Unfortunately, diving accidents can happen but they can be prevented. You can learn lessons from them, take preventive measures to prevent them, and get compensated if you are involved in one. Learn more about how to prevent dive accidents and how to recover from them. After many years of diving, you've probably heard about people who needed help following an accident.
Lessons from scuba dive accidents
According to a DAN report, environmental factors are a major factor in diving accidents. These factors included sudden changes in visibility, which could trap divers and deprive them air, problems with regulators, as well as malfunctioning rebreather device. Divers with limited experience and fitness are also at risk due to the changing currents.
The first lesson a diver should learn when diving is not to hold their breath underwater. Breathing, no matter how simple it may sound, helps diver calm nerves, concentrate and connect to their bodies. It is possible to avoid common diving injuries by improving your breathing technique. Also, learn how share air and recover your primary regulator. This will improve your chances of survival during a dive.
Poor skills and inadequacy of equipment are two of the leading causes of diving accidents. These problems usually involve incorrect use of the air cylinder valves. If you experience these problems, it is best to either reconsider your dive or cancel it entirely.
Preventive measures
Although scuba diving is relatively safe, it is important to follow the instructions and practice proper preparation. A few simple steps can avoid minor issues from becoming major ones and lead to an incident. Proper equipment and training will ensure you don't suffer a decompression or other life-threatening injuries.
Divers must make sure that the valve on their tanks is open before they dive. A valve that is partially open can restrict air flow to the regulator, resulting in a diving accident. You should slowly open the valve to stop it from closing. This procedure will prevent an overpressure, a condition that may lead to death. This procedure can also prevent respiratory complications such gas narcosis and anoxia.
It is also important to consider the environment in which you will dive. Divers' equipment and fins may be pulled if the water is too turbid. Strong underwater currents could also cause a diver to be separated from their boat cover. This could leave them stranded in the water. A poor visibility may cause the boat crew to miss them. Yellow flags are also a good idea for divers to use to draw attention to them. You can also use your personal submersible EPIRB or vhf to alert others to your presence.
Compensation for accident victims
If you are hurt in a dive accident, you might be eligible to receive compensation. You may be eligible for compensation depending on the nature of the accident and the severity of the injuries. If you were injured while diving on a commercial ship, you could be eligible for compensation. You should contact an experienced attorney to learn more about the compensation you can receive.
The captain of the boat might be liable if you were hurt in a diving boat accident. If the captain was drunken or negligent, you might be able to sue them. If the boat is defective, you might also be entitled for compensation if your dive accident results in you being hurt.