As you should know scuba diving is risky but for many of us, the challenge of preparing and dealing with potential problems is part of the attraction. Diving is considered to be safer than any other conventional sports.
With adequate training, we can easily avoid maximum diving accidents.
This article includes information about how to avoid dangerous situations and emergency procedures. Nonetheless, every diver should have a basic understanding of what to do if things go wrong.
The following list of rules offers basic rules to minimize the likelihood of a diving accident.
Planning
Planning a dive is important when it comes to safety. Although this is particularly important for deep dives, it still applies to every dive.
To maximize your confidence and comfort underwater, you can practice swimming and yoga. Yoga will help you focus on your breathing which is the most vital element of diving while swimming helps you maintain control of your body.
Don’t hold your breath
While practicing breathing in yoga you might get the urge to try that underwater. But remember never try to hold your breath underwater, it can result in serious injury and even death.
Always check your gear
It’s a good habit to check your equipment before you plan to dive. Make sure everything has been serviced and maintained properly because your survival depends upon your equipment. If you are diving with a buddy, then check his equipment too and ask him to check your gauges as well.
Dive within your limits
Don’t be afraid to cancel a dive if you aren’t physically or mentally prepared for it. And if you are only qualified to dive to a certain depth, then make sure that the dive plan does not exceed that depth.
Stay fit
Diving is very physically demanding; diving in the strong current, carrying gear and exposure to extreme weather can make diving a vigorous activity. Lack of fitness leads to overexertion, which can lead to panic and any number of resulting accidents. Don’t dive with a sinus infection or flu, as it will be dangerous. Recover from any illness before getting back in the water.
Rule of thirds
According to this, a diver should choose a third of his/her air supply for the outward journey, a third for the return journey, and the final third as a safety reserve. Think not only of your need but also of your buddy’s, will you have enough air in your tank to donate that to your buddy if an emergency arises?
Use the buddy system
When you’re new to diving, you don’t dive alone. There’s a saying “when you dive alone, you die alone” exists for a reason. Always have someone with you so if an emergency arrives you can help each other, your buddy is your lifeline and support system underwater. Be sure that you and your buddy agreed on the hand signals to use. Don’t go too far from your buddy or lose them completely, this can be a fatal mistake.
Good buoyancy control will help you avoid dangerous situations. Addressing the problem calmly and not succumbing to panic is the key. You may need to perform CPR or give emergency oxygen. Make sure that you’re confident and know how to act if something goes wrong.
Building positive buoyancy at the surface preserves energy, prevents fatigue and drowning.
Following these rules will not only keep you safe but also allow you to have fun.