During your basic training as a scuba diver your instructor spent hours teaching you rules, regulations, and limitations. Following the rules, sticking to the regulations and staying within the limits are generally what we are about to sum up.
After a dive or a dive vacation, you would probably say "Wahoo...I really had wonderful time, I really enjoyed it". Well, you won’t really say that and mean it unless the dive vacation was well planned, well prepared, the dives were shared with the right person(s), and above all you were safe.
Although it might sound really logical that everyone who set off for a diving vacation is aiming to “Have Fun”, years of professional work as a dive guide/instructor show that it is also remarkably useful to review the four main classics here in the preparation, what’s needed to be done before, during and after the dive.
1. Preparation:
1.1 Education is a key word for your safety. Safety through education is one of my favorite mottos. Here are some points to consider:
- Learn more about equipment, the physics, the physiology and the limitations
- Stay updated with the latest techniques in self rescue and buddy rescue
- Attend seminars, workshops and dive shows
1.2 Physical fitness is a major factor for diving activities, you may like to:
- Avoid being over weight
- Swim a few laps every week, use your fins
- Jogging is another option if swimming is not applicable
- Have a medical check annually
1.3 Psychological status is a major factor for your safety. Dive only when you feel up to it, not to please or satisfy a friend, a spouse, or even your own ego. Prepare yourself;
- Be physically fit
- Know you limits and stay within
- When you are about to experience a new playing field, ask questions, learn details and buddy up with experience.
1.4 Equipment is the tool with which to go underwater, enjoy, and come back safe. If you take good care of it, it will watch out for you.
- Choose the best fitting equipment; nothing is worse than a loose/ tight fitting fin, mask, or suit
- If you have your own equipment, check, maintain, and replace as recommended by the manufacturers
- When your equipment needs maintenance, use an officially recognized equipment repair specialist
- Thoroughly check and test that items are maintained before using them
1.5 Choosing a buddy is often looked at as an auxiliary point, there is only one problem with that: It is wrong. If I do not have the right person to share the experience with, I would rather be diving alone. It is probably safer. Therefore, maybe you want to consider the following:
- Do you share generally the same interests in a dive?
- Unless you are capable of taking care of other divers (by having the necessary experience and the proper professional training), you better dive with a more experienced or at least a diver who is as competent as yourself
- A person who’s company you would enjoy on land is most probably a good match for your diving activities
1.6 Choosing a destination is an intelligent choice that you eventually have to make. Here is a simplified check list;
- Read and learn about the destination
- When would be the best time to go?
- How can you get there?
- Compare high verses low season advantages
- Would you get all types of services you are looking for?
- Review costs and budget
1.7 “Save the dive” items such as tools, spare parts and first aid kit are essentials. An O-ring or a fin strap can cause you or your buddy to cancel a dive. A first aid kit well prepared to handle simple injuries and medical emergencies can make the difference between a safe trip and a disastrous one.
1.8 Watch out for the Logistics.
The diving vacation general plan allows you to successfully select and arrange details; such as clothing, medication, hotel/boat reservations, flight details, visa, cash, travellers’ cheques, credit cards, vaccinations, etc.
1.9 Diving license, log book and insurance are essentials. During registration with a dive operation, do not get offended when asked to check these out, as they have the right to do so and you also have the right to show your credentials.
2. Before you dive:
2.1 Eat easy to digest nutrition, you need to have the energy and feel well and fit to dive. Avoid heavy or greasy meals that are gas-forming, because discomfort or significant pain during ascents can occur due to expanding abdominal gases. Eating a great deal of any food immediately before diving also can cause discomfort and be genuinely dangerous if it leads to vomiting while underwater.
2.2 Drink enough water; dehydration (abnormal loss of fluid from the body) is considered one of the major elements that make you susceptible to decompression sickness, fatigue, and headaches, certainly because water comprises the greater part of the blood. Dehydration occurs when you take in less fluid than you lose in urine, exhaled moisture and perspiration. Divers lose fluids during preparation in the form of sweat. Each time you inhale through the regulator, you increase the humidity of inspired air 100%. This moisture, along with heat to warm up the incoming air, is drawn from your body. In addition, blood pooling in the body core because of water pressure or cold water temperatures and the effort to draw air from a regulator combined with the decrease of gravity stimulate divers to urinate more frequently than normal.
The response is called Diuresis. Substances that increase the output of urine by the kidneys are called diuretics and include coffee, tea and alcohol. You should avoid diuretics before and during a diving day. Drink fluids before and between dives to offset the diuretic effects of diving.
It is important to consider these losses and essential to compensate for them. Drink lots of water.
2.3 Choosing a dive site is another intelligent choice that you eventually have to make. If you are planning to dive in a known site;
- Read and learn about the site
- Review entry/exit points
- Tide considerations, currents and bottom configuration
- Emergency equipment, nearest emergency facilities. For a new site that no written info is available there is a list of considerations for pioneers;
- Ask the local seamen and experts about the site
- Make an assessment to determine entry/exit, currents and bottom formation.
- Prepare a contingency plan
- Prepare an emergency plan
2.4 Remember your right to abort the dive. Dive only when you feel well and up to it. Positive self-esteem is a prerequisite for safe scuba diving. Confidence is closely associated with positive self-esteem, and it means believing in “you” to get the job done. If you do not see the green light, remember that every diver has the right to skip a dive that he/she does not feel good about.
2.5 Review dive plan. It is your responsibility as a diver to make sure you understand the dive plan well. Every dive plan should consist of the following main points;
- Dive site and facilities
- Weather and water condition considerations
- Objectives and aims of the dive
- Limitations and special considerations
- Schedule, dive time, average / maximum depth and dive profile.
- Communications
- Buddy system and emergencies If you have missed something during briefing or planning, and/or you are confused about a detail, direction or a procedure do not hesitate to ask your guide / instructor or buddy, do not be shy.
2.6 Inform the boat crew, the dive center, or someone not diving about your general plan and when you are expected to be back. This would enable saving valuable time incase an emergency plan needs to be activated.
2.7 Final equipment check procedures that you learned during your beginners’ training program will save you time, effort and enhance your safety. Insure that your buddy’s equipment as well as yours is operating properly every time you are about to enter the water.
2.8 Go over emergency procedures with your buddy. Review the following;
- Hand signals
- Dealing with out of air situations
- Procedures for being separated from the buddy or the group
- Drifted away with the current
- Can’t find the exit/the boat
They often get forgotten and disregarded. However, the seconds you need to agree about what you are going to do, will make the action you or your buddy take in case of an emergency efficient, quick and can simply save lives.
2.9 Alcohol and diving should not be mixed. Alcohol negatively affects alertness, coordination and judgment. The effect of cold, nitrogen narcosis and other diving factors magnify the negative effects of alcohol on divers’ judgment and performance. Alcohol also constricts the arteries that serve the heart and dilates vessels to the skin.
The results are potential heart problems and excessive heat loss, which increase the risk of hypothermia. Alcohol also increases the urine output and can contribute to dehydration whilst diving. Moreover, alcohol combines with the hemoglobin 200 times more than oxygen or nitrogen, this obstructs the hemoglobin from performing its function as a gas carrying media to the lungs causing a dramatic deficiency in the gas exchange process which increase the potentials of decompression sickness hazards.
3. During your dive
3.1 Dive your plan. This rule has always proven to be a major key to safety. A well prepared dive plan simply deserves to be executed fully.
3.2 Activate the buddy system. It is not only for the pleasure of sharing the experience, but it is also for your own safety.
3.3 Keep track of your depth, air and time. The most common problem divers usually have with instruments is failure to monitor them! They are your tools to execute a safe, enjoyable and pleasant diving experience. USE THEM, PLEASE.
3.4 Be environmentally friendly. Keep your “tentacles” away from OUR coral reefs. Please, remember the golden rule “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but bubbles”. When we dive we are the intruders, shouldn’t we show some respect to the marine environment?
3.5 “There are no old, bold divers” Be on the safe side. For any contingency plans or alternatives that you have to make, take the safe sided decision.
3.6 Enjoy your dive. Being underwater is being “On Top of the World”. There is probably nothing similar to being weightless underwater except walking on the moon.
However, most of us perhaps can’t afford the second one. Look around, move gracefully and appreciate all the surrounding underwater terrain.
4. After the dive
4.1 Drink enough water; this is intentionally repeated again, dehydration is probably the prime cause of de- compression sickness. Please refer to article 2.2
4.2 Remember that alcohol and diving should never be mixed; this point is also intentionally repeated again. Please refer to article 2.9
4.3 Your diving equipment deserves a treat. Take a few minutes to care for your gear;
- Rinse equipment with fresh water and dry it away from the sun
- Store equipment in a cool dry place
-Follow the manufacturers recommendations for maintenance and care.
4.4 To err is human. However, only safe divers avoid repeated mistakes.
If you have encountered any difficulties during the dive, have any questions, or are unhappy about certain behaviors, talk them over with your buddy/dive guide and work on correcting them.
4.5 Allow enough surface intervals for out gassing. Diving activities are typically a combination of sport and social events. Enjoy surface time as much as bottom time.
4.6 Consider the no-flying time. Allow a minimum of 24 hours before flying after a multi day diving vacation.
After all, you need that time for buying gifts for your loved ones and souvenirs to remember the exotic, wonderful and SAFE vacation.
Turn all your diving practices into safe, enjoyable and learning experiences.
Dive responsibly, follow the rules and regulations, stay on the safe side of limitations and refrain from contradictions. In other words, do yourself a favor - be a safe diver.
Happy diving,
By: Zeyad M. El Bassel( NAUI Course Director # 10661L )
