Pre Dive Preparation Checklists
Pre Dive Checklists
The best way to avoid forgetting something is to have a checklist to remind you.
These checklists aim to be fairly comprehensive. Of course, your needs will vary and you might have equipment that’s not listed here but considered essential. Hopefully these give you a good starting point for building your own checklist.
For those who want to download something to their computer, I’ve created a few options. Each of the spreadsheets below has 3 tabs:
- Comprehensive Checklist: A comprehensive checklist
- Print Friendly Checklist: A version of the comprehensive checklist that should line up to split nicely over 2 pages of A4 paper.
- Concise Checklist: A minimalistic version for those who feel the comprehensive version is too daunting.
Checklist Templates
- Excel (no tick boxes as they can’t be exported to Excel)
- Numbers
- Google Sheets
OmniFocus
I use OmniFocus for mine, and I created it making each section a sub-task so that if I’m not using a section I can tick the top level to close them all.
If you use OmniFocus, create a new parallel project with the following settings:
- Complete with last project
- Defer until tomorrow (necessary to get the repeat from option)
- Repeat every 1 minute
- Repeat from this item’s completion
Here’s a screenshot of my OmniFocus checklist:
Online Checklist
Day Before Preparation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Need | Done | |
| Bags packed | ||
| Batteries charged - cameras | ||
| Batteries charged - dive computers | ||
| Batteries charged - strobes | ||
| Batteries charged - torches | ||
| Dive plan, including deco plan | ||
| Emergency action plan | ||
| Emergency oxygen filled | ||
| First aid kit replenished | ||
| Gas fills appropriate to dive | ||
| Outstanding maintenance completed | ||
Save A Dive Kit | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Allen keys | ||
| Battery 18650 | ||
| Battery 28650 | ||
| Battery AA | ||
| Battery AAA | ||
| Boltsnap | ||
| Bungy | ||
| Double ender | ||
| Fin strap | ||
| Gaffers or duct tape | ||
| Lighter | ||
| Mask strap | ||
| Mouth piece | ||
| O rings | ||
| Permanent marker | ||
| Reef safe sunscreen | ||
| Silicone grease | ||
| Spool with line | ||
| Tools, including: multitool, sidecutters, shifter, screwdrivers, knife, brass pick | ||
| Tribolube or Crystal lube | ||
| Velcro strap | ||
| Water resistant container for kit | ||
| Zip ties | ||
First Aid Kit | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Antiseptic cream | ||
| Bandages | ||
| Bandaids | ||
| Cotton balls | ||
| Ear drops | ||
| Hot/Cold pack | ||
| Mylar blanket | ||
| Shears | ||
| Sunburn gel | ||
| Tweezers | ||
| Vinegar | ||
Emergency Equipment | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Copy of emergency action plan | ||
| EPIRB | ||
| First aid kit | ||
| Mirror, flares, other visual aids | ||
| Mylar blanket | ||
| Oxygen kit | ||
| Water | ||
Clothing | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Bathers | ||
| Boots | ||
| Dive skin/Undergarment | ||
| Gloves | ||
| Hair ties | ||
| Hood | ||
| Socks | ||
| Tec shorts | ||
| Wetsuit/Drysuit | ||
Dive Gear | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| BCD | ||
| Butt pouch | ||
| Compass | ||
| Cutting tools (line cutter, shears) | ||
| Cylinders | ||
| DIN/Yoke converter | ||
| Dive computers | ||
| Dive specific gear (measuring tape, fish ID slate, etc) | ||
| Emotional support boltsnap | ||
| Floats/Flags | ||
| Mask - primary | ||
| Mask - backup | ||
| Reel | ||
| Regulators | ||
| SMB | ||
| Snorkel | ||
| Weights | ||
| Wetnotes/slates | ||
| Whistle | ||
Sidemount | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Cylinder bands (1/cylinder) | ||
| Double enders | ||
| Hose retainers (2/cylinder) | ||
| Prussik loops | ||
Lighting | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Strobes | ||
| Torch - primary | ||
| Torch - secondary | ||
Photo/Video | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Batteries | ||
| Camera - primary | ||
| Camera - secondary | ||
| Camera attachments (glove, harness, tray) | ||
| Camera lighting | ||
| Computer attachments (card readers, cables) | ||
| SD card | ||
Tec Diving | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Deco cylinder rigging kits | ||
| Deco cylinders | ||
| Deco regulators | ||
| Emergency SMB/lift bag | ||
| Gas analyser | ||
| Reel long enough for ascent | ||
Overhead Environments | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Helmet | ||
| Line markers | ||
| Reels | ||
| Tertiary torches | ||
Oxygen Kit | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Demand valve masks | ||
| O2 bottles | ||
| Rebreather masks | ||
Post Dive Cleanup | ||
| Item | Need | Packed |
| Buckets for wet gear | ||
| Change mat | ||
| Dry clothes | ||
| Portable shower | ||
| Towel |