Scuba diving accidents are unfortunate but preventable. There are ways to learn from them, prevent them from happening again, and be compensated for any injuries. Find out how to prevent accidents from happening and how you can recover. You have likely heard of dive accident victims after diving for many years.
Lessons from scuba diving mistakes
In a recent DAN report, environmental factors were a significant factor in scuba diving accidents. These factors included rapid changes in visibility that could trap divers or deprive them of air, problems with regulators, and malfunctioning rebreather devices. Divers with limited experience and fitness are also at risk due to the changing currents.
One of the first lessons that a diver should learn is to never hold their breath while underwater. As simple as it may seem, breathing helps to calm nerves, concentrate, and connects the diver to his or her body. Many common diving injuries can be avoided by learning to breathe properly and practicing it often. Additionally, you should learn how to rescue your primary regulator and share air. Ultimately, this will increase your chances of surviving a dive.
Unskilled and incorrect equipment use are the two main causes of diving injuries. These issues are usually caused by improper use of air and cylinder valves. Divers should either reconsider diving or stop doing it altogether if these issues occur.
Preventive steps
Scuba diving is a relatively safe sport, but it is still important to practice proper preparation and follow instructions. Small problems can be prevented from turning into major issues and causing an accident. In addition, proper equipment and training will help ensure that you will not end up with a decompression injury or experience a life-threatening emergency.
Divers need to check their air tanks before diving. An open valve can prevent air flow and cause a diving accident. Slowly open the valve until it stops. This will prevent an excessive pressure from leading to overpressure. This procedure can also prevent respiratory complications such gas narcosis and anoxia.
It is also important that you consider the environment in your dive area. Turbid water can pull diver's equipment or fins out of the water. Strong underwater currents could also cause a diver to be separated from their boat cover. This could result in them being stranded on the water. The boat crew might not be able to see them if visibility is poor. Divers should also carry yellow flags to draw attention to their presence. Divers can also use a personal EPIRB (emergency oxygen) submersible or vhf radio signaling their presence to shore.
Compensation for accident victims
If you are hurt in a dive accident, you might be eligible to receive compensation. The amount of compensation that you can claim depends on the type of accident you were involved in and how severe the injuries were. If you were diving on a commercial dive ship, for example, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. A qualified attorney should be consulted to find out more about the compensation that you could receive.
The captain of the dive boat may be responsible if you are injured. If the captain was drinking alcohol or negligent, you may be able to sue him or her. If you are injured while diving, you may also be entitled to compensation if the boat was defective.