While recreational diving is becoming easier and safer thanks to improved technology, mixed gases, and other modern conveniences, safety continues to be of concern to all who spend time underwater. Maintaining equipment, choosing a dive charter with a good safety record, and selecting responsible dive buddies are a few ways we can all stay safe; there are several other factors to consider as well, including concerns with equipment, dive shops, non-divers, and of course ourselves and other divers.
Equipment Concerns
If you’ve been through a basic scuba course, then you know that your gear is basically an underwater life support system. It allows you to adapt to the underwater world while keeping you fairly comfortable, and it helps you to survive in an environment that is not conducive to maintaining human life. Unfortunately, equipment can contribute to diving accidents in many cases, including the following:
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Equipment is abused by the user. All dive equipment needs to be handled with care, stored appropriately, and kept clean and well-maintained. When exposed to heat, hoses, fins, and other plastic parts can crack and become degraded, and all equipment is subject to damage if salt water is allowed to dry and stick to it for long periods of time. Read the manuals that come with the equipment you purchase, keep your equipment clean, and maintain it properly. Not only will your chances of equipment-related problems decrease when you do this, your equipment will last longer, ensuring you get a better return on your investment.
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Lack of service. Many pieces of essential dive equipment need to be tested and serviced on a regular basis. Your cylinders and regulator need to be professionally serviced at least once a year, and it is quite possible that your dive computer needs to be serviced on occasion too. Don’t skip service dates; your life depends on essential equipment functioning properly.
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Improperly used. Unfortunately, many divers try to save time, money, and effort by using equipment improperly, by using it in situations it is not intended for, and by using the wrong equipment in conditions not suited to that equipment. Use the right equipment for the right situations, and your odds of suffering from an accident caused by equipment malfunction will decrease.
Individual Diver Concerns
Believe it or not, many divers pose the greatest threat to their own safety. There are a number of ways we compromise ourselves:
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By ignorance or complacency. Being complacent or ill-informed can cost you in terms of money, as well as in terms of your health or even your life. Overconfidence, ignorance, and a tendency to take risks by acting outside the parameters of our training and the limits of our equipment can all take a toll.
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Failure to maintain physical fitness. A lack of physical fitness isn’t just a little embarrassing, it’s also a way many divers put themselves at risk. It’s vital that all divers maintain a certain degree of physical fitness, since you never know when your ability to endure a physical challenge will be put to the test. It’s vital that you be able to get yourself out of risky situations, and it’s also vital that you have the stamina and strength to rescue your buddy if necessary.
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Unknown medical conditions. Many people don’t think skipping checkups is a big deal, but for divers, regular wellness checks are essential. Diving without a current physical means that you could be diving with an unknown medical condition that could be life-threatening; heart conditions, asthma, and other sneaky problems don’t just harm your chances of survival, they put the people you dive with at risk, as well.
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Insufficiently or incorrectly equipped. While this problem falls under the greater umbrella of complacency, it is worthy of its own mention. Imagine forgetting a piece of essential safety equipment or a signaling device, then diving anyway. Maybe you wouldn’t do it, but a lot of divers do. Don’t dive unless you have all the equipment you need. You could be making a very costly mistake.
Non-Diver Concerns
Support staff and authorities sometimes pose a threat to diver safety. Here’s how:
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Boat crew complacency, lack of training, or lack of equipment. Boat crews are generally reliable, well-equipped, and capable. Unfortunately, there are captains and crews out there who are operating vessels that are less than seaworthy, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or failing to comply with standard safety requirements. Keep yourself safe by diving with reputable companies, choosing well-equipped charters, and ensuring that you pay attention to your gut feelings about how a dive boat crew is performing. In some places, you’ve got to rely on fishermen for transport, and in others, you have to hire random people from the dock to take you out to dive sites. In most cases, these people do their best to take care of you, but there are times when your safety is clearly considered to be unimportant. Choose wisely, and stay safe.
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Legislators and authorities are slack or corrupt. In some places, diving is loosely regulated and there are not many rules in place. While this might seem harmless, look out for hidden dangers. You will be doing yourself a favor.
Dive Shop Concerns
Dive shops play a very important role in diver safety. Choose a dive shop with well-informed, experienced staff members, and you will be better off. Some problems that can be related to dive shops include:
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Inexperienced staff providing poor advice. Most shops do a good job of hiring people who are well-informed and who are divers themselves. If something seems a little off, get someone else to help you with questions about the gear you are buying.
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Bad equipment servicing. Be sure that you have equipment serviced at dive shops that are qualified to handle the brand and type of dive gear you need to have serviced. Most shops will honestly tell you if they’re unable to take care of something for you, but a few unscrupulous ones will do anything to make money.
By looking at safety from several angles, you’ll not only enjoy a greater sense of confidence about your ability to survive underwater, you’ll also enjoy the experience of diving more. So look out for yourself, and you’ll be well on your way to avoiding these common safety problems.