BSAC Interactive Learning

DT12 The Role of the Dive Manager

Which of the following is a correct statement about the role of the dive manager? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook p116
1. The dive manager is overall supervisor on the day of the dive
2. The dive manager should perform all tasks personally
3. The person who books the boats and accommodation automatically becomes the dive manager
4. If the branch has a standard risk assessment for the dive site there is no need for the dive manager to assess risks
5. The dive manager should always appoint a coxswain to drive each branch boat, and should not drive themselves
What is the purpose of a dive manager's checklist? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook p117
1. It helps confirm that everything is in place before leaving for the dive site
2. It acts as a handout for divers going on the dive trip
3. It is used to direct assistants to whom the dive manager is delegating tasks
4. It supports dive management on the actual dive
5. It contains all the information needed for running the dive
What headings should the dive manager's checklist include? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp117-118
1. Site information items
2. Equipment items needed for the dive
3. List of divers and their qualifications
4. Timetable
5. Local information
Which of the following statements reflects your BSAC training about giving a dive briefing? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp120-122.
1. Pictures/drawings are a bad way of describing a dive site
2. Mention any expected currents and their direction relative to the site
3. Always insist on a maximum depth
4. Describe how to locate points of interest
5. State who is diving with who.
6. Always let the divers make their own decisions about whether or not to use an SMB
7. When boat diving, the location of the oxygen and first-aid kit can be pointed out during the skipper/coxswain brief
8. If appropriate, the dive manager should remind divers about marine conservation, wreck protection, and general behaviour issues
Which of the following statements reflects your BSAC training about managing a branch shore or small boat dive? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp122-124.
1. Safety is all that matters, so do not worry about timings
2. You must allow plenty of time for briefings and checks so that diving happens on time without compromising safety
3. The Assistant Dive Manager should dive with the Dive Manager
4. The Assistant Dive Manager should take over whilst the Dive Manager is diving
5. When timing is important, divers should be given adequate notice to allow them to be ready to dive in time
6. Recording details about each buddy pair on the dive slate or log can safely be left until all the diving has been completed
7. If the dive plan is sound and the divers have been properly briefed, there is no need to carry out any monitoring whilst diving takes place
8. The Dive Manager and coxwain(s) need to work together closely.
9. It is correct dive site etiquette to ignore other groups on the site. Just do your own thing.
10. You should cooperate with other groups on the site and watch out for their divers.
Which of the following statements reflects your BSAC training about charter boat diving? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp124-125.
1. The skipper is in charge of all diving activities and is therefore the dive manager
2. The dive manager is in charge for the day and, having assessed the conditions, should direct the skipper as to where, when and how diving will take place
3. Effective liaison with the skipper is very important
4. Always tell the divers to put their equipment wherever they can find space, as soon as they arrive
5. Stow equipment when and where the skipper directs, preferably with buddy pairs next to one another
6. The dive manager should find out the location of safety equipment, entry and exit procedures, and any house rules and give a safety brief to the divers
7. Skippers are required to give a safety brief to all their customers.
Who has the final say about when it is unsafe to dive? See Student Workbook p125.
1. The skipper
2. The dive manager
3. The skipper and/or the dive manager
4. Each diver
Which of the following statements reflects your BSAC training about the dive manager's role after diving? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp126-127.
1. Once all the divers are safely aboard, the dive logs have served their purpose, so any gaps can go unfilled, and they can be thrown away
2. Collate all the dive log information and pass the logs to the Diving Officer
3. If you contacted the coastguard at the start of diving, notify them of your safe return
4. Leave washing down and packing of equipment to those who are transporting it
5. Organise people to help with washing down and packing of equipment, if necessary
6. Leave collecting money due from divers until another day
7. Collect money due from divers
8. Report any damage to or problems with branch equipment back to the Boat or Equipment Officer
Which of the following can provide all of these functions: a marked entry/exit point; a clear point or area for the boat to patrol; the shortest possible route to and from the surface/dive site; comfort during ascent/descent for less experienced divers and/or in restricted visibility; security for decompression stops; and a datum point for surface or underwater searches? See Student Workbook p127.
1. An SMB
2. A DSMB
3. A pair of transits
4. A shot line
5. The boat's anchor line
What are the advantages of a top-tensioned shot? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp127-128.
1. Simple construction
2. Adjusts with rise and fall of tide
3. Provides near vertical line
4. Nothing to go wrong
5. Buoy shows accurate position of dive site
6. Counterweight can get tangled or stuck
7. May not work in current or wind, or if divers pull on main line
What are the disadvantages of a top-tensioned shot? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp127-128.
1. Simple construction
2. Adjusts with rise and fall of tide
3. Provides near vertical line
4. Nothing to go wrong
5. Buoy shows accurate position of dive site
6. Counterweight can get tangled or stuck
7. May not work in current or wind, or if divers pull on main line
A shot line should be made with rope of at least 15mm diameter. Why? See Student Workbook p128.
1. So that it is strong enough
2. So that it is visible underwater
3. So that it is comfortable to handle
Which of the following statements about constructing shot lines agrees with your BSAC training? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp129-130.
1. The buoy should have 50% more buoyancy than the sum of the weights which it supports
2. The buoy should normally have a buoyancy of at least 50kg
3. A 25kg weight is normally big enough
4. Grapnels are unsuitable for shotting wrecks
5. The counterweight on a top-tensioned shot should be as light as possible
6. A tide buoy can indicate the strength and direction of the current
How should surplus line be dealt with when constructing a shot line? See Student Workbook p129.
1. Coil it up near the shot weight
2. Coil it up in mid-water, away from the buoy and the weight
3. Cut it off
4. Coil or bag it close to the buoy, or let it float as a 'trail line'
Which of the following can be used for fixing attachments to the middle of a shotline? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook p130.
1. Karabiner
2. Knotted sheepshank
3. Rolling hitch
4. Prusik knot
5. Chain sennet
6. Coiling
Which of the following statements can be used for shortening a shotline? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook p130.
1. Karabiner
2. Knotted sheepshank
3. Rolling hitch
4. Prusik knot
5. Chain sennet
6. Coiling
Which of the following statements reflects your BSAC training about deploying a shot line? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp130-131.
1. Prepare the shot line well before reaching the dive site
2. Prepare the shot line once you have reached the dive site
3. Set the shot line out on deck with the weight underneath everything else
4. Set the shot line out on deck with the weight clear or on top
5. The shot 'deployer' should throw the weight in on command, then feed the line out by hand
6. The shot 'deployer' should throw the weight in on command, then keep clear of the line as it runs out
7. If a tide is running, head into the tide and drop the shot as soon as the site begins to show on the echo sounder
8. If a tide is running, head into the tide, and drop the shot slightly up tide of the site
9. If a tide is running, head into the tide, and drop the shot slightly down tide of the site
What method can be employed on any boat to ease the task of recovering the shot line? See Student Workbook p132.
1. Use a winch
2. Use a block and tackle
3. Use the strength of several divers, in 'tug-of-war' format, to heave on the rope
4. Use a lifting bag
What is the difference between controlled recovery and buoyant recovery? See Student Workbook pp132-133.
1. Controlled recovery takes longer
2. Controlled recovery requires a lifting bag that will lift a considerably greater amount than the shot weight
3. Buoyant recovery uses a lifting bag that will lift a considerably greater amount than the shot weight
What are you advised to be careful about when recovering the shot after either type of assisted lift? See Student Workbook p133.
1. Dropping the weight on your foot
2. Breaking the line
3. Spilling air from the bag prematurely
4. Puncturing the float
Which formula is recommended as a guide to dealing with emergencies? See Student Workbook p134.
1. Airway Breathing Circulation
2. Stop Look Listen
3. Act Assess Plan
4. Ready Fire Aim
5. Assess Plan Act
How can you use a weighted SMB to mark a position from the surface? See Student Workbook p134.
1. Pull out enough line to reach the bottom, tie a weight to the reel and fasten the SMB to the free end, and chuck the lot overboard.
2. Tie a weight to the end of the line, fasten the buoy to the reel, throw the weight in and let the line run out until it goes slack, then lock the reel and chuck the buoy in.
3. Tie a weight to the reel and tie the lock off (free to rotate), attach the SMB in the normal way, then chuck the lot overboard.
Which actions are appropriate if you have a pair of divers missing? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp134-135
1. Post lookouts
2. Mark their last known position
3. Recall other divers
4. Ask other craft to help by searching up tide and out to sea from their last known position
5. Ask other craft to help by searching down tide from and inshore of their last known position
6. Alert the coastguard
Which actions are appropriate in the event of a casualty with diving related injuries? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook p135
1. Remove casualty from danger
2. Perform casualty assessment
3. Administer oxygen
4. Monitor casualty
5. Monitor buddy
6. Alert the coastguard
Which actions are appropriate in the event of a disabled boat? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp135-136.
1. Summon help from nearby craft
2. Accept any offer of a tow unconditionally
3. Accept an offer of a tow once you know whether the tower intends to claim salvage
4. Deploy an anchor or sea anchor to reduce drift if necessary
5. Alert the coastguard immediately
6. Alert the coastguard if you cannot get sufficient help from nearby craft
Some diving groups use a diver-to-surface signalling system based on different colours and combinations of DSMBs to deal with underwater problems, principally running low on breathing gas for decompression. Which of the following are essential if such a system is to be effective? Tick all that apply. See Student Workbook pp136-137.
1. All those involved must understand the signals to be used
2. All those involved in surface support must understand what actions they are to carry out in the event of an emergency signal
3. The necessary equipment such as spare cylinders of decompression gas, ropes, buoys, etc, must be fully rigged and ready for deployment whilst diving is taking place
4. The procedures should be well practiced before hand to ensure familiarity and competence to respond in an emergency
What colours of DSMB are recommended where a diver-to-surface emergency signalling system is used? See Student Workbook pp136-137.
1. Red=problem
  Yellow=OK
  Red+yellow=deco gas needed
2. Red=OK
  Yellow=problem
  Red+yellow=deco gas needed
3. Red=OK
  Yellow=OK
  Red+yellow=deco gas needed
4. Red=OK
  Yellow=n/a (do not use yellow alone)
  Red+yellow=deco gas needed
5. Red=n/a (do not use red alone)
  Yellow=OK
  Red+yellow=deco gas needed