What should divers do to ensure the safety of their diving team?

To ensure the safety of their diving team, conducting thorough briefings, establishing clear communication, and adhering to safety protocols is essential. This approach prepares all team members by providing them with the necessary information about the dive plan, potential hazards, and specific roles each diver will play during the dive.

Thorough briefings help to outline expectations and ensure that every member understands the dive plan and emergency procedures. Clear communication throughout the dive reduces the chances of misunderstandings and allows divers to be more aware of each other’s status and well-being. Following established safety protocols further enhances team safety by providing guidelines that minimize risks associated with diving. These protocols include monitoring for signs of decompression sickness, maintaining buoyancy control, and ensuring that a diver has an adequate air supply.

In contrast, relying solely on instincts lacks a structured approach to safety; limiting communication to hand signals reduces the effectiveness of verbal and non-verbal interaction, and avoiding discussion of the plan leaves team members unprepared, increasing potential risks and misunderstandings.