Stay Safe While Diving: A Guide to the GUE EDGE

Diving is an exciting activity that allows us to explore the wonders of the underwater world. However, it can also be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. One of the most important things you can do to stay safe while diving is to perform a thorough pre-dive safety check before every dive. The Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) have developed a helpful acronym called GUE EDGE to guide divers through the safety check process.

GUE EDGE stands for:
G – Goal
U – Unified Team
E – Equipment
E – Exposure
D – Decompression
G – Gas Planning
E – Environment

Let’s take a closer look at each step in the GUE EDGE safety check:

Goal: The first step in the safety check is to review the dive plan and make sure that you and your team understand the goals and objectives of the dive, as well as any emergency procedures that may be needed. Communication is key in diving, so it’s important to be on the same page with your team.

Unified Team: Next, you should confirm that you and your team are prepared to work together as a unified team during the dive and assign responsibilities in advance. It’s important to establish a strong partnership with your team to ensure that you can rely on each other during the dive.

Equipment: Check all your equipment thoroughly from top to bottom and ensure that everything is functioning correctly and that you have all the necessary equipment for your dive. This includes checking your regulator, buoyancy compensator (BC), dry suit, lights, and any other gear you will be using on the dive. After that, perform a valve check to ensure that all valves are open, deploy your long hose to ensure that it is not entangled with the light cord or drysuit inflate hose, and finally perform a bubble check on the water surface to ensure there is no gas leak.

Exposure: refers to the amount of time that you will be spending underwater and the depth that you will be diving to. As a team, you should review the dive plan and agree on the maximum and average depth that you will reach during the dive, as well as the bottom time that you will spend at that depth. You should also discuss any potential changes to the dive plan due to weather conditions, currents, or other factors that may impact the exposure of the dive.

Decompression: Refers to the ascent profile and the decompression requirements of the dive. As a team, you should agree on the ascent rate and the required decompression stops based on the dive plan and the exposure of the dive. You should also discuss any contingencies or emergency procedures that may be needed during the ascent or decompression process.

Gas Planning: Calculate the amount of gas you will need for the dive (Usable Gas), including any contingencies (Minimum Gas). This step is critical to ensure that you have enough gas to safely complete the dive and handle any unexpected situations that may arise.

Environment: Evaluate the dive environment and take into consideration any unique hazards or conditions that may be present, such as strong currents or low visibility. This step is important to anticipate any potential risks and plan accordingly.

Performing a thorough predive safety check using the GUE EDGE acronym can help ensure that you are properly prepared and equipped for the dive, which can help reduce the risk of accidents or equipment malfunctions. If you’re interested in learning more about safe diving practices and the GUE EDGE safety check, consider taking the GUE Performance Diver Course in Toronto to help you develop the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy diving safely and responsibly.

Alain EID

GUE Instructor

Alain began his diving journey in 2010 and is now a highly qualified instructor, certified by GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) in both Fundamentals and Recreational diving. He has been teaching with GUE since 2018 and is experienced in Cave, CCR, and Technical diving. Alain finds great joy in sharing his knowledge and passion for diving through transformative courses that empower divers to reach their full potential.