Unfortunately, diving accidents can happen but they can be prevented. There are ways to learn from them, prevent them from happening again, and be compensated for any injuries. Find out how to prevent accidents from happening and how you can recover. After diving for several years, you have probably heard stories of people who had to get help after dive accidents.
Lessons from scuba diver accidents
Recent DAN reports revealed that environmental factors played a major role in the number of scuba diving accident. Rapid changes in visibility could trap divers, or deprive them from air. Problems with regulators and malfunctioning rebreather units were also factors. Divers without the right experience or fitness can also be exposed to dangers from shifting currents.
An important lesson that divers should learn is to not hold their breath underwater. Breathing is as simple as it seems. It helps calm nerves and concentrate the diver. You can avoid many common diving injuries by practicing your breathing skills regularly. Additionally, you should learn how to rescue your primary regulator and share air. Ultimately, this will increase your chances of surviving a dive.
Improper use of equipment and poor skills are the main causes of diving accident. These problems typically involve improper use of the air and cylinder valves. If you experience these problems, it is best to either reconsider your dive or cancel it entirely.
Preventive steps
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.
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. To prevent this, the diver should slowly open and close the valve until it stops. This will prevent overpressure from causing death. It can also help to avoid respiratory complications such a gas narcosis or anoxia.
It is also important to consider the environment in which you will dive. Turbid water can pull diver's equipment or fins out of the water. In addition, strong underwater currents can separate a diver from the boat cover. These could cause them to become stranded. A poor visibility may cause the boat crew to miss them. Divers should always carry yellow flags in order to attract attention. You can also use your personal submersible EPIRB or vhf to alert others to your presence.
Compensation for accident victims
When you have been injured in a dive accident, you may be entitled to compensation. You can get compensation depending on what type of accident occurred and how severe your injuries were. If you were injured while diving on a commercial ship, you could be eligible for compensation. A qualified attorney should be consulted to find out more about the compensation that you could receive.
The captain of the boat might be liable if you were hurt in a diving boat accident. If the captain was drinking alcohol or negligent, you may be able to sue him or her. If the boat is defective, you might also be entitled for compensation if your dive accident results in you being hurt.