Many divers are proud to be comfortable in the water and sometimes push their limits on air consumption, exceed their bottom time, or take one last shot of a big fish with a camera or spear before ascending. Some of them develop reputations in the dive community for being competent divers by looking cool and experienced while taking little risks. It may start small but snowball into making poor decisions for which the price you pay is not worth the reward.
Dive safety experts now advise divers to always dive with their tank valves completely open — not turned back a half or quarter turn. Are you up to date on the rules? Read one diver’s story.
When his regulator hose burst during a dive, a diver not only lost his primary air source, he also was engulfed by a cloud of bubbles that made it nearly impossible to see or hear.
Seemingly minor problems can amount to bigger ones underwater. Predive
anxiety and a fogged mask compounded to nearly trigger a state of panic in
this diver.
Divers can’t save themselves unless they understand what’s happening and how to evaluate the problem, keep breathing and act. It sounds simple, but the rescue diver course helped me solidify my safety and survival skills. I may not remember every detail, but one item still stands out for me as invaluable for a new diver: Any dive can be stopped at any time, for any reason, without question. To that I would add “and without embarrassment.” That advice would eventually save me.
Pure oxygen can save a person’s life when administered correctly — but oxygen administration is a skill not everyone has. Learn more.
About to start a dive, a group of divers were asked to help a potential drowning victim. Training kicked in and they provided relief. Read more about this heroic story.
In an effort to improve the facility’s diver rescue capabilities, Dutch Springs recently upgraded its rescue vessel to a custom-built pontoon boat with a platform for transporting an injured diver.
Even if your skills aren’t perfect, you can still make a difference. Read a first-person story about how basic first-aid skills came in handy in saving a life.
When emergency response is made as accessible and efficient as possible, it’s much easier for divers to embrace the culture of dive safety. Divers are more apt to remind each other to be cautious and to watch out for each other with increased vigilance.
