Resources

Drift Dive Plan Template

Drift dives move the planning emphasis from a fixed route to current, surface support, and pickup logistics. This template covers what a drift-specific plan needs beyond the standard sections.

Current and surface support

  • Expected current direction and strength, as reported by the team/operator
  • Surface marker buoy (SMB) requirement and who deploys it
  • Surface support boat and how it tracks divers
  • Pickup procedure -- how the boat identifies and retrieves each buddy pair

Team separation in moving water

Current can separate a team faster than a comparable dive in still water. State a clear procedure for what a buddy pair does if they lose contact with the group, not just with each other.

Dive Brief organizes information entered by the dive team. It does not calculate whether a dive is safe or replace training, certification, professional judgment, dive computers, agency standards, or a live predive briefing.

Turn this checklist into a shared team briefing that everyone can review.

Create a Shared Dive Brief