Before you hit the water you should know exactly where you are going to dive, for how long, and how deep. If there is a good wreck another five metres down, but that depth isn’t in your plan don’t go down to it. Once you’ve had your allotted time underneath, ascend to the surface. Don’t change the dive plan.
Alternate Dive Plan
You should always have an alternate dive plan if the original falls through. Maybe the current is from the wrong direction to swim to a particular bommie, or the wreck is too silted from previous divers to make a safe entry. You should revert to the alternate dive plan; maybe circumnavigate the wreck or go in another direction. This alternate dive plan can turn a disappointing scuba dive into an enjoyable one.
All these points make up a scuba dive plan. And a good dive plan is vital for every scuba dive, whether it is a simple ten-metre dive on a coral reef, a deep dive or a penetration dive on a wreck. They all need a dive plan not only for safety but also for enjoyment. Remember: “if you fail to plan you plan to fail”.
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