Image from Graham Savill Blog - oh the humanity!
When to do a bubble check?
The best option is to do it before you start descending...but that isn't always an option like when diving from a boat. If you can, include the bubble check in your pre-dive check when you are in the water up to your chest (usually during a shore dive). If you can't...then before you splash, ask your buddy to do a bubble check once you are in the water or are descending. Once in the water, get your buddies attention and point at them (you) then point at your eyes (look) and then make a pinching motion with your fingers (bubbles) and then maybe point "behind me".How to do a bubble check?
Typically you will start by facing each other. It's probably easier for the diver wanting the bubble check to slowly spin around. If not...what you look at is still the same...- Both divers go underwater, if on the shore then kneeling or bending backwards is good enough
- Look at the chest for BCD inflator connection and drysuit connection
- Move to your right / their left and look at the clipped off SPG
- Go around their back and look at the 1st stage and all related hoses. Don't forget the valve of the tank where an O-Ring may be bad or pinched, particularly on rented Yoke tanks
- Continue around their back to their right shoulder and look at the primary reg and the octo or necklaced second stage
- Signal OK or point to the item that is leaking and make the "pinching" motion with your fingers
