DIVERS
ALERT NETWORK
Dive Safety
Information Presented by
DAN Asia-Pacific, Your Buddy in Dive Safety
SAFE
DIVING TIPS
All diving involves a
degree of risk, because, after all, we are air-breathing mammals and
are not designed for breathing underwater. If we accept this premise,
and admit to ourselves that we are voluntarily entering an alien environment,
we are more likely to approach our diving with a sensible degree of
caution. We must also acknowledge that we rely totally on our equipment
while diving.
These safety hints apply to ALL
dives and should be read in addition to those hints for specific types
of diving.
- Be
trained by a recognised agency. Such training will make you aware
of the more common problems you will face underwater, and how to reduce
the likelihood of these problems occurring.
- Be sure that
you are medically fit for diving. Some medical conditions are not compatible
with safe diving, while other conditions may allow you to dive safely
with caution. It is important that divers over 40 receive regular medical
check-ups.
- Be
sure that you are physically fit for diving. Diving may require exertion
beyond what is usual for you and it is important that you are fit enough
to deal with this.
- Thoroughly
prepare and check your gear prior to diving. You rely totally on your
equipment while underwater.
- Choose
dives that match your training, experience and confidence. Dive within
your comfort zone on all dives.
- Listen to
your inner voice. If you do not feel right while underwater, or you
feel that you have exceeded your comfort level, abort the dive.
- Watch
your ascent rate on all dives. You should never exceed an ascent rate
of 10m/minute when diving shallower than about 30m. An ascent rate of
5-6 metres per minute is recommended in the last 10m of ascent.
- Complete
safety stops on all dives that exceed 10m depth. Safety stops assist
with reduction of excess nitrogen, which reduces the risk of DCI. They
also slow your ascent rate, by forcing you to stop for a period of time.
The rule of thumb is 3-5 minutes at 5-6 metres. An additional deeper
stop may sometimes be beneficial after deeper dives.
- Always
dive with a buddy. Your safety and your enjoyment will be enhanced by
being with a companion while underwater.
- Plan your
dive. You and your buddy should agree on depth, time, air cut-off, and
safety stops.
- Plan
your dive so you surface with a minimum of 50bar. Don't look at it as
wasted air, but as insurance against the possibility of some emergency
that causes your air consumption to increase.
- If you have
had a layoff from diving, or you have been unwell, do some easier dives
to regain your confidence and skill.
- Revise
your skills regularly. Practise such survival skills as mask-clearing,
regulator removal, and air-sharing regularly.
- Log your
dives. A record of your diving history may come in very handy should
you ever seek higher levels of training.
DIVING MEDICAL QUESTIONS - DAN DOC
Do you have any diving medical related questions? Do you have any concerns
about the effects of diving? Follow the link below to find all the answers
to many common and some less common questions relating to diving medical
issues.
CLICK
HERE
DIVING
EMERGENCIES
As divers, we hope
to never find ourselves in need of emergency medical assistance as a
result of a diving accident. However, statistics highlight that accidents
do happen, even to the most experienced divers, so we should all have
a plan of action that will prepare us for the unexpected.
If you ever
find yourself in an emergency situation, when in Australia, your first
step should be to call the Divers Alert Network (DAN) funded Diving
Emergency Services Medical Hotline on 1800 088
200.
If you are calling
from Outside Australia you need to call: +61-8-8212
9242. This number is available to all divers throughout the world.
Head
Office - Australia
PO Box
384, Ashburton, Victoria, 3147, Australia
Phone: +61 -3 9886 9166
Fax: +61 -3 9886 9155
Email: info[a]danasiapacific.org
DAN Asia-Pacific’s National Offices
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As we all know
many of the world's top dive destinations are in remote areas that are
difficult to access and often result in significant costs in terms of
emergency evacuation and subsequent medical treatment. Therefore, DAN
strongly recommends that all divers be adequately covered for such a
contingency. And remember, if you are prepared for the unexpected you
can focus on what's most important … enjoying
your diving!
To learn more about
DAN, or to become a member, visit www.danasiapacific.org
and please quote this # DS-0043
Any
confusion?
E-mail us a info[a]divetenggara.com
or voice/text + (6) 019 2121 109
Please
change [a] with @
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