Safety Before The Dive

For safe diving before the dive always check your equipment before you dive.
•Check if your tank is open.
•Check how much air you have (approximately 3000 PSI or more / 200 Bars).
•Try and breathe from your regulator.
•Inspect your BCD.
•And something that every diver always forgets: BUDDY CHECK (check your buddy equipment or at least make sure he does check his equipment in front of you).
The importance of the dive briefing
Always participate in the dive briefing, even if you already know the area. During the briefing you will talk about the dive plan:

•Time and depth of the dive.
•If safety stops are required.
•Hazards you may come across.
•Who will be your partner.
•What to do if you get lost or separate from partner.
•What you will be seeing underwater (corals, fish, etc).
•Exchange of some diving signals.
 
Many times divers have to create a new set of hand signal depending on the different circumstances of the dive. Diving signals are expected to be know by the divers, but some signals vary from region to region.
If you feel that the dive leader (Divemaster or Instructor) missed any of the topics  that we mentioned or something else during the briefing, this is the right moment to bring it to the attention of all the divers.