Pre-Dive Emergency Briefings: What to Cover
Every dive team reviews the dive plan—but few review the emergency plan. That’s a problem, especially when roles aren’t clearly defined and everyone assumes someone else will take charge if something goes wrong.
A pre-dive emergency briefing doesn’t need to be long or formal. In most cases, it takes less than a minute. But that minute can save lives.
What’s the Purpose of an Emergency Briefing?
The goal isn’t to rehearse every possible scenario—it’s to make sure your team knows:
- What to do if something goes wrong
- Who will take charge of key tasks
- Where emergency gear is located
- How to communicate distress or abort signals
- What happens next if the dive gets called
This reduces hesitation and confusion when stress levels spike.
When to Do It
An emergency briefing is best done right after the dive plan but before anyone puts on gear. On a boat, that’s usually right after the captain or divemaster finishes their site overview. On land, it might happen right before kitting up.
Even if you’re diving with friends, it’s worth asking: “What’s our plan if something goes wrong?”
Core Topics to Cover (Even for Simple Dives)
Here’s what should be covered in most recreational team briefings:
- Who’s the point of contact for EMS or DAN?
- Where is the emergency gear stored?
- Do we have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for this site?
- Who’s documenting the dive roster and dive profiles?
- What are our abort conditions? (lost diver, out-of-air, low visibility)
- How are we signaling distress? (light, hand, touch, ascent)
If you’re diving with a charter or shop, you might only need to ask a few of these. On a self-organized or remote dive, they’re essential.
Tip: Don’t Lecture—Check Understanding
This isn’t a monologue. Even if you’re the most experienced diver, it’s better to ask:
- “Who wants to carry the SMB?”
- “Are we comfortable turning the dive if anyone feels off?”
- “What’s our plan if someone gets separated?”
A good briefing is about building shared awareness—not just reciting a checklist.
Make It Scalable
For casual dives with experienced friends: You can cover this in 30 seconds. Just confirm gear, roles, and the plan.
For unfamiliar teams, mixed experience, or remote dives: Go through a checklist in full. It's worth the extra time.