Otago University Dive Plan

University Of Otago Dive Plan

Dive plans must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the event
Project Title
Key Information
Departure Date and Time

DayMonthYear
Date
Hour MinutesAM/PM Option
Return Date and Time

DayMonthYear
Date
Hour MinutesAM/PM Option
General description of work proposed

Trip logistics

Please describe the work that will be occurring including accommodation details field and vessel logistics
Trip logistics *
Number of dive sites
Planned number of dives
Primary Dive Site location (drag the pin to the location of your primary dive site)
Primary dive site description
Secondary Dive Site location (drag the pin to the location of your primary dive site)
Secondary dive site description
Third Dive Site location (drag the pin to the location of your primary dive site)
Third dive site description
Forth Dive Site location (drag the pin to the location of your primary dive site)
Forth dive site description
Type of trip

BoatShore
Boat Trip
Shore Trip Info
Method of check in

Get Home SafeShore Contact
Please add shore contact, name, email and phone number
If you are not registered on GHS please contact niall.pearson@otago.ac.nz

You can download the APP here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gethomesafecorporate or use the App store to download the Get Home Safe corporate APP

Trip Personnel/Equipment

Please add all
Trip Personnel
Has all personnel dive gear received an annual service?
If using your personnel regulator and BCD, divers must send the UDO the latest servicing records.

Diving Specific Info
Dive Info*
General description of diving:
Detailed Diving Logistics
Slack Tide at location of diving https://www.metservice.com/marine/tides
Tide Chart upload
Proposed dive profile:

SI- Surface Interval

BPG = Beginning Pressure Group (After Dive)

ABT = Actual Bottom Time (time you were under water)

RNT = Residual Nitrogen Time (Theoretical residual nitrogen in your tissues for multi dive profiles)

TBT = Theoretical Bottom Time (ABT+RNT)

EPG = Ending Pressure Group (Repetitive group after Surface interval

RG-Repetitive Group at Beginning of Surface Interval

Depth- Deepest point on the dive

Please follow the link for the US Navy dive table. https://sciencedivingnewzealand.co.nz/sdnz-documents/

	Time In	Depth	ABT	RNT	TBT	BPG	Time Out	SI	EPG
Dive 1
Dive 2
Dive 3
Dive 4
Dive 5
Dive 6

Evacuation/Hazard management plan
Dive medical practitioners:

Dr John Heydon - 03 479 5034

University Of Otago

Dr Nick Giblin
Broadway Medical Centre

2 Broadway
Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03 477 4335
Fax: 03 477 4337

Dr Sandra Webb
NORTH DUNEDIN MEDICAL CENTRE

15 St David St
Dunedin 9016
Phone: 03 477 7583 or 03 474 0602
Fax: 03 477 7482

Dr Matthew Bailey
OAMARU DOCTORS
Phone: 03 434 1000
Fax: 03 434 1007
Diver Emergency
For diving emergencies, contact will be made to the Diver Emergency Services at 0800 4 377 111 either directly or via shore support:
The evacuation plan would be dictated by the nature of the incident and the evacuation method recommended by the coordinating authorities

Evacuation options will depend on weather conditions and circumstances.

Patients may be evacuated via Car/Ambulance, Boat or helicopter.

The Dive Officer should be notified as soon as practicable.

Closest Hospital
Closest Decompression Chamber

Estimated time to get to the nearest hospital

Car:
Helicopter:

How much oxygen are you taking?
Hazard Management
Site Specific Hazard 1
Site Specific Hazard 2
Site Specific Hazard 3
Site Specific Hazard 4
Site Specific Hazard 5
Site Specific Hazard 6
Boat Movement
Boat strike is a significant threat to divers. In order to prevent this a dive flag must (at all times divers are in the water) be flown from the attending vessel or on a float deployed close to where the divers are working. Before entering the water the dive coordinator will brief all divers and the Skipper regarding planned in water movements. A careful look out will be kept by the skipper and divers attendant in order to track diver movements over the duration of the dive. After deployment of divers the tender should always reverse away from the diver’s position. During pickups the skipper will signal to divers when the engine is out of gear, only then will the divers swim over and get aboard the tender. Example text may be used however, careful consideration into hazards specific to the proposed work is needed!
Underwater Communications
Divers will be using international recognized hand signals agree on before the dive. All divers must also carry safety sausages. If the dive is planned bellow 20m or at the Dive supervisors discretion divers must also carry a surface marker buoy (SMB). Full Face Masks with under water communications are available at the dive supervisor’s discretion. A diver recall system must be discussed with the dive team prior to diving, which will consist of revving the engine repeatedly or banging the bottom of the boat with a metallic item.
Weather
Southern New Zealand has infamously unsettled weather, often wind strength/direction can shift with little notice. The Skippers/Dive Coordinator must continually monitor the weather conditions both before and during the field work. Leaders will make critical weather decisions based off several sources including, but not limited to, the Met service, Windy.com, and channel 79 VHF radio. The Skipper/Dive Coordinator has final say in determining if a trip is called off/postponed due to unsatisfactory weather conditions.
Lost Diver
It is important that all divers are aware of the 1 minute buddy separation rule. If visual contact is lost, divers should search for a minute and then ascend and re connect on the surface. It is extremely important divers don’t omit any decompression commitments. The following factors may lead to dive buddy separation: • Poor visibility • Equipment problems or malfunctions • Distractions • Strong currents and other dangerous scenarios • Miscommunication It is important that these factors are identified and minimized by the dive supervisor both before and during all dive activities.
Swell
Often Scientific research requires diver to enter the surf zone. When working in shallow water, a small change in swell size can become quickly hazardous The following needs careful consideration when planning • The direction the site faces • The direction and size of the swell • Substrate type • Sea floor typography • Tidal height Use the following as a general rule of thumb when working in the surf zone • Swell coming directly into site should be
Decompression Sickness (DCS)
DCI is a risk regardless of depth, All University dives will be non-decompression dives. All dives will be planned ‘no-stop’ dives however al dives that are deeper than 10m will have a 5m 3minute safety stop. there are however several steps that can reduce this risk with the planned depth profiles falling within two repetitive groups of the DCIEM no decompression limits, the risk of DCS is significantly lowered. Three minute 5msw safety stops will always be performed when diving deeper than 10m. After five continuous days of diving the divers will take one rest day with no diving All divers are experienced and understand the risks involved and how to avoid them. Divers are fit and have current dive medicals. Divers will ensure they are adequately hydrated and will not commence or continue a dive if they feel unwell or if equipment malfunctions. The dive coordinator will keep record of time down, time up, total time and depth for each dive and insure no diver is breaking set limits. The depth recorded is the maximum reached and in the majority of dives this is reached for a fraction of the total dive time. Divers will monitor each other at all times for signs of diving related illness. In the event of a diver complaining of symptoms of DCI, he will be lain supine in the cabin and given pure oxygen. Contact will be made with the Divers Emergency Services and arrangements will be made for evacuation at low altitude. • 24hours without diving will be left before divers would fly, unless for emergency evacuation.
Hypothermia
A major risk to divers in Southern New Zealand is the progressive loss of heat and the consequential reduction in awareness, which is a symptom of mild hypothermia. Actions to limit the loss of heat are: • Provision of high quality, well fitting, exposure suits with good gloves and boots • As a rule of thumb, a 7mm wetsuit is best for Dunedin’s conditions • Avoid wind chill by standing in a warm shelter or donning a wind proof garment on surface breaks • Keep liquid intake high with regular intake of non-caffeinated hot beverages, • Plenty of nourishing, high-energy food. All divers especially the dive coordinator must keep a sharp eye out for signs of hypothermia in each other and urge the divers to follow the guideline above at all times they are on board the vessel during a diving day. If a diver is feeling cold they should be encouraged to end diving for the day without the fear of consequence. Following the termination of diving, the divers should shower and thoroughly warm up. A one day break must be taken after 5 consecutive days of diving. These restrictions are put in place to prevent divers from the gradual onset of hypothermia.
Tidal and Wind driven currents
Before each dive the dive coordinator and event leader will assess the site and determine if conditions are favourable to conduct the intended work. Careful consideration needs to be given to tidal range, especially when working around harbours and inlets. An audible and visual signalling device must be carried by divers at all times. All divers must carry a knife or line cutting device at all times.
Low Underwater Visibility
Often visibility can be limited in harbor and coastal environments around Southern New Zealand. The dive coordinator will continually assess the risk posed by limited visibility. Where conditions are deemed high risk (under 2m vis) The option of tethering or underwater comms should be considered by the Co-coordinator. If the visibility is so bad that buddy pairs can not stay together, the diving will be aborted.
Hazardous Marine Life (Sharks)
Southern New Zealand is well known to habitat a variety of predatory fish.

AVOID
-Diving in areas where burly, offal or rubbish is being dumped into the water
-areas where large numbers of fish, seabirds and cetaceans are feeding 
-Diving near seal colonies
-Diving 2 hours either side of dusk and dawn
-Diving where people are fishing
-Long surface swims
-Cornering any species of shark
-Diving in open water
-solo accents/descents

A careful look out will be kept by the shore support. If a shark is spotted a new dive site will be selected. The dive tender will always stay in close proximity to submerged divers to provide rapid assistance if needed

If a shark is encountered underwater, remain calm and try to identify the species and asses their behaviour. If the species cannot be identified treat any shark over the size of 1.8m as potentially dangerous. Make sure to not behave aggressively towards sharks that are behaving normally or just being curious as this may provoke a defensive attack.

If confronted by an aggressive shark, try to keep it in view, descend to the bottom and seek shelter or shallow water. Avoid panicking or jerky movement. Where possible exit the water up the slope of the seafloor. Locate your dive buddy and exit the water in a tight group. Try to avoid moving through open water by yourself.

Shark shields are available at the dive coordinators request.

It is important to minimize time floating on the surface, thus when transferring samples and equipment to and from the boat it is important to be conscious of this.




Hazardous Marine Life (Sea Lions Leopard Seals)
Sea Lions are common in Southern New Zealand’s waters with Leopard seals present but rare. The shore support will keep a close watch for Sea Lions both prior to and during dives. If a sea lion is spotted its behaviour will be assessed as to whether it is showing signs of aggression (blowing bubbles, biting the RIB/float). If signs of aggression are evident, either an alternate dive location will be used or we will wait for the Sea Lion to leave the area. If the Sea lion is not exhibiting any aggressive behaviour and appears relaxed the divers may enter the water while it is in the area in order to complete their work. The shore support and all divers must maintain extra vigilance for any approaching leopard seal underwater. If a sea lion does approach the divers its behaviour will be assessed as to whether it is aggressive or not. Advice from Hugh Miller, Doug Allan, and Doug Anderson (experienced underwater cameramen for the BBC) is that initial encounters with large male Sea Lions usually result in some aggressive territorial behaviour where they make repeated charges – these sometimes but do not usually result in actual contact. Once the diver has shown that they are neither a threat or worried by the approaches the seals behaviour changes to benign interest. At this stage the Sea Lion is not considered threatening but should still be treated with extreme respect and caution. If the Sea Lion shows signs of aggression beyond what is described above the dive will be aborted.
Entanglement/Drowning
All divers are experienced divers and can swim competently. All divers must work in the buddy system so that should one get into trouble there is immediate help. All Snorkel teams must have a shore based support person to aid with shore based tasks and to raise help should it be needed. Dive teams must discuss procedure for recovering an incapacitated diver either to land or back to the dive vessel prior to the dive. All dive team members are certified in First Aid, CPR, and O2 administration. Divers must also carry a cutting device in case of entanglement. The risk of entanglement in kelp is high. Divers must remain vigilant of gear entanglement in kelp. A close eye must be kept on buddies at all times.
Diving in contaminated Waters
Contaminated water is highly unlikely in Southern New Zealand. The most likely form of contaminant would be from an algae bloom. If some form of contamination is encountered all diving will be aborted and a new dive site will be selected. FFM are available should divers need to enter into contaminated areas.
Sea Sickness
Most Scientific divers are experienced mariners who can cope well with the motion sickness. Seasickness is most commonly encountered by staff on long passages in very rough seas, usually a quick recovery is made once the sheltered diving waters are reached. Steps to avoid seasickness: • Avoid reading • Avoid working in confined spaces • Travel in the middle lowest point of the vessel • Try to get plenty of fresh air and focus on either land or the horizon • Only eat light food (Ginger ale helps) • Be well rested before your trip Sea legs pills will be available on most boats.
Event Leader Email*
example@example.com
I confirm all divers have a current medical and first aid qualification and are approved to perform diving work under the University of Otago diving COP*

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Event Leader*

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University Of Otago Dive Plan

Trip logistics

Trip Personnel/Equipment

Diving Specific Info

Evacuation/Hazard management plan

Closest Hospital Closest Decompression Chamber Please Select Christchurch Devonport Estimated time to get to the nearest hospital

Hazard Management

Closest Hospital
Closest Decompression Chamber

Estimated time to get to the nearest hospital