Assigning Roles and Responsibilities
One of the easiest ways to reduce confusion and improve team coordination is to assign roles before the dive. This isn’t about creating hierarchy or micromanaging each other—it’s about clarity. When each diver knows their role, the dive runs smoother and safer.
Why It Matters
Without assigned roles, teams often end up with duplicated effort—or worse, nobody doing something critical. Who’s navigating? Who’s deploying the SMB? Who’s leading the ascent? These questions are best answered on land, not underwater.
Even small misunderstandings, like who’s starting the descent or where to exit, can break rhythm and increase stress. Clear roles reduce uncertainty and keep everyone in sync.
Common Roles in a Dive Team
- Team Leader: Sets direction, initiates descent/ascent, and keeps the dive on plan. Doesn’t have to be the most experienced diver.
- Navigator: Maintains heading, monitors environmental cues, and ensures turn points are hit.
- Gas Manager: Tracks turn pressures and confirms gas checks within the team.
- SMB Deployer: Handles surface marker buoy deployment during ascent if needed.
- Timekeeper: Tracks bottom time, deco or safety stop duration, and notifies team as needed.
In small teams, these roles often overlap. In a two-person buddy team, one diver may handle navigation and the other gas. The key is agreement—not perfection.
Leadership Is Situational
The team leader isn’t always the most experienced diver—and they shouldn’t be by default. On some dives, a newer diver may lead if they’re familiar with the site or practicing specific skills. Leadership should be flexible and matched to the dive’s goals, not ego.
In many early dives of mine in the local quarry, my usual buddy and I did not assign roles. So we would have to communicate a lot underwater and we’d get confused about who was doing what and who was leading. Not a significant risk at 40 ft in decent vis, but definitely not optimal. It made the dive feel more scattered than it needed to be.
Signal Who’s Leading
Before descending, make sure everyone knows who is initiating and who’s following. That diver should confirm that the team is ready, then descend slowly while staying visible. At the bottom, regroup before beginning navigation or moving on.
This can be decided casually (“You want to lead this one?”), but it should be decided. Same goes for who will deploy the SMB, who’s watching turn pressure, and who’s responsible for calling the dive if needed.
Use the Briefing to Lock It In
Team roles are most effective when they’re locked in before the dive. Even a short, informal briefing should cover:
- Who’s leading and what route you’re taking
- What turn pressure or time you’re using
- Who’s deploying the SMB
- What to do if separated
These simple conversations take less than a minute—and save a lot more underwater.