How to Emergency Ascent in Scuba

Emergency Swimming and Emergency Buoyant Ascents

Instructions

Avoiding an Emergency Ascent

1. The most common cause of an emergency while diving is panic due to an =nfamiliar environment and the complexities of unfamiliar equipment. Novi=e divers should dive repeatedly to shallow depths (30ft) under all sorts=of conditions. Dive instruction is available from licensed dive professi=nals worldwide. You should never dive without an experienced dive buddy,=with unfamiliar equipment, or at a site you have not evaluated and resea=ched carefully.

2. Emergency ascents are most often the result of running out of air in y=ur tank. Modern tank and regulator systems usually have a reserve, but t=e urge to push the limits, or stay just a little bit longer has tricked =ven experienced divers into running out of air. Play it safe, watch your=pressure gauge, and adhere to the planned dive schedule.

3. The second most common cause of an emergency ascent is a real or perce=ved equipment failure. Always be thoroughly familiar with all your dive =quipment prior to entering the water. Always stay with your buddy during=a dive, and if an equipment failure does occur, switch to buddy breathin= (or use an octopus rig if available). Take a few moments to confirm tha= you really do have an equipment failure. If the failure is real, make a=normal ascent while buddy breathing.

Emergency Swimming Ascent

1. An emergency swimming ascent can be very safe. It is essentially a nor=al ascent, except presumably you are not getting any air from your tank.=You can change your rate of ascent and your buoyancy as you swim to the =urface.

2. Start moving towards the surface by pushing off the bottom or kicking =trongly a few times with your fins.

3. Continue towards the surface while swimming as calmly as possible and =aintaining a normal rate.

4. Look up at all times while ascending. This not only allows you to look=for obstructions or boats on the surface, it also extends your neck and =elps you keep your airway open.

5. Try to breath from your regulator normally as you move towards the sur=ace. The pressure drop as you rise towards the surface can give you a fe= more breaths from an empty tank.

6. Be ready to release your weight belt if you are not ascending at a nor=al rate.

7. Once on the surface, inflate your buoyancy compensator completely. Rem=ve your regulator, and signal for assistance if needed.

Emergency Buoyant Ascent

1. An emergency buoyant ascent is typically very rapid. You will have far=less control over your rate of ascent then with the swimming ascent desc=ibed above. This rapid ascent can expose you to the dangers of decompres=ion sickness and air embolism. The emergency buoyant ascent should be yo=r last ditch option, but it will get you to the surface and keep you the=e.

2. To start a buoyant ascent, inflate your buoyancy compensator and drop =our weight belt. Use your emergency inflation system if needed.

3. Look towards the surface to open your airway and breath out constantly= The more rapidly you are ascending, the more rapidly the air in your lu=gs will expand.

4. As you rise towards the surface, release air from your buoyancy compen=ator to provide some control of your ascent. With your weight belt gone =ou will rise rapidly regardless.

5. About 20 feet from the surface, spread your arms and arch your back un=il your body is almost parallel to the surface. This will create more dr=g and slow you down before you reach the surface.

6. Once on the surface, inflate your buoyancy compensator completely. Rem=ve your regulator, and signal for assistance immediately. You may feel f=ne initially, but decompression sickness symptoms may begin to affect yo= without warning.

Tips & Warnings

• Always dive with an octopus rig if available. Buddy breathing can be d=fficult in an emergency situation.

• You can remove your weight belt and hold it in your hand so that you c=n drop it more quickly if needed.

• You can also use the emergency inflation system on your buoyancy compe=sator, but it is better if you can swim normally to the surface. See the=Emergency Buoyant Ascent section below.

• It can't be said too many times: NEVER dive alone.

• Never hold your breath (or exhale completely) while doing any kind of =scent. As you rise to the surface, the volume of air remaining in you lu=gs will increase as the pressure drops. You should be able to exhale slo=ly all the way to the surface.

• Sixty feet per minute is the recommended safe rate of ascent.

• Never, never, never hold your breath while ascending, especially durin= a rapid buoyant ascent.