Pre-dive safety check (BWRAF)

The best divers know that safety starts long before you hit the water. A five-point check that takes only five minutes could save your dive, and possibly your life.

It is also the moment you are most reliant on your equipment. The check is your first line of defence against equipment malfunctions, setup errors and the most common diver mistakes, like rolling backwards off the boat only to realise your air is turned off.

Most diving accidents aren't caused by a single catastrophic event. They are a sequence of small, overlooked issues that compound underwater. PADI's golden rules of scuba diving put a buddy check such as BWRAF before every dive.

The purpose of the check is to:

1. Confirm that your equipment is functioning properly
2. Catch setup errors before you enter the water
3. Make sure you and your buddy are physically and mentally ready
4. Improve teamwork and communication
5. Prevent common mistakes that can ruin the dive before it even starts

We use the acronym BWRAF: BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final check. The check happens in two phases: during your gear setup, and just before you enter the water.

It should NOT be skipped and should always be in the same exact order to build the muscle memory.

Make sure your BCD is working properly and ready for the dive.

Quick BCD checklist:

• inflates fully
• holds air
• deflates properly
• dump valves are secure
• bladder is not trapped or twisted
• straps and buckles are secure and work

At setup. Connect your inflator hose and inflate the BCD all the way. Check that it holds air without leaking. Leave it inflated and inspect all the dump valves on your shoulders and lower back. You can even spray the plugs with water to check for bubbling.

Pro tip: if you dive with a backplate and harness system, check that your bladder actually inflates equally on both sides. Sometimes the bladder gets trapped between the cylinder and the backplate.

Just before entry. Inflate your BCD fully again. When you're geared up and sitting on a rocking boat, your dump valves can easily get tucked under your weight belt or caught in your straps. If you try to inflate and the air immediately dumps out of the shoulder, you need to adjust your gear. You should also have some air in the BCD to start with.

Weight systems are a frequent source of trouble. Make sure you know beforehand how much weight you need, that it fits, and that the buckle or integrated release works.

Quick weights checklist:

• correct amount of weight
• belt or pockets secure
• release works properly
• buddy knows how your system releases

At setup. Pull a reference from your logbook. If you are shifting from a 3 mm suit in the Red Sea to a 5 mm suit in Raja Ampat, your weighting will change drastically. Allocate the right amount of weight and physically check the belt or integrated pouches.

Just before entry. Secure your weights before you put your BCD on (unless using integrated pockets). When you close your weight belt buckle, make sure the belt fabric isn't pinched inside the clasp. If it is, it will pop open underwater.

Pro tip for cold water divers. If you dive in a thick 5 mm to 10 mm wetsuit, the neoprene compresses as you go deeper, and a belt that was snug on the surface can loosen and slide around your waist, spoiling your trim. Check that it is snug before you enter the water. If you ever need to adjust it underwater, keep hold of the belt the whole time, and practise that with an instructor first: a belt that comes undone can drop away and send you up too fast.

This covers all buckles, straps, clips and the cylinder band.

Quick releases checklist:

• all clips and buckles work
• shoulder and waist straps are even
• nothing is twisted
• cylinder band is tight
• no hoses are trapped under straps

At setup. When renting equipment from a dive shop, do not wait until you are on the boat to check the BCD clips.

I've seen people drive two hours to a dive site only to find a broken shoulder buckle, leaving them sitting on the boat chatting with the captain while everyone else dives.

Manie Eksteen, PADI Staff Instructor

Put the BCD on at the shop. Check the cummerbund, ensure it fits, and test every clip.

Just before entry. Make sure your shoulder straps are equally tightened. If one is cranked down and the other is loose, your tank will shift to one side, causing massive buoyancy issues.

Try this

• Check your cylinder band. Fasten it, take two fingers and try to lift the BCD up and down on the tank.
• If it slides even a millimetre, it's too loose.
• Re-fasten it, or risk your tank slipping out at 20 metres.

This is the most critical technical step. Do not just glance at your gauge.

Quick air checklist:

• cylinder fully open
• tank pressure confirmed
• primary regulator purges and breathes properly
• alternate air source works
• air smells normal
• SPG needle stays steady while breathing
• alternate is clipped in the front triangle
• mouthpieces are good

At setup. Slowly open the cylinder valve all the way. Grab your pressure gauge (SPG) to confirm the tank is full. Take your primary second stage, give it a quick purge, and then take a few deep breaths while watching the needle. If the needle fluctuates or drops, your air is restricted or not fully turned on.

Pro tip: smell the air. If it smells stale or oily, do not dive with it. Also inspect the rubber mouthpiece. A tiny tear on the top will make you swallow seawater with every breath. Repeat this exact process for your alternate air source (octopus) and secure it in the "golden triangle" (between your chin and lower ribcage). Check your mouthpieces, including the top part by your lip.

Just before entry. You have already checked that everything is working. Open the cylinder valve fully again, then take your primary and your gauge, and take a few deep breaths while making sure the needle on the SPG does not fluctuate.

Quick checklist:

• your mask is ready and defogged (here is how to defog it correctly)
• fins are in place
• your dive computer is on
• the gas mix is correct if applicable
• accessories are clipped off properly
• nothing important has been left behind
• you and your buddy are both ready to enter

At setup. Once your gear is set up on the dock or deck, turn the air completely off and purge the regulators. This way, if you try to take a breath later, you will feel a hard suction. It prevents the dangerous mistake of jumping in with a partially opened valve. Lay the gear down safely: put your mask in a fin pocket, place your fins on top of the BCD, and secure your dive computer to your wrist so expensive gear isn't stepped on.

Just before entry. This is the buddy review. Do you have your fins? Is your mask defogged? Is your computer turned on and set to the right gas mix? Is your camera clipped on? Is your buddy okay, and are you ready for the entry?

Take a second here to mentally prepare and make sure you are not rushed. No dive is worth your life, so take the time to get comfortable.