Which statement is NOT a trigger for completing work-up dives?

• A. Diving with a buddy
• B. When a diver has been inactive
• C. When using tools or equipment that is unfamiliar
• D. Diving to deep depths

Answer: (A)

Work-up dives are used to verify readiness after changes or a lapse in practice. They’re meant to check that your gear, procedures, and comfort level are up to date before taking on more demanding diving tasks.

Diving after a long period of inactivity is a trigger because the diver’s familiarity with skills and equipment can fade, so a controlled dive helps reacquaint and rebuild confidence. Using tools or equipment that are unfamiliar introduces new variables that you need to test in a safe environment. Planning to dive to deep depths also triggers a work-up to confirm you’ve practiced the specific limits, buoyancy, gas management, and emergency procedures required at greater depth.

Diving with a buddy, by contrast, is standard operating practice and not by itself a reason to perform a separate work-up dive. It’s a normal part of most dives, not a signal that something new or risky has been introduced. If other triggers exist (unfamiliar gear, inactivity, greater depth), a work-up dive might still be warranted, but buddy diving alone doesn’t constitute a trigger for one.