The final step is to agree on the activity. This includes, but is not limited to, an agreement on maximum depth, maximum dive time, minimum air pressure, navigation pattern, dive objective, and designation of a dive leader.

Maximum depth and dive time are significant factors in the risk of decompression sickness, and careful planning before the dive is essential to ensure your dive is within safe limits. You'll learn how decompression sickness forms and how to determine maximum limits later in this course.

It's essential that you set a navigation pattern and dive objective before you begin the dive. Communication is limited underwater, so both divers must agree on how the dive will be conducted while accurate communication is still possible.

The dive leader is in charge of navigation and making underwater decisions. Choosing a leader is important because it helps avoid the confusion that results from two divers attempting to make decisions in an environment where communication is difficult.