What Divers Should Know Before Entering the Water

The equipment is ready. The tanks are on the boat. The water looks inviting, and everyone wants to start diving.

Then the Divemaster begins the dive briefing.

For some experienced divers, this can feel like information they have heard many times before. They already know the common hand signals, understand how to complete a safety stop and have entered the water from dozens of dive boats.

But a dive briefing is not simply a lesson for beginners—and it should never be treated as a formality that must be completed before everyone can jump into the water.

A proper briefing explains how this particular dive will be conducted, with this group, at this site and under today’s conditions.

It turns a collection of individual divers into an organized dive team.

Every Dive Is Different

You may have visited the same dive site several times, but you will never make exactly the same dive twice.

The current may be moving in a different direction. Visibility may have changed. The boat may need to use another entry point. The group may include divers with different experience levels or air consumption. Recent marine-life sightings may influence the route.

This is particularly important around the Gili Islands, where many dives are affected by currents.

A briefing at Shark Point will not necessarily be the same as one at Turtle Heaven, Halik, Deep Turbo or the Bounty Wreck. Even a briefing for the same site may change between the morning and afternoon.

Divers Alert Network describes a dive briefing as the moment to explain the site, underwater topography, expected marine life and the instructions needed for everyone to follow the plan.[1]

The purpose is not to repeat generic information. It is to prepare divers for the dive they are about to make.

What Should a Good Dive Briefing Include?

1. The name and layout of the dive site

Divers should know where they are going and what the site looks like underwater.

The guide may describe:

• The type of reef or underwater structure
• The direction of the planned route
• The expected depth range
• Sandy areas, slopes, walls or wreck structures
• Recognizable navigation points
• Where the group expects to ascend
• The marine life commonly found at the site

A clear description helps divers mentally visualize the dive before entering the water. When they descend, the environment will feel more familiar, and the guide’s route will make more sense.

2. Expected conditions

The briefing should include the conditions that may affect the dive, including:

• Current direction and expected strength
• Surface conditions
• Visibility
• Water temperature
• Entry and exit conditions
• Any site-specific hazards
• Boat traffic at or near the site

Conditions can change, and predictions are not always perfect. The guide may therefore explain more than one possible plan.

For example:

“We expect the current to move north. If the current check shows that it is running in the opposite direction, we will change the entry point and reverse the route.”

That is not uncertainty. It is responsible preparation for a dynamic environment.

3. Entry and descent procedures

Divers need to know how they will enter the water and what will happen immediately afterwards.

The briefing should make clear:

• Whether the entry will be a backward roll, giant stride or another method
• Which buddy team enters first
• Whether divers wait at the surface or descend immediately
• Where the group will meet
• Whether the descent follows a line, slope or open water
• What to do if someone has difficulty equalizing
• What to do if a diver is not ready

This prevents one diver from descending while their buddy remains on the surface adjusting equipment.

Around the Gili Islands, a negative or prompt descent may occasionally be appropriate for experienced divers at certain sites and in suitable conditions. This procedure should never come as a surprise after someone enters the water. It must be discussed clearly during the briefing and matched to the group’s abilities.

4. The buddy teams

Being part of a guided group does not remove the buddy system.

Every diver should know:

• Who their buddy is
• Where their buddy is positioned during the briefing
• Whether both divers use bar or PSI
• How they will communicate remaining gas
• Which diver has the higher air consumption
• What equipment configuration each person uses
• What to do if they become separated

SSI recommends discussing the plan directly with your buddy even when a dive center has already provided a group briefing.[2]

A good buddy relationship begins before the dive, not after a problem occurs underwater.

5. Maximum depth, dive time and gas management

The group must understand the limits of the dive.

These commonly include:

• Planned maximum depth
• Approximate dive time
• No-decompression limits
• Gas-reporting signals
• Minimum gas requirements
• When to inform the guide
• When the ascent will begin
• Safety-stop depth and duration

The guide should also explain whether a buddy team ends the dive together when one person reaches the agreed gas limit.

SSI’s professional briefing criteria include maximum depth, maximum time, gas-management signals, turning points and reserve pressure.[3] These are not minor details; they are part of the dive plan.

A guide asking for a gas reading is not merely collecting information. The answer may determine the route, depth and time remaining.

6. Hand signals

Most basic scuba signals are widely recognized, but not every diver was trained by the same agency or in the same part of the world.

Divers may also communicate gas differently. Some think in bar, while others use PSI. Even simple number signals can have variations.

A briefing should review the signals that will be important during the dive, such as:

• OK and not OK
• Stop
• Look
• Go up or go down
• Current
• Low on gas
• Remaining gas
• Stay with your buddy
• Turn around
• End the dive
• Safety stop
• Surface marker buoy deployment

If a signal is unclear on land, it will not become clearer underwater.

Emergency Procedures Belong in Every Briefing

Nobody expects an emergency, but every diver should understand what to do if the dive does not proceed according to plan.

Lost-buddy procedure

The group should know the procedure if a buddy becomes separated.

A commonly taught response is to search briefly in the immediate area before making a controlled ascent and reuniting at the surface. However, local procedures and circumstances can affect the exact plan.

The important point is that everyone agrees on the procedure before entering the water.

A lost-buddy situation becomes more difficult when one diver searches for several minutes, another surfaces immediately and a third person assumes the guide will solve the problem.

Clear planning prevents different people from taking conflicting actions.

Low-on-gas or out-of-gas procedure

Divers should know:

• Which signal will be used
• Where each buddy’s alternate air source is located
• How the group will begin its ascent
• What role the guide will take
• Whether the dive ends for the buddy team or the complete group

This information should be reinforced through the pre-dive safety check. DAN notes that buddies should understand each other’s weight-release system, alternate air-source location and equipment releases before the dive.[4]

Ending the dive early

Any diver may end a dive at any time for any reason.

A diver might feel uncomfortable, cold, tired, anxious or simply believe that something is not right. They should never feel that ending the dive will disappoint the group or create a problem for the guide.

The briefing should explain the signal for ending the dive and what will happen afterwards. DAN recommends discussing the possibility of calling a dive during every briefing, including the procedure for returning to the surface, boat or shore.[5]

It is much easier to make a calm decision when the procedure has already been discussed.

The Briefing Should Include the Boat

A boat briefing and a dive briefing are related, but they are not identical.

Divers should know:

• Where emergency oxygen and first-aid equipment are located
• Where life jackets or flotation devices are kept
• How to move safely around the boat
• Where to assemble and store equipment
• How the roll call works
• Which side of the boat to enter from
• How the boat will collect divers
• How to approach and board the boat
• What to do if they surface away from the group

DAN recommends that operators explain their method of accounting for divers, monitor buddy checks and review entry and exit procedures.[6]

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, our boats carry oxygen, first-aid equipment, communication equipment and safety supplies. A roll call is completed before departure, and divers should pay attention when names and groups are checked.

Boat organization may not seem exciting, but it prevents equipment confusion and ensures that every person is accounted for.

Why Oceans 5 Gives the Briefing Before Boarding

At Oceans 5, the main dive briefing is normally given in front of the dive center before guests board the boat.

There are practical reasons for this.

The area is quieter, and the guide can speak to the entire group without competing with engine noise. Divers can ask questions comfortably, and changes to equipment or group organization can be made before departure.

It also allows the team to confirm:

• The dive site and expected conditions
• Buddy teams
• Maximum depth and time
• Gas-management procedures
• Nitrox use and analysis
• Required equipment
• Entry and descent procedures
• Emergency procedures
• Environmental expectations

Once the boat approaches the site, the guide can provide a shorter update based on the actual conditions and current check.

This separates the detailed briefing from the final site assessment. Both are important.

The Pre-Dive Safety Check Is Not the Briefing

A briefing does not replace a buddy check.

The briefing explains the plan. The pre-dive safety check confirms that the divers and their equipment are ready to execute that plan.

Before every dive, buddies should check:

• BCD function
• Weight system
• Releases and straps
• Cylinder security
• Air supply
• Regulators and alternate air source
• Gauges or dive computer
• Fins, mask and accessories
• Any specialist equipment needed for the dive

SSI advises that even experienced divers should perform a pre-dive check before every dive.[7] DAN similarly warns that experienced divers can still forget to open a cylinder valve fully, secure a weight pouch or correctly position equipment.[8]

Experience should make a diver more disciplined—not less interested in basic safety procedures.

Why Experienced Divers Still Need to Listen

A diver with 1,000 logged dives may know how to complete a safety stop. That does not mean they know:

• Today’s current direction
• The planned entry point
• Which Divemaster is leading
• Who their assigned buddy is
• The agreed gas limit
• Where the boat expects the group to surface
• Which route the guide intends to follow
• What site-specific signal will be used
• Whether the group will descend immediately

Talking through a briefing can also prevent other divers from hearing information they need. DAN’s guidance on dive etiquette specifically advises divers not to talk during the briefing, even when they already know the standard procedures.[9]

Listening is not an indication of inexperience. It is part of professional and respectful dive behaviour.

A Briefing Also Protects the Reef

A responsible briefing should explain how the group is expected to behave underwater.

At Oceans 5, this includes:

• Maintain neutral buoyancy
• Do not stand or kneel on coral
• Do not touch, chase or feed marine life
• Secure gauges, alternate air sources and other equipment
• Avoid uncontrolled fin contact with the reef
• Give turtles and sharks sufficient space
• Do not block animals or surround them
• Follow the guide’s instructions at sensitive areas

Environmental conduct should not be reduced to “do not touch anything.”

Divers need to understand how their position, buoyancy and behaviour affect marine life. A diver does not need to touch coral with their hands to cause damage. Unsecured equipment, vertical positioning and careless fin kicks can also affect the reef.

DAN includes environmental briefings among the important forms of pre-dive communication, recommending clear instructions about actions divers can take to protect the site.[1]

A five-minute explanation before the dive can prevent avoidable damage underwater.

What Happens When the Plan Changes Underwater?

A briefing creates a plan, but it does not remove the need for judgment.

Conditions may differ from expectations. The current may turn, visibility may decrease, another group may occupy the intended route, or a diver may consume gas faster than expected.

The guide may decide to:

• Change direction
• Move shallower
• Avoid part of the site
• Shorten the dive
• Deploy a surface marker buoy earlier
• Begin the ascent
• End the dive completely

Divers should remain close enough to see the guide’s signals and close enough to assist their buddies.

Following the plan does not mean blindly following the original route. It means following the procedures established during the briefing, including how changes will be communicated.

Questions Are Part of a Good Briefing

If something is unclear, ask before entering the water.

Useful questions include:

• What is the expected current?
• Are we descending together immediately?
• What is our maximum depth?
• At what pressure should I inform you?
• When will we begin the ascent?
• What is the lost-buddy procedure?
• Who deploys the surface marker buoy?
• What should I do if I need to end the dive?
• Where should I position myself in the group?
• What marine life might we encounter?
• Are there any areas we should avoid?

A professional Divemaster will prefer to answer a question on land rather than solve a misunderstanding underwater.

Five Minutes That Can Change the Entire Dive

A good dive briefing does not need to be unnecessarily long. It needs to be clear, relevant and specific.

It should tell divers:

• Where they are diving
• What conditions to expect
• How the dive will be organized
• Who their buddy is
• What limits apply
• How the team will communicate
• What to do if something goes wrong
• How to behave responsibly around the reef

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the briefing is part of the dive—not an obstacle delaying it.

Those few minutes create better communication, stronger buddy teams, safer entries, more controlled dives and less environmental impact.

So, when your Divemaster begins the next briefing, stop assembling your camera, pause the conversation and listen.

You may have heard some of the information before.

But you have not made this dive before.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information should a dive briefing include?

A proper briefing should cover the dive-site layout, conditions, route, maximum depth, approximate duration, gas-management procedures, buddy teams, hand signals, entry and exit procedures, emergency procedures and environmental behaviour.

Should experienced divers listen to every briefing?

Yes. Experienced divers may know standard scuba procedures, but they may not know the local conditions, planned route, entry method, group organization or boat procedures for that particular dive.

Why does Oceans 5 give briefings before boarding?

The area in front of the dive center provides a quieter environment where everyone can hear the guide, ask questions and make any necessary equipment or group changes. A shorter update can then be provided on the boat after the current and site conditions are checked.

Does a dive briefing replace the buddy check?

No. The briefing explains the dive plan. The buddy check confirms that both divers understand each other’s equipment and that the equipment is functioning and ready for the dive.

What happens if the conditions differ from the briefing?

The guide may adjust the entry point, route, depth or dive time. If necessary, the guide can change or end the dive. The original briefing should explain how changes will be communicated.

Who carries the surface marker buoy?

The guide normally carries and deploys a surface marker buoy for the group. At Oceans 5, all Divemasters and instructors are required to carry an SMB and reel. Certified divers should also develop the ability to carry and deploy their own SMB where appropriate.

May I end a dive even when nothing is technically wrong?

Yes. Any diver can end a dive at any time and for any reason. Feeling uncomfortable is already a valid reason. Signal the guide and your buddy and follow the agreed ascent procedure.

Why can briefing procedures differ between dive centers?

Dive operations use different boats, dive sites, equipment arrangements and local procedures. Listen to the briefing even when you are an experienced diver or have dived in the area before.

References

1. Divers Alert Network. “A Brief on Briefings.”
   https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/a-brief-on-briefings/
2. Scuba Schools International. “9 Essential Tips to Become an Excellent Diving Buddy.”
   https://www.divessi.com/en/blog/best-diving-buddy-10007.html
3. Scuba Schools International. “Dive Briefing Evaluation.”
   https://training.divessi.com/index.php?id=20063203
4. Divers Alert Network. “The Importance of a Predive Safety Check.”
   https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/the-importance-of-a-predive-safety-check/
5. Divers Alert Network. “Calling the Dive.”
   https://world.dan.org/alert-diver/article/calling-the-dive/
6. Divers Alert Network. “Dive Boat Safety.”
   https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/dive-boat-safety/
7. Scuba Schools International. “15 Skills Every Scuba Diver Should Master.”
   https://www.divessi.com/en/blog/15-skills-every-scubadiver-should-know-8832.html
8. Divers Alert Network. “Lessons Learned.”
   https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/lessons-learned/
9. Divers Alert Network. “The Do’s and Don’ts of Dive Etiquette.”
   https://dan.org/safety-prevention/diver-safety/divers-blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-dive-etiquette/