What should you include in a Dive Plan besides emergency protocols?

Including detailed safety procedures and objectives in a dive plan is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the dive. These components help divers understand not only what they intend to accomplish during the dive but also the predefined measures to address potential risks and emergencies. Safety procedures outline essential protocols—such as buddy checks, communication signals, ascent rates, and emergency exits—that prepare divers for various scenarios, fostering a safer diving environment. Meanwhile, clear objectives help guide the dive, ensuring that all divers work cohesively towards a common goal, whether it’s exploring a specific site, conducting research, or gathering specific data.

While knowing the names of all divers, intended dive sites, and weather conditions can be important elements of a dive plan, they do not provide the same depth of preparation for unforeseen circumstances that detailed safety procedures and objectives do. These elements can enhance situational awareness and ensure that every team member is aligned on the overall dive strategy and safety practices.