Safe Diving Practices
Safe Diving Practices
Before You Enter The Water:
Make sure you are fit to dive
If you have never dived before, you should have a medical examination in your home country to ensure you are fit to dive. If you are generally fit and healthy, there should be no problem. You will be required to sign a medical statement before learning to dive.
If you are already certified to dive, avoid diving when you are not feeling one hundred per cent. In particular, do not dive with a cold or a bad hangover! Save the big party night for the finale of your diving days.
Dive with a reputable diving school (Waterlines’ responsibility is precisely to identify reputable dive operators)
It is important to know they are well-established and have well-maintained scuba equipment and boats, along with experienced staff.
Listen to your instructor or dive guide
Plan Your Dive, Dive Your Plan is the number one rule of dive preparation – you need to follow your instructor’s brief on where you are going, the route you will follow and what you need to watch out for.
Double check all your scuba gear
Take your time and double check everything is working. If you are not sure about anything, do not be embarrassed – ask your guide or instructor.
Make sure you do your buddy check
Doing the buddy check of each other’s scuba gear is extremely important before you get in the water to make sure neither of you have missed anything. Introduce yourself to your buddy beforehand as well.
Ensure you are covered both above and below water with insurance that explicitly states scuba diving activities are included. Being covered on land is vital too, as diving often involves being in remote locations in developing countries.
When You Go Diving:
Breathe Normally All The Time - Never Hold Your Breath
It is important to NEVER hold your breath – breathe normally at all times. Holding your breath can cause an air embolism (where an air bubble enters the blood stream), which is a serious and potentially fatal injury.
Equalize frequently as you descend
This needs to be done frequently and before feeling any pain to avoid injury to your inner ear.
Stay aware of where your guide and buddy are located
Do not be tempted to swim off on your own. If you do lose your guide and buddy underwater, look around for 1 minute, and if you still ca not see them, slowly ascend to the surface where they should have done the same.
Keep an eye on your air gauge
Your guide will ask you how much air you have left periodically, but you are ultimately responsible for your own air consumption. You need to be aware of your air consumption so you can plan your return to the surface accordingly.
Dive within the limits of your dive computer and no deeper than 40 metres
If you are wearing a dive computer, ensure that you consult it frequently to see how much time you have at each depth. Follow your guide and do not descend below their depth. It is also important to avoid going below 40 metres – this is the limit for recreational scuba diving and for scuba insurance.
Do not over exert yourself
Diving is often called an adrenaline sport, but you should actually be super relaxed when underwater. The slower you go, the more you will see. Avoid moving at a pace which makes you out of breath. If you do feel tired, signal your buddy and have a rest.
Do not touch anything
You should avoid touching anything to protect the coral reefs but also to protect yourself. Many corals are sharp, many marine plants poisonous and many marine creatures will bite if they feel threatened. It is also important to perfect your buoyancy so you can hover over the reefs.
Always Ascend SLOWLY from every dive
As well as not holding your breath, ascending slowly from a dive is the other Number 1 rule of diving. Coming up fast from a dive can cause “the bends” or decompression sickness, as nitrogen is forced into the bloodstream. By coming up slowly from a dive and doing the safety stop, the nitrogen in your body has a chance to dissipate and therefore cause no harm.
Do not leave your scuba gear dumped in a heap in the floor when you get back from your dive. Scuba gear is heavy and potentially dangerous if not handled and stored correctly.
Debrief with your guide and buddy
Discuss how the dive went and make notes on what you can improve next time to ensure maximum fun and safety.
If you feel strange, let others know
Do not keep it to yourself if you feel strange after a dive – let others know. Many people feel tired out because they are simply not used to the exertion of physical exercise. If you feel anything else, tell your guide.
Do not fly until at least 24 hour after a dive
Due to the excess nitrogen in your system, it is important not to fly until at least 24 hours after your last dive. (Some agencies specify 18 hours but 24 remains the norm). Flying in a pressurized environment can cause decompression sickness if time is not allowed beforehand for the nitrogen to dissipate.