Scuba diving accidents are unfortunate but preventable. It is possible to learn from these accidents, take preventive steps to avoid them, and receive compensation if you are in one. Find out how to prevent accidents from happening and how you can recover. After years of diving, many people have heard of those who were unable to swim or were injured in an accident.
Lessons from scuba dive accidents
DAN recently reported that environmental factors were major contributors to scuba divers' accidents. These factors included changes in visibility that could trap divers. Divers who are not physically fit or experienced also faced dangers due to changing currents and waves.
One of the first lessons that a diver should learn is to never hold their breath while underwater. As simple as it may seem, breathing helps to calm nerves, concentrate, and connects the diver to his or her body. 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. These will help you survive a dive.
Unskilled and incorrect equipment use are the two main causes of diving injuries. These problems usually involve incorrect use of the air cylinder valves. If these problems occur, a diver should reconsider diving or abort the dive altogether.
Preventive measures
Although scuba diving is relatively safe, it is important to follow the instructions and practice proper preparation. Small problems can be prevented from turning into major issues and causing an accident. A good training program and equipment will help you avoid serious injuries or life-threatening emergencies.
Divers need to check their air tanks before diving. A valve that is partially open can restrict air flow to the regulator, resulting in a diving accident. You should slowly open the valve to stop it from closing. This will prevent excessive pressure, which could lead to death. In addition, it can help avoid respiratory complications such as anoxia and gas narcosis.
Also, it is important to think about the environment in which your dive will take place. A diver's equipment may be pulled by turbid water. Strong underwater currents may also be able to separate a diver and the boat cover. They could end up stranded in water. The boat crew might not be able to see them if visibility is poor. Yellow flags are also a good idea for divers to use to draw attention to them. 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. Compensation for lost wages may be available if the accident occurred while you were working on a commercial dive vessel. An experienced attorney can help you learn more about the possible compensation.
The captain of the dive boat may be responsible if you are injured. The captain may be responsible if you are injured due to alcohol consumption or negligence. If you are injured while diving, you may also be entitled to compensation if the boat was defective.