How to avoid hazardous conditions and what to do in an emergency should be covered in every effective dive briefing. The majority of diving accidents can be easily avoided with the right preparation and training. Each diver should understand the basics of what to do in an emergency, though. Diving is actually a sport that, when practiced responsibly, is relatively safe, despite the fact that the potential for danger may appear high.

Basic rules to lessen the likelihood of a diving accident

Do not hold your breath.

The most important scuba diving rule is this, as any competent new diver is aware. And for good reason—holding one's breath underwater might have serious consequences. As long as the diver breaths continuously, this won't be an issue because surplus air can escape. But when a diver inhales, the air cannot escape as it swells and eventually, the alveoli in the lung walls may rupture, severely injuring the organ.

Use safe ascending methods

Remembering to breathe is crucial, but it's also crucial to always rise slowly and safely. The nitrogen that was absorbed into the bloodstream at depth will not have time to dissolve back into solution when the pressure on the passage to the surface decreases if divers ascend more quickly than is safe. Decompression sickness may develop as the blood starts to bubble. Keep your climb moving at no more than 30 feet per minute to avoid this. A typical guideline for divers without computers is to climb no faster than their smallest bubble. Computer-aided divers will receive a warning if they are ascending too quickly.

Check your tools.

Your equipment determines how long you can live underwater. Before a dive, give your diving gear a thorough inspection. Completely inspect your friend since if either of your devices or those of your companion fails, you could both be in danger. Ensure that you are comfortable utilizing your equipment. The bulk of equipment-related mishaps occurs not because the equipment breaks down but rather because divers are not familiar with how it works. You are safety while diving is ensured by routine snorkel services. If your diving equipment is made by Powerdive, always go with a reputable power snorkel service provider.

Swimming within your capabilities

Always keep in mind that diving should be fun. If you are not physically or psychologically capable of diving, call it. Despite how easy it is to give in to peer pressure, you should always dive independently. Never be hesitant to move locations or postpone a dive if you think the circumstances are unsafe on a particular day. The same location might be reachable one day but not the next depending on changes in the surface properties, temperature, and current. Never dive deeper than you are qualified to; for instance, enriched air diving, overhead diving, deep diving, and wreck penetrations all require special training.

Keep your physique in good shape.

Despite the fact that we spend most of our time underneath sleeping, diving is a physically demanding activity because of the lengthy surface swims, strong currents, hauling gear, and exposure to bad weather. One needs to keep up a fair degree of personal fitness to dive safely. Overexertion brought on by insufficient fitness can result in fear, quick air consumption, and a number of accidents.

Make a dive plan.

You must carefully plan your dive if you want to remain safe underwater. Make sure you have agreed on a limited time and depth before diving, regardless of who you're diving with. Know the procedures for missing divers and emergencies. They may differ slightly from place to place and depend on the specifics of the dive. Make sure you have a plan in place for site navigation if you intend to dive without a guide. Make that you have the equipment required to get back to your exit.

Rule of thirds

While controlling air supply, remember the rule of thirds. According to this guideline, a diver should reserve a third of their oxygen supply for the climb, a third for the descent, and a third for safety. Although this is a helpful generalization, it needs to be adjusted for situations that don't fit the out-and-back profile, such as drift dives where the entry and exit sites are different.

Dive with a friend.

Divers should still receive sufficient training before going solo, despite the fact that many training organizations now provide solo diving certifications. The bulk of emergency skills requires the presence of a companion. For instance, if there isn't a backup air source available when you run out of air, you have very few options.

Build critical capabilities

Too often, divers allow the skills they learn during their initial training to deteriorate over time. They occasionally never managed to properly understand the talents. Poor instructors may have missed some skills because of large class sizes or an extraordinary performance at the time. Having these fundamental abilities is essential for diver safety. You might avoid mishaps if you can finish them successfully in a crisis situation.

Establish positive buoyancy at the surface.

Often, when we consider dangerous diving conditions, they take place underwater. In truth, however, 25% of diver fatalities are caused by problems with the surface. The most frequent cause of this is an overweight diver trying to stay on the surface. By creating positive buoyancy at the surface, you can conserve energy and avoid becoming exhausted or drowning.