Why?
The team procedures listed here, enable all the divers to function as a cohesive team, as opposed a collection of individuals all doing their own 'thing'. It is particularly
important when it comes to safety and clearly laid down procedures are given here to allow any emergency to be dealt with efficiently.
There are also recommendations for individuals to follow. These have been compiled from experience and current thinking on safe diving practices. Some of these are on external Websites and to save
duplication, the external reference/link is opened in a separate window.
It is strongly recommended that all Club members verse themselves with these SOPs, so that the team functions 'as a whole' and new members quickly come up-to-speed with what is required of them.
Yellow DSMBs
This SOP describes the use of Yellow DSMBs by the team and the response of the surface cover on seeing a yellow DSMB, whilst diving. This is mainly applicable to ocean/open water
diving from boats. 
Rules of the road
Diver markings on DSMB
DIR Divers regard dive boat Skippers and Surface Cover Support as members of the Team. This enhances dive safety for all.
The following procedures apply for boat cover and skippers on dives conducted by most DIS-UK members, the DIR-UK dive team and members of Underwater Explorers - UK (SAA 1025) conducting stage decompression diving. These procedures should be thoroughly discussed and arranged with Surface Cover Support or Skipper Team Members prior to undertaking any decompression dives.
- Prior to entry all divers should be allowed to rest and be given sufficient time to kit up comfortably with minimum effort.
- Each diver should send up an individual orange SMB after the dive (marked with their initials/name) unless there is training involved and Surface Cover has been informed of any changes in procedure.
- A Team O2 bottle should be lowered by Surface Support if any Yellow SMB surfaces beside an orange SMB* (see figures on Right).
- If bottle is not used by diver, he may have lost orange SMB and it could be retrieved for another emergency. Look for flat/loose orange SMB.
- Always check yellow SMB for any notes that may have been sent "up" by divers involved.
- *Note: If a yellow SMB is seen on its own, unless it can be absolutely determined that the diver has just lost his orange SMB, then an O2 bottle should be lowered as a precautionary measure.
- On surfacing from deco dives, divers should be allowed to rest on the surface prior to boat pickup (minimum 5 minutes surface rest prior to any exertion for deco gas dives).
- On surfacing and once in the boat, divers should seek to rest for a minimum of ten (10) minutes prior to undertaking any strenuous activity or exertion.
- Divers should refrain under all circumstances from undertaking boat based activities following any decompression dives (these include but are not limited to assisting with disengaging lines from propeller and/or assisting with retrieval of shot or hook from the wreck where possible).
- Dive Team members and Surface Support should "immediately" be informed of any signs and symptoms of decompression illness where suspected.
Doing It Right
Working together as a Team
Stage bottle marking
Consider the tank from above the valve looking down. The valve handle is at 9 o'clock, the regulator at 6 o'clock. At 9 o'clock position going from the top of the tank down is the
numbers indicating the Maximum Operating Depth ( MOD ). The MOD must not be obscured by the regulator or the stage rigging. At 3 o'clock position going from the bottom of the tank up is the numbers
indicating the MOD. The MOD must not be obscured by the regulator or the stage rigging. At the 12 o'clock position is the diver's initials or name for tank identification.
The exact name or I.D. is registered within the Club's Members database so that each divers bottles are uniquely marked within the team.
All tanks are marked with a contrasting paint or sticker for easy reading. All marking should be at least 3 inches tall.
Any and all gas mixtures used in diving operations are to be oxygen analyzed by the user prior to diving.
The actual analysis of the mixture is to be recorded with the MOD, date and initials, on the neck of the tank at 5 o'clock postion.
Oxygen VIP stickers are placed in the 6 o'clock position.
MOD markings are in metric:
- '6' for the 6m / Oxygen bottle
- '21' for the 21m / 50% Oxygen bottle
- '36' for the 36m / 35% Oxygen bottle
In the UK, car registation numbers & letters are standardised at just over 3" ( black ) so provide a perfect way to mark the deco bottles. These are available from all car accessory shops.
MOD (at 3 and 9 o'clock postion) and Divers initials (at 12 o'clock)
[ 3 o'clock ] [ 9+12 o'clock ] [ 3 o'clock ] [ 9+12 o'clock ]
The above images show stage bottle marking for the oxygen ( 6 ) and 50% oxygen ( 21 ) cylinders. These are 7l aluminium bottles. Even when these bottles have been used for a while
and the paint has been chipped in places, the markings are clearly visible. The divers initials in this example are for David Iain Robbins.
Gas switching
This procedure is concerned with the correct way to conduct switches to decompression gases from back-gas and between decompression gases underwater.
The only safe way to identify a breathable gas underwater is by Maximum Operating Depth ( MOD ) markings on the bottle. It is fundamentally flawed to locate gases by position of the cylinders
or by special mouth pieces etc. There have been several deaths that are attributable to incorrect gas identification and subsequent breathing of a toxic gas. Examples of correctly marked bottles are
given above in Stage bottle marking.
Divers should operate as a team, verifying proper mixture and depth.
Arriving at the desired switching depth, the correct proceedure when ready to breathe a gas is:
- Locate the correct bottle by the MOD.
- Remove the reg, place that reg around the neck and into the mouth
- Go back and re-locate the correct bottle, and turn it on (completely).
Each diver should double-check his/her buddy's cylinder depth and the second stage used.) - IF YOU CAN BREATHE, YOU ARE BREATHING THE RIGHT GAS.
- If beginning decompression, start decompression time.
- Clip off the long hose regulator to the right D-ring.
Should you need to go back onto back-gas, use the backup regulator.
As a final check, monitor the bottles contents gauge and confirm that the needle is steady. This verfies that the bottle is turned all the way on.
If the bottle has been carried in a silty area, it is a good idea to use the purge button to clear the reg prior to actually taking a breath in order not to breathe in debris that could choke
you.
If switching between deco gasses:
- Switch to back-gas.
- Stow deco reg and switch off deco cylinder.
- Repeat gas switching procedure for next gas.
Entry & Exit Procedures
Entry:
- Visually inspect team member(s).
- Check all gauges.
- Check all regulators are functioning.
- Check argon/dry suit supply is on, LPI firmly connected to wing.
- Check light cord is tucked under long hose and backup reg is over and above all gear.
- Check Reel in place.
- Enter in order signal okay and head for shot.
- Meet team at 6-9 metres.
- Conduct visual bubble and light check. (observe team member for any loose parts)
- When all of team ready, descend.
- Lead diver checks that the rest of the team is also descending.
- On bottom do swift bubble check, check guage, all divers OK, proceed with dive.
Exit:
- Launch SMBs. (See Procedures)
- Conduct Deep stops.
- Ensure Gas Switches are properly made. (See Procedures)
- Slow 1m/min max from 6m to surface.
- Rest on surface - ideally at least 5 minutes.
- Slow climb up any ladders - Prefer lifts.
- Rest on boat for 5 mins or so before putting any kit away.
- Assist other team members.
-
Avoid any strenuous work like lifting shots etc.
