CYBER DIVER ADVISOR :: Scuba Diving SafetyScuba diving is inherently dangerous. We cannot breathe water and breathing compressed air underwater involves the risk of decompression sickness and lung embolisms. Every year, thousands of divers around the world die or suffer debilitating injuries after scuba diving accidents that are often attributed to human error. There is no such thing as "safe" diving. In reality, divers manage the various risk factors of diving in order to reduce the probability that they will be involved in a scuba diving accident. There are many things divers can, and should do, to lower the inherent risks of using underwater life support equipment. SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIPS - SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIP #1: Never do "trust me" dives.
- SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIP #2: Never feed, bait or provoke marine wildlife.
- SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIP #3: Never dive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIP #4: Never dive when ill or tired.
- SCUBA DIVING SAFETY TIP #5: Never dive alone.
Source: Cyber Diver Society RECOMMENDATIONS Assessing the risks along with making risk decisions and implementing controls to eliminate scuba diving mishaps are as follows: a. Prior to certification, get a thorough physical. Inform your doctor you intend to take up scuba diving. After becoming certified, an additional medical check-up is recommended if you are a smoker, overweight, had recent surgery or taking medication. b. Obtain certification from one of the following organizations: National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), the National Association of Diving Instructor (PADI), National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS), Scuba Schools International (SSI) or the YMCA. Do not attempt cavern, wreck or cave diving with these certifications. c. Always dive with a buddy who is certified and have a dive plan. d. Check all equipment thoroughly prior to the dive. This includes "O" rings, purge valves, buoyancy compensator, regulator and pressure gauge. e. Spend a few minutes before the dive reviewing hand signals with your partner, the dive plan, conducting a final equipment check and an air sharing drill. f. Keep a logbook for planning additional dives. It provides a record of good dive spots, depths, equipment used and conditions. g. Keep a close watch on your air supply during each dive. h. Scheduled your deepest dive first. Consult the diving tables for the appropriate schedule. Every dive increases the amount of nitrogen in your body's tissue. Allow time for your body to breathe nitrogen out of your system to prevent decompression sickness - known as the bends. When you make consecutive dives, account for the residual nitrogen still in your body prior to making your next dive. i. Know the depth of the water and the deepest depth you will reach. Frequently sport divers do not pay close enough attention to the depths they attain. An exact accounting of depth and time is essential to safe diving. The maximum recommended depth for sport divers is 100 feet. j. Nitrogen under pressure has a toxic effect on the body at depths in excess of 100 feet. If you feel this intoxicating effect or display behavior similar to that of an intoxicated person, you should return to a shallow depth. When your mental alertness is restored, the dive should then be aborted. k. Make scuba dives on a no-decompression schedule. Plan each dive and maximum depth and set time limits prior to the dive. Come up slowly to reduce the chances of experiencing decompression sickness upon ascent. The standard rate for recreational scuba diving is 60-feet per minute. l. Check with local diving clubs and shops for specific information about diving areas. Profit from the experience of others. Heed their recommendations and warnings. m. Study weather reports and long-range forecasts to determine if conditions are acceptable for diving. Monitor weather conditions continually while diving. n. Know how to identify the dangerous species of sea life likely to be found in your diving area and how to deal with each. Avoidance is the best policy. o. To prevent harmful stings and abrasions from contact with sharp rocks, or coral, or urchins wear gloves and protective clothing when diving. Pay attention to where you are in relation to your environment. p. To prevent an entrapment hazard carry a sharp knife to cut lines. Wire leaders on fishing lines are particularly dangerous. Additionally, sharp projections such as ledges can cut air hoses. o. If spear fishing, always make sure you enter the water with the spear gun or power head unloaded. Defective safeties can victimize you. r. Take into consideration water temperature and duration of dive. Wear appropriate clothing during the dive. s. Make sure the surf is manageable. Beware of rough water conditions and strong currents, particularly rip currents near shoreline. When caught in a rip current, relax and ride along with it until it diminishes enough to swim clear. Another technique is to swim diagonally across it until clear. Source: U.S. Navy SCUBA DIVING SAFETY :: COMMON QUESTIONS What is recreational scuba diving? SCUBA is short for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus." Scuba divers, while underwater, breathe through a mouthpiece that is attached to a tank of compressed air. Scuba diving is defined as pleasure diving to a depth of 130 feet. Several scuba-certifying agencies offer training for divers, from beginners to experts. Three agencies that offer certification courses are the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) and Scuba Schools International (SSI). Basic courses involve classroom instruction, training pools and open-water settings. Diving certification, which allows you to rent equipment, request tanks to be re-filled and dive without supervision, can be attained in as little as five open-water dives. Most scuba-certifying agencies highly recommend you dive in a "buddy system" (a group of 2 or 3 divers). What are the most common problems of scuba diving? The most common medical problems are simple middle ear "squeezes." Squeezes cause pain in your ears. The pain is caused by the difference in pressure between the air spaces of your ears and mask and higher water pressure as you go deeper into the water. Squeezes that affect the inner ear or sinuses are less common. Cuts, scrapes and other injuries to the arms and legs can be caused by contact with fish and other marine animals, certain species of coral and hazards such as exposed sharp metal on wrecks or fishing line. What dangerous medical conditions are possible when I am diving? Inner ear barotrauma. This condition may occur if you have trouble clearing (equilizing the pressure between the middle ear and the water-- sometimes called "popping your ears") during a dive. The result is severe dizziness and hearing loss. Pulmonary barotrauma. This condition is the result of improper breathing during the ascent to the surface or, occasionally, from diving with a respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and hoarseness. Arterial gas embolism (AGE). This is a type of barotrauma in which bubbles enter the blood stream and travel to the brain. Symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the skin, weakness, paralysis or loss of consciousness may occur. This is a serious diving injury. Decompression sickness ("the bends"). This condition occurs during ascent and on the surface of the water. Nitrogen gas that is stored in body tissues and blood comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the blood. The bubbles can injure various body tissues and block blood vessels. The most common signs of severe decompression sickness are dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain and lungs. Remember: If you should develop any of the symptoms on this list during or after a dive, seek medical care immediately. How common are medical problems in scuba diving? Fortunately, serious medical problems are not common in recreational scuba divers. While there are millions of dives each year in the Unites States, only about 90 deaths are reported each year worldwide. In addition, fewer than 1,000 divers worldwide require recompression therapy to treat severe dive-related health problems. How can I lower my risk of medical problems? Most severe dive-related injuries and deaths happen in beginning divers. To be safe, always dive within the limits of your experience and level of training. Good rules to follow for safe diving include: - Never try a dive you're not comfortable with. During descent, you should gently equalize your ears and mask. At depth, never dive outside the parameters of the dive tables or your dive computer (information that helps you avoid decompression sickness).
- Never hold your breath while ascending. You should always ascend slowly while breathing normally.
- Become familiar with the underwater area and its dangers. Learn which fish, coral and other hazards to avoid so injuries do not occur. Be aware of local tides and currents.
- Never panic under water. If you become confused or afraid during a dive, stop, try to relax and think the problem through. You can also get help from your dive buddy or dive master.
- Never dive without a buddy.
- Always plan your dive; then always dive your plan.
- Be sure that your diving equipment can handle the dive you have planned and that the equipment is working well.
- Don't drink alcohol before diving.
- Never dive while taking medicine unless your doctor tells you it's safe.
- Diving can be dangerous if you have certain medical problems. Ask your doctor how diving may affect your health.
- Cave diving is dangerous and should only be attempted by divers with proper training and equipment.
- If you don't feel good or if you are in pain after diving, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
- Don't fly for 12 hours after a no-decompression dive, even in a pressurized airplane. If your dive required decompression stops, don't fly for at least 24 hours.
What should I do in a diving emergency? If you witness a scuba diving injury, immediately call for help (such as 911) and then take action based on the specific level of emergency preparedness training you have received such as CPR. Do not waste time chatting with DAN insurance company staff halfway around the world. Local coast guard officials, EMS paramedics and emergency room doctors are the local area professionals who are trained to respond to scuba diving accidents and save lives. If you are the victim of a scuba diving accident, again, immediately call for help and activate the local emergency medical response system. What is a hyperbaric chamber? A hyperbaric chamber is a facility where you are placed under increased pressure. It's similar to being underwater. This can often help injury from arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness by shrinking bubbles and allowing them to pass through your blood vessels. Source: Cyber Diver Society, American Academy of Family Physicians SIGNALING DEVICES FOR SCUBA DIVERS Commercial, sport and recreational divers should be properly certified through an accredited diving course and utilize signaling devices and safety equipment as part of their scuba diving equipment. Scuba divers should always carry with them certain signaling devices to signal the boat or other divers during a distress situation or when separating from the dive boat. This practice facilitates detection during day or night time by emergency responders. Safety and signaling devices available to divers are not limited to the ones listed below: - Personal Locating Beacon
- Inflatable Surface Signaling Devices
- Marine Survival Lights
- Inflatable Surface Signaling Devices
- Storm Whistles
- Light Sticks
- Flashlights
- Personal Locator Lights
- Underwater Signaling Devices
- Pocket Mirror
- Knife (No Tip)
- Air Horns
Source: U.S. Coast Guard | 
