To avoid serious accidents or injuries, scuba divers must abide by the rules of diving. You must also ensure that your gauges are checked regularly throughout dives to make sure they have enough air. They can quickly run out of air, which can prove fatal. Breathing in a shallow dive can cause serious injury. It is possible to keep your breath indefinitely because the air in your lungs expands during ascent and contracts during descent.
Before scuba diving, safety checks
Scuba divers generally conduct pre-dive safety checks before entering the water. Pre-dive checks are a final inspection and certification of all equipment, gear, and other items before entering the water. This check can be performed from shore or from the boat. This is a great chance to check and adjust equipment and familiarize with your buddy's gear. These are some helpful tips for performing pre-dive safety inspections.
Safety checks for pre-dive equipment
There are several safety measures that you should take before diving. Before diving, ensure that you have tested all your equipment. Your wetsuit and hoses should be tested. Your dive operator should be able to show you how to use your emergency procedures and decompression chamber. Also, make sure to test your buddy's dive equipment such as their tank straps and dumps. These details will allow you to know how to exit safely from the water in case of an emergency.
Slowly ascend to avoid decompression sickness
To avoid decompression sickness, scuba divers should ascend slowly and always stop at the surface. It is simple and will save you lots of time. Make sure you look out for boats when you descend. Also, stay close to the dive flag. If there are no boats in the distance, you can proceed slowly.
While scuba diving, ensure you have a snorkel.
If you plan to dive deeper into the sea, a snorkel is essential. It allows you breathe underwater, while avoiding drowning and accidents. It is also necessary to have good airway control. If the snorkel is not fitted correctly, water can leak from the mouthpiece and enter your airway. Some snorkels may be too uncomfortable to wear. You might need to consider a different type of snorkel.
Never hold your breath while scuba diving
Do not hold your breath underwater if you have difficulty breathing. Even a slight change in depth can cause lung damage. In order to prevent lung overpressure while underwater, make sure your regulator is in good condition and regularly serviced. By focusing on your breathing rate, you can avoid holding your breath. No matter how much you love diving, you should not hold your breath underwater.