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Scuba diving is a
wonderful and unique activity and feeling safe and secure is
an important part of the whole experience. By following some simple rules and
avoiding
risk factors, you can simply enjoy the wonder and beauty
of all that is offered underwater in the Caribbean:
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Safe diving
begins before you even enter the water. Communicate with
your buddy about the objective of your dive, the direction, time
and depth limits.
-
Diving skills
such as emergency procedures can become rusty. Take the
time to practice skills with a buddy regularly in a controlled
environment.
-
Always conduct a
pre-dive safety check and maintain your gear according
to manufacturer recommendations.
-
Ascend no faster
than 30 feet per minute. Learn to ascend slowly, especially
as you approach the surface.
-
Learn to control
your buoyancy, divers who cannot do this are unsafe.
-
Always make a safety
stop.
-
Never dive if you
feel unwell or tired, if you are under the influence
of drugs or alcohol or if you have a hangover.
-
Monitor your air
supply. If you allow it to dwindle early on in the
dive you may miss safety stops or ascend faster than you should
at the end.
-
If using a dive
computer, don’t allow it to give you a false sense
of security and don’t dive to the last minute of allowable "no
decompression time" at each depth.
-
Always wait 24
hours after diving before flying.
And finally: hone
your skills through continuing edu- cation. Knowledge makes
you a safer diver, keeping the sport interesting and enjoyable for
a lifetime.
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