Although some scuba diving incidents are tragic, they can often be avoided. You can learn lessons from them, take preventive measures to prevent them, and get compensated if you are involved in one. Continue reading to learn how to prevent and recover from dive accidents. After diving for several years, you have probably heard stories of people who had to get help after dive accidents.
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 who have never been diving before may be at greater risk from changing currents or waves.
One of the first lessons that a diver should learn is to never hold their breath while underwater. Breathing is as simple as it seems. It helps calm nerves and concentrate the diver. Regular practice of your breathing techniques can help you avoid common diving injuries. In addition, it's essential to learn how to share air and recover your primary regulator. Ultimately, this will increase your chances of surviving a dive.
Poor skills and inadequacy of equipment are two of the leading causes of diving accidents. These problems typically involve improper use of the air and cylinder valves. This is a sign that a diver should consider resuming diving or abandoning the dive.
Preventive steps
Although diving is quite safe, it's important to be prepared and follow the instruction. A few simple steps can avoid minor issues from becoming major ones and lead to an incident. A good training program and equipment will help you avoid serious injuries or life-threatening emergencies.
Before diving, divers should check the valve on their air tanks. A valve that is partially open can restrict air flow to the regulator, resulting in a diving accident. The diver should slowly open the valve until it stops. This procedure will prevent an overpressure, a condition that may lead to death. It can also help to avoid respiratory complications such a gas narcosis or anoxia.
You should also consider the environment where you are going to dive. The water may pull the equipment or fins of a diver if it is murky. In addition, strong underwater currents can separate a diver from the boat cover. This could result in them being stranded on the water. A poor visibility may cause the boat crew to miss them. Divers should also carry yellow flags to draw attention to their presence. Divers may also use a personal submersible EPIRB, or vhf Radio to signal their presence.
Compensation for accident victims
When you have been injured in a dive accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation you can claim will depend on the type and severity of the injury. For example, if you were a commercial diver, you might be eligible for compensation for lost wages. To learn more about what compensation you may be eligible for, consult an experienced attorney.
The captain of the dive boat may be responsible if you are injured. You can sue the captain for drinking or negligence if they were at fault. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained while diving if the boat is defective.