How to Do a Pre-Dive Safety Check

Leave a reply
Pre-Dive Safety Check | Dive Resort Oceans 5 Gili Air

The Habit That Makes Every Dive Safer

For many people who have never tried scuba diving, one of the biggest concerns is safety. They often imagine that once they enter the water, they are completely dependent on their equipment. The reality is very different. Modern scuba equipment is extremely reliable when it is properly maintained and correctly assembled. Even more importantly, every certified diver is taught to check that equipment before every single dive.[1][2]

One of the very first safety habits taught during the SSI Open Water Diver Course is the Pre-Dive Safety Check. This simple procedure takes only a few minutes but dramatically reduces the chance of equipment-related problems underwater.[1]

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, this check is never skipped. Before every boat dive, our instructors and dive guides perform the pre-dive safety check together with their students and certified divers. It has become part of our diving culture because good diving starts before entering the water.

Why Is a Pre-Dive Safety Check Important?

A surprising number of diving incidents are not caused by equipment failures but by equipment that was assembled incorrectly or simply not checked before entering the water.[3]

Examples include:

  • An air cylinder valve that is still partially closed
  • Forgotten weight systems
  • Loose tank straps
  • Regulators connected incorrectly
  • Low cylinder pressure
  • Forgotten mask or fins
  • Loose hoses

Nearly all of these issues can be discovered in less than two minutes during a proper buddy check.

Professional divers perform these checks every day. New divers should develop exactly the same habit from their very first dive.

Safety Starts During the SSI Open Water Course

During the SSI Open Water Diver Course, students don’t simply learn how to breathe underwater.

Book Your Open Water Course Now!

They learn how to become responsible divers.

Throughout the course, instructors repeatedly explain:

  • Equipment assembly
  • Equipment inspection
  • Emergency procedures
  • Buddy communication
  • Safe entries
  • Safe ascents
  • Air management
  • Pre-dive planning
  • Buddy checks

The goal is simple: after certification, divers should be able to prepare themselves safely for every recreational dive.[1]

One of the most important habits learned during the course is performing a pre-dive safety check before entering the water.

The Buddy Check

Scuba diving is a buddy activity.

Your buddy may notice something that you overlooked.

Likewise, you might spot a small issue before it becomes a bigger problem.

The buddy check is not about distrusting your own preparation.

It is about having a second pair of eyes.

Professional pilots use checklists before every flight—even after thousands of flying hours. Divers do exactly the same.

Remembering the Buddy Check: BWRAF

Different diving organizations use slightly different memory aids, but one of the most well-known worldwide is BWRAF.

Many divers remember it with funny phrases such as:

Begin With Review And Friend

or

Breakfast With Rice And Fish

The words are not important.

Remembering the order is.

B – BCD

The first step is checking the Buoyancy Control Device (BCD).

Make sure:

  • The cylinder is securely fastened.
  • The inflator hose is connected.
  • The BCD inflates normally.
  • The BCD deflates correctly.
  • Dump valves operate properly.
  • Nothing is twisted.

Proper buoyancy control is one of the most important skills in recreational diving.[2]

W – Weights

Next comes the weight system.

Check that:

  • The correct amount of weight is installed.
  • Weight pockets are properly secured.
  • Quick-release mechanisms work correctly.
  • The buddy knows how to release your weights in an emergency.

Incorrect weighting can make buoyancy difficult and increase air consumption.

R – Releases

Now inspect every buckle and release.

This includes:

  • Shoulder buckles
  • Waist buckle
  • Chest strap
  • Tank strap
  • Weight releases

Loose straps can become uncomfortable or dangerous during the dive.

A – Air

The air check is one of the most important parts of the inspection.

Confirm that:

  • The cylinder valve is fully open.
  • The pressure gauge shows sufficient air.
  • Both divers know each other’s starting pressure.
  • The primary regulator breathes easily.
  • The alternate air source also works.
  • The pressure gauge does not fluctuate while breathing.

Never assume the air is on.

Always test it.

F – Final Check

Before entering the water, complete one final inspection.

Ask yourself:

  • Mask ready?
  • Fins ready?
  • Computer activated?
  • Compass attached?
  • Camera secure?
  • Surface marker buoy attached?
  • Nothing hanging loose?
  • Buddy ready?
  • Entry procedure understood?

Only after everything has been checked should you enter the water.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, Every Dive Starts with a Buddy Check

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, every boat dive follows a structured routine.

Once everyone is comfortably seated on the boat, our instructors or dive guides give a detailed dive briefing explaining:

  • The dive site
  • Expected currents
  • Maximum depth
  • Marine life
  • Entry procedure
  • Exit procedure
  • Communication signals
  • Safety procedures

Immediately after the briefing, every diver performs the pre-dive safety check with their buddy.

We always conduct this check on the boat before entering the water. This ensures there is enough space, enough time, and assistance is available if any equipment adjustments are needed.

By making the buddy check part of every dive, it becomes a natural habit that stays with divers throughout their diving careers.

Developing Good Diving Habits

One of the biggest differences between experienced divers and beginners is not confidence.

It is routine.

Experienced divers perform many safety procedures automatically because they have repeated them hundreds of times.

Good habits include:

  • Checking equipment every dive
  • Monitoring air regularly
  • Staying close to your buddy
  • Equalizing early
  • Maintaining neutral buoyancy
  • Respecting no-decompression limits
  • Performing a slow ascent
  • Completing a safety stop

Every one of these habits begins during the Open Water course.[1][2]

Why the SSI Open Water Course Is the Perfect Way to Discover the Gili Islands

The SSI Open Water Diver Course is much more than earning a certification card—it is your gateway to exploring one of Indonesia’s most famous underwater destinations.

The waters around Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan are known for their warm temperatures, excellent visibility, and incredible variety of marine life.[4]

During your training dives, you may encounter:

  • Green sea turtles
  • Hawksbill turtles
  • Reef fish
  • Clownfish
  • Blue-spotted stingrays
  • Moray eels
  • Garden eels
  • Octopus
  • Nudibranchs
  • Healthy coral reefs

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, students learn in small groups, allowing instructors to spend more time helping each diver build confidence, improve buoyancy, and enjoy the underwater world at a comfortable pace.

Our training begins in purpose-built swimming pools before progressing to carefully selected open-water dive sites that match the students’ experience level. This gradual approach allows new divers to focus on learning while safely discovering the beautiful reefs surrounding the Gili Islands.

By the end of the course, you won’t just know how to dive—you’ll understand how to dive safely, responsibly, and confidently, ready to explore the oceans anywhere in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a pre-dive safety check so important?

A pre-dive safety check helps identify equipment problems before entering the water. Most common equipment issues can be detected and corrected during this simple inspection.[3]

What does BWRAF stand for?

BWRAF stands for BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Final Check, providing an easy way to remember the key steps of a buddy inspection.

Do experienced divers still perform buddy checks?

Yes. Professional instructors, divemasters, and experienced recreational divers perform buddy checks before every dive because safety habits never become unnecessary.

How long does a buddy check take?

Usually less than two minutes, but those two minutes can prevent many common diving problems.

Where does Oceans 5 Gili Air perform the buddy check?

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, every pre-dive safety check is carried out on the dive boat immediately after the dive briefing and before entering the water.

Will I learn this during the SSI Open Water Course?

Absolutely. Performing a proper pre-dive safety check is one of the essential skills taught and practiced throughout the SSI Open Water Diver Course.

Is the Open Water Course suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The SSI Open Water Diver Course is specifically designed for people with no previous diving experience and teaches all the essential skills needed to become a safe and confident recreational diver.

References

[1] Scuba Schools International (SSI). Open Water Diver Program Standards and Training Philosophy.

[2] World Recreational Scuba Training Council. Minimum Training Standards for Entry-Level Recreational Divers.

[3] Divers Alert Network. Annual Diving Incident Reports and Safe Diving Practices.

[4] BKKPN Kupang. Management information and conservation guidance for the Gili Matra Marine Protected Area.

Leave a Reply