Dive sup in Galveston chewed me out for skipping the bailout check, changed my whole pre-dive routine
I used to jump in with just a quick reg check and go, until a sup in Galveston stopped me at the rail and said 'you're gonna bet your lungs on a hose you didn't even look at?' Now I run a full bailout and manifold check every single time, 5 minutes max even when the clock is ticking. Some guys say that's overkill for shallow harbor work, others won't touch water without it, so where do you all land on how much pre-dive is too much?
How do you actually time a 5 minute check when the boat is moving and the deck boss is already yelling at you to get wet? I get that skipping the bailout check is dumb, but there has to be a line between safe and standing there looking at hoses while everyone waits on you. What do you cut first when you have to move fast, the manifold check or the bailout, or do you just eat the yelling? Seems like the real skill is knowing which checks save your life in shallow water and which ones are just for show.