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SAFETY TALK - APRIL 2006


The time has at last come for that first 'real' dive of the year. The personal diving mothballs have been aired with dives in that wonderful, much loved, quarry and perhaps even the odd shore dive to ease back into things but the first boat dive of the year somehow seems more of the real thing. Taking the club, or privately owned, RIB out of it's winter storage requires similar thought and preparation to that personal health check and preparation we give ourselves and there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that first trip is a relaxed and enjoyable success.

1. Boat Fitness
   • As with personal equipment, winter is the ideal time to get the boat and engine properly serviced. Ensure it is done by a reputable dealer and service agent.
   • Consider having the boat independently checked using the RNLI SEA CHECK
   • Check and service all electronics as well
   • Check out the boat on short trips before committing to more adventurous activities
   
   
2. Coxswain preparation
   • Before loading the boat for the first trip of the season check the boat and engine to ensure that everything functions properly
   • Check the Weather Forecast and make sure you have a Voyage Plan on board
   • Use a Safety Checklist
   • Brief the crew
   • Notify Coastguard
   
   
3. Crew Preparation
   • Make sure all crew members are fully briefed on the trip
   • Ensure all are aware of emergency actions

Much of the information and Guidance required for the 'Safe Operation of Member Club Boats' is contained within the publication of the same name from the Combined Diving Associations and can be downloaded from the BSAC Website.

A key element of this document is reference to the SOLAS V regulations and the requirement to have a current weather forecast and passage plan on board.

Think SAFE - Dive SAFE

Jim Watson
BSAC Safety and Development manager

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More Detail on Boat Preparation and RNLI's FREE SEA CHECK


Boat Fitness
As with personal equipment, winter is the ideal time to get the boat and engine properly serviced. Ensure it is done by a reputable dealer and service agent.
Check and service all electronics as well
winterising
checking and maintaining
testing

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Coxswain Preparation

Get Informed
Keeping up to date with information is as vital for boat Coxswains as it is for divers. The principles of seamanship over the years has become an established tradition for an island nation that is the UK and change less rapidly than in a comparatively new sport such as diving. Nevertheless, new and developing technology and the latest theories and regulations and the implications of new and developing activities (including diving) mean that there is still a need to update your knowledge and skills.



Get trained

It is essential that the handling of a RIB is carried out under the control of a qualified person at all times. This includes not only the on-site slow-speed manoeuvring during diving operations but also during the passage from launch point to site and vice versa.

Qualifications

The CDA considers that the most appropriate qualification for a boathandler to have, when operating a RIB involved in recreational diving activities, is the CDA Diver Coxswain award. This award is given after the candidate has passed the boathandling assessment, which includes appropriate diving operational skills and manoeuvring techniques. Other qualifications are available from other training associations but it is paramount that only qualifications that include specific aspects of diving operations, should be accepted for diving operations.


Get prepared
Being prepared for any trip you undertake as the Coxswain of a club RIB is not only common sense but also part of the formal requirements as set out under the SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) V Regulations.
Key aspects of this involve having a Voyage Plan aboard that takes acoount of a back up plan for changes in conditions as well as tidal and weather infomration.
In addition to this you need to consider the safety and comform of all aboard and make sure all are properly briefed. To assist with this a series of checklist are invaluable and some examples are available from this site.

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Crew Preparation

The role of the crew on a dive boat is no less important than that of the Coxswain. It is an individuals responsibility to ensure that they are both fully informed of the requirements on the day and the ensure their own personal safety and comfort.
Some simple steps can be taken to ensure that this happens and will include:

• Making sure you pay attention to all briefings given by the Coxswain and the Marshal especially where this relates to safety on the boat.
• Making sure you follow that guidance but also excercise common sense (e.g. even though you may not have been specifically briefed not to do so, positioning yourself in the bow of a fast RIB is not a sensible location as this is the area most subject to violent movement such as when passing over the wake of another vessel).
• Learning how to help out on the boat to aid the Coxswain and make things more comfortable for all on board
• Ensure all are aware of emergency actions
• Ensuring your own comfort by checking out our What to take checklists (DPRC)

Insulation
Perhaps the most important consideration for anyone in an open RIB is staying warm and comfortable. Even in summer months the wind created by one of these open craft adds a significan tchill to the diver both on the way to the site and on a return journey. Keeping warm can turn into an art form in it's own right but some simple steps will help.

Wear a hat
Up to 75% of our body heat can be lost through the head area, because of it's high level of blood supply and need to avoid fully enclosing it. In summer months a simple baseball style cap may be adequate to avoid excessive heat loss and give some protection from the sun.
In winter or on cooler days a more appropriate version would be a hat with more insulating properties such as the Thinsulate wooly hat available from the BSAC Shop.

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Any suggestions for further items for inclusion would be welcome and can be made to divesafe@bsac.com

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