Alert Diver Category: Safety 101

Hand signals are critical communication tools for divers. It’s imperative before any dive that buddies understand their preferred signals to avoid any miscommunications or mishaps.

Scuba diving demands not only physical fitness but also proper nutritional preparation. Like with any activity, we expend energy while diving; surprisingly, the energy required for routine recreational diving is somewhat moderate. Under unusually strenuous recreational conditions, however, it’s possible to burn more than 500 calories. 

Jaw pain is a common complaint in divers, but the problem could be serious. Read more about temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Buoyancy control is imperative for optimal scuba diving safety. While the concepts are simple, masking proper buoyancy control can be difficult. Read more about buoyancy.

To clear up any confusion divers may have about patent foramen ovale (PFO), I will share how I explain the condition to patients. 

Breathing-gas contamination, although rare, can happen. Sources of contamination vary, but they are important to know. Get the inside scoop on breathing-gas contamination.

In a rush to enter the water, a diver did not check the tank valve, leaving them in a dangerous spot. Read more about the incident.

The day-to-day tasks of injury monitoring at Divers Alert Network include tracking dive fatalities by sifting through emails, news alerts, and social media to collect information about recent events. Our goal is to report to the dive community our findings on what people report to us or what we encounter in our research. 

Propeller trikes happen to divers and the injuries are brutal. Read more about propeller safety, tools, research and more to prevent these nasty injuries.

Propeller safety should be taken as seriously as every other aspect of dive safety. Much of the responsibility certainly lies with the pilot of a boat, but there are several things divers can do to help increase their safety margin when sharing the water.