How to Prevent Most Diving Accidents

Scuba diving is a remarkably safe sport, but if you don't take what you do seriously before you even get into the water, you risk a potentially life-threatening accident for you or your dive buddy. Here are some things you can do before you get wet to prevent most diving accidents.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dive instructor
• Refresher course
• Dive equipment technician
• Knowledge of how your dive buddy's weight system operates

1. Keep your training up to date. If you haven't been diving for a while, invest in a quick refresher course at your local dive shop. You may be chastened to learn how much you've "forgotten" during your time away from diving.
2. Maintain your equipment, especially your regulator. If it has been more than a year since your regulator has seen a technician, get it serviced before you dive again. Think of it this way--this is your life support system. Why risk your life on an O-ring or hose failure that can be easily and cheaply fixed?
3. Learn about your buddy's weight system and your own, too. It's scary how many dive buddies don't know if their partner uses a weight belt or an integrated system. If you need to get to the surface fast, knowing how to ditch your buddy's weights quickly could literally mean the difference between life and death. Don't wait until there is a critical situation to figure out how to do this.
4. Do your decompression stops! Sure, it's tempting to squeeze out every last bit of air, especially if you aren't sure when you can dive again. Decompression stops can be really boring, but it definitely beats the "excitement" of rushing you to a hyperbaric chamber in time to avoid paralysis or irreversible pulmonary damage.
5. Stay in shape for scuba diving. This includes much more than just good cardiovascular fitness. Avoid health-destroying behaviors like smoking and drinking to excess if you intend to go diving. If you have recently been ill, refrain from diving until you have recovered completely. You will need every bit of physical fitness and mental clarity when you participate in scuba to lessen your chances of getting into trouble.
6. Remember to breathe! Your diving instructor probably repeated that over and over during your first certification classes. Not only will this keep you from developing a lung embolism, it will also help to keep you calm. Panicking is responsible for more avoidable diving accidents than any other cause.