|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pilot briefing
| Piloting your sub is very easy. Prior to each trip departure, all participants will spend 10-15 minutes in a pilot orientation session. If you are interested in learning more about the SUBS, you can read our orientation below. |
| Click on the <Next> or <Back> buttons to move between each topic. Click on the <Briefing> button to return to this page. Below you can also click on the page number to go to a specific slide |
1. Welcome
|
|
 027_web(1).jpg)
|
Welcome to Stuart Cove's. We are Stuart & Michelle Cove - your hosts for the day.
We are very proud of the crew you will be working with today. They are a great bunch of guys and are here to ensure that your trip is fun, but more importantly to ensure your safety during the trip. So we ask that you please pay attention during the briefing, as we will review the procedures of how to safely operate your sub.
|
2. Breathing
|
|
|
Breathing inside the SUB is very easy. You do so just as you are now - through your nose and mouth. Breathing inside the SUB is not any different than outside the SUB.
The only difference is that the air is stored in a tank, and flowing through a regulator instead the unlimited supply of open space.
|
3. How Air Behaves in Water
|
|
|
In every country air does the same thing in the water: it floats, that is - it goes up.
Your SUB bubble is filled with air and as a result - it floats too.
There is a scuba tank on the front of the SUB that provides a constant flow of air into your bubble. This air flow ensures that the bubble stays full of air - even as you descend under the water.
Similar to an inverted glass in water, the air cannot escape unless you tilt it. Your SUB cannot be tilted because a battery and weights are built into the bottom of the unit. Combine that with the air in the top (pulling up) and your SUB becomes extremely steady. In addition, you are tethered to the surface by a buoy.
|
4.The Most Important Rule in Sub Diving
|
|
|
The most important rule while inside your SUB unit is....
Breathe normally and never hold your breath. |
5. Equalizing Your Ears
|
|
|
Once the SUB begins its descent, you will need to equalize the pressure in your ears similar to when you descended in the airplane on your trip here to Nassau. To do this you will pinch you nose, close your mouth and gently exhale into your nose. When you do this, you should feel your ears "click".
You can also try swallowing or moving your jaw around to release pressure.
Remember - equalize often during your descent. Do not wait for the pressure in your ears to become uncomfortable before you equalize. It is much easier to equalize if you do it often, in smaller increments, rather than waiting and trying to equalize a bigger change.
If your ears are feeling uncomfortable, please tell your dive leader. They will then take you up a few feet so that you can equalize before continuing your descent.
|
6. Hand Signals
|
|
|
You will not be able to talk underwater. So we use hand signals instead.
The most important one is the O.K. sign. This will be used by us as a question "Are you O.K.?" and by you as and answer "Yes I am O.K.".
Other signals are: |
|
|
I need assistance. Help. |
|
|
My Ears |
|
|
Up |
|
Down |
|
|
STOP (This one is very important!) |
|
|
Slow Down |
|
|
Follow Me |
|
| |
7. Entering the Sub Unit
|
|
|
Walk down the ladder, turn around and place your hands on the sides of the top of the SUB. Take a deep breath, slide your hands down to the edge of the sides and enter the SUB head first.
Once in the SUB, you will take a few seconds to adjust. Things that will be unusual at first will be the noise of the air entering the bubble and the bubbling it makes around your neck. There is a bit of splashing, but it is not excessive. The bubbling is good because it gives you an indication that air is constantly entering the SUB.
|
|
|
NOTE: It is much easier to enter the SUB head first and then slide up on to the seat. Some people try to do a contortionist act by sitting on the seat first and then trying to "lean" into the bubble. Not only do you have to be flexible - but most likely you will hit your head! Trust us.... go in head first! It's worth it. |
8. Do not Exit
|
|
|
If at any time you feel uncomfortable and want to return to the surface, please let your dive guide know. He will be happy to bring you back to the boat and assist you in exiting your unit.
DO NOT EXIT THE SUB UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
|
9. Steering Your Sub
|
|
|
Once you have entered your SUB unit, your dive leader will place your hands on the steering mechanism. He will then point out the on/off switch.
You steer the SUB in the same way you would a car. For propulsion there are only two speeds. On or Off.
|
10. Going Under...
|
|
|
Once you are comfortable inside your SUB, you will be brought down by your dive leader one at a time. During this time watch your SUB leader and answer his questions. He will be regularly asking you "how your ears are?".
Once at depth, each SUB will be clipped on to a docking line until all the SUBs are down.
|
11. Begining Your Tour
|
|
|
Once all the SUBS are down, the unit closest to the dive leader will be unclipped and one of the staff will give the indication to begin the tour. Each SUB will then be unclipped one at a time by your guides.
Once you are unclipped, you may begin motoring around and getting familiar with piloting your unit. Please be sure to keep an eye on your guides and follow their directions.
|
12. During Your Tour
|
|
|
We will stop the tour a few times along the way to keep the group together and to visit points of interest. When you are given the STOP signal, please turn off your SUB. It will stop very quickly.
We ask that you please stay with your group and remain behind the dive leader. You have a motor - your guides still have to kick in the water. So it really wears the guys out when they have to chase you down.
If you do not see anyone ahead of you STOP and wait for the group.
A Key Sub Rule: Stay with the group at all times.
|
13. Don't Crash
|
|
|
Your SUBS are not bumper cars. Please avoid other SUBs and the coral. Things appear closer and larger than they actually are so it can be difficult to judge distance.
Your dive leaders will be in the water to help you stay on the right path.
|
|
|
14. Check Your Air
|
|
|
|
Your dive leaders will monitor your air along the way. A full tank of air will last over 40 minutes. Our planned dive will be to a depth of 15 feet for a duration of 30 minutes.
|
15. Ending Your Tour
|
|
|
At the end of the tour each SUB will be clipped back onto the docking line. Units will then be brought back up to the boat one by one, just as you descended.
You will not need to equalize your ears to exit the SUB.
You exit your SUB with your bottom first (sliding back off the seat) and then ducking your head out of the bubble. Push away to the ladder along the sides of the SUB. It's the exact opposite the way your entered!
|
16. Key Rules To Remember
|
|
|
1. Never hold your breath. Always breathe normally.
2. Never come out of the SUB.
3. Clear your ears early and often on descent.
4. Have fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|