Pro tip: a job in the Gulf last month showed me why I skip the 'buddy check' talk on deck

We were setting up for a 90 foot dive off a rig near Galveston, and the lead diver gave the full 5 minute buddy check speech. I just went straight to my gear check list (I use a laminated card, it's faster). My partner got tangled in his own comms line because he was busy talking instead of looking. I had to cut him free with my knife. Has anyone else found that too much talk topside just adds risk?

3 comments

3 Comments

jason_fox2mo ago

Man, that's rough. I keep my pre-dive talk to 30 seconds max, just the big three: gas, weights, and cutting tools. All that extra chatter just gives people time to mess with gear they already checked.

nathan_barnes2mo ago

Wait, you had to cut him free with your knife? That's insane. It sounds like the whole speech just made everyone zone out instead of focus. I get why you stick to your checklist, all that talking seems to just create more problems.

dylanward1mo ago

Ditch the laminated card too man, that thing will blow away or get salt crusted and you'll be squinting at it while your buddy is already in the water. Keep it in your head or on your arm slate, three things max. I run through gas pressure, weight check, and knife placement before anyone hits the rail. If you're giving a speech people stop listening, simple as that. Tell your team to set their gear once, check it once, then shut up and get wet. All that talking topside just gives you time to second guess yourself or miss a leak you'd catch in three seconds underwater.