Debate: Should we always follow the dive supervisor's plan or speak up when we spot a problem?

Had a supervisor in the Gulf tell me to skip the pre-dive gear check because we were behind schedule. I pushed back and we ended up finding a cracked hose that would have been bad. On the other hand, I've seen guys argue over small stuff and waste everyone's time. What's your rule for when to push back vs just following orders?

3 comments

3 Comments

lindal1311d ago

Oh man, that cracked hose story gives me chills! I had almost the exact same thing happen in Bonaire. My buddy wanted to skip the weight check because the boat was leaving, but I insisted we do it. Turned out my weight belt buckle was corroded and about to snap off. That could have been a real mess at depth. For me, the rule is safety stuff is always worth speaking up about, but if it's just a preference thing like which entry point to use, I'll go with the flow. It's saved me trouble more than once!

the_thea11d ago

How'd you convince your buddy to agree to the check?

casey_wood211d ago

That's a great rule of thumb @lindal13! I've noticed the same pattern applies way beyond diving too. Like when I'm driving and someone wants to take a different route - I don't care about the route, but if they want to skip checking the tire pressure before a long trip, that's where I'll push back. It's funny how learning to speak up about the important stuff and let the small things slide just makes everything smoother. Your weight belt story is a perfect example of how that split second decision can save your whole dive.