Scuba Skills Review: The Buddy Pre-Dive Checklist

Welcome back to yet another Scuba Skills Review! Today, we are going to take a look at the ins and out of what is arguably one of the most important but often skipped diving procedures, the buddy check. More often than not, I’ll watch (experienced) divers head into the water with their octos and gauges hanging freely, low pressure hoses not connected, leaving their weights behind, or with their air turned off. When I see things like this happen I often think to myself, “Yeah... They skipped the buddy check.” 

As newer divers start to gain experience and build confidence, the buddy check is often the first casualty of complacency. After completing several dives with the same gear and with the same buddy you might think you have it all down to a science, but the reality is that even the most highly experienced divers will miss something from time to time. Because of this, every diver should do a buddy check before every dive.

The type of diving you are doing and the type of equipment you are using can have a significant impact on the steps involved with the buddy check, but for the most part, the five step checklist you learn in the PADI Open Water Diver Course will transcend everything you could ever do underwater.

These five steps can be broken down into the acronym; Buoyancy, Weights, Releases, Air, Final okay.

There are as many ways of remembering this acronym as there are divers but one of the most common (and my personal favorite) mnemonic phrases is: Bruce Willis Ruins All Films.

Let’s look at what each step of the pre-dive safety checklist involves.

Buoyancy:

• Check that the low-pressure inflator hose for your BCD (and dry suit) are connected properly.

• Check that all of your inflator and exhaust valves are accessible and operating correctly. This also includes the BCD’s over-pressure release/pull dump valves. Also, check that the pull string isn’t trapped under the shoulder strap.

Weights:

• Check over your dive buddy’s weight system to see which weights are ditch-able and which are not.

• Check to make sure that all necessary weights have been donned correctly and the diver is not obviously over or underweight. Remember to check for ankle, trim, and integrated weights as well as the weight belt (if there is one).

• Make sure that all integrated weight pockets and the weight belt (if there is one) is secure and positioned correctly. 

• A note on weight belts: for divers who dive with a weight belt and a BCD that incorporates a crotch strap, you will have to undo the crotch strap before you can dump the weight belt. If you fail to do this the weight belt will fall into the crotch strap. 

Releases:

• Check over your dive buddy’s equipment to become familiar with the location and style of their releases (ie. quick releases under arms, cumberbund around the waist) and that they all done up and tightened correctly. This knowledge will be beneficial in the event of a rescue.

• Check to make sure all flip-handle releases are set up as right-hand release.

• Check to make sure the tank is secured and the tank valve loop is in place and tight.

Air:

• Check to make sure your buddy’s air is turned all the way on. Divers used to turn the valve back a quarter to half turn but this old rule has become a thing of the past.

• Check the SPG to ensure a full tank.

• Have your buddy breath off of both regulators to ensure they are both operating correctly. Look at the SPG at the same time to check that the needle is holding steady.

• Take a second to note which side your buddy’s alternate regulator is on and where it is located. If it is on the right side, you will have to bend the hose to receive the alternate right-side-up and the hose will have to cross your buddy’s body because you will have to be on their left side if you need to swim while sharing air. If it is on the left side you will be able to share air without having to bend the hose and will be given some extra range if you need to swim.

Final Okay:

• Take a few moments to go over the last few pieces of equipment and accessories.

• Does your dive buddy have everything they will need? Are they forgetting anything?

• Is their dive computer set properly?

• Do their dive lights have enough battery?

• Is their drysuit zipper fully closed?

• Are there any free-hanging hoses or accessories that could be secured better?

This might seem like a lot to do before every dive but with a little bit of repetition, this important procedure can be completed properly in about a minute. So tell me, do you do a buddy check before every dive? And what is your favorite way of remembering the BWRAF acronym?