The best way of solving the problem is not letting it occurred! The major stage on a way to achieve it is the planning the dive. With the help of competent planning it is possible to avoid misunderstanding and incidents, leading to the accident. Each dive even if it is only a usual one, should be carefully planned and prepared.
The good diver plans diving and dives according to the developed plan!
PLANNING THE DIVING:
Partner
Type of diving
Place of diving
Equipment
Conditions of Scuba Diving
Underwater signs
Measure which should be taken in case of an accident
THE PARTNER
The partner should be chosen according to personal interests, interest in diving and the experience. If the partner is a stranger, such questions will be natural:
Where and when he dived the last time ?
Are there any restrictions for him to conduct a dive?
What kind of problems he has faced before ?
Only after finding out of all these aspect, the partners can adequately know each other, make corrections in dive planning and even in their own behavior, both on the surface and under the water if it is necessary. And only in this case diving will be safe, unforgettable and full of impressions. It is also necessary as to go through the partners diving book, which will provide guidance on his abilities and experience. Nevertheless, during the first diving it is necessary to be especially attentive, after all who admits his weaknesses??! As it is a question of safety it is necessary to be extremely sincere both with the partner and with yourself — the degree of sincerity is in direct dependence with the degree of safety of diving for yours and your partner.
THE TYPE OF DIVE
Before each diving it is necessary to define what sort of diving is to be made.
Whether the diving is adaptable?
Whether it is planned to repeat an exercise during the diving?
Whether the diving is experimental?
Whether the diving is usual, for pleasure, during which no exercises are planned?
Whether the search of new places for diving is supposed?
Whether checking the new equipment is planned?
If carrying out of exercises is planned, it is necessary to define which exercises exactly and their order.
If exercises are not planned, then they should not be done, as, for example, giving the sign «there is no air» the partner will take seriously, and there can be favorable circumstances for a stressful situation, which can quickly turn into and accident.
DIVING PLACE
The diving place should be chosen according to the planned kind of diving. If, for example, it is planned to do or repeat any exercises it should not be done near sharp rocks or in the deep part and it is better to choose a shallow place with an equal bottom. In the case when it is required to do a not planned exercise, the risk of accident occurrence considerably decreases. In other words, the diving place should be chosen in advance according to aims. If suddenly it turns out that the place does not correspond to the diving problems, absolute realization of the planned shouldn’t be persisted. It will be better to change plans and to change some exercises.
While choosing a place for diving it is also necessary to pay attention to the following:
• The Legislation of the separate countries concerning, for example, the permission for diving, installation of flags of the diver, leaders of the group etc.
• Entering the water and an getting out from it
• Places of spawning
• The strip of canes
• The Surf
• Tide
• Currents
• Navigable ways (do not forget that the speed of a sound under water is 4 times faster than on the surface)
• Places of anchor parking
SCUBA EQUIPMENT
The equipment should correspond to the type of diving, in the complete set and in working order. To correspond to these conditions the equipment should pass regular checking and service by an expert. If the diving is carried out with rented unfamiliar equipment it is necessary to receive detailed explanations on its use prior to the beginning of diving. After all if under water there will be a situation demanding immediate exact actions simply there will be no time for acquaintance with various functions of the equipment. It is also necessary to get acquainted carefully with the equipment of the partner, to be able give the needed help under the water. For this purpose before each diving a careful examination of the partner is necessary too. Everyone is interested in the checking, as if the partner’s equipment functions not completely or is not in the complete set it can also put you in a difficult situation. Alternative source of air (A.I.R. II or octopus) though is not absolutely necessary, but it is recommended to use, as going up at alternate breath is much more difficult and more dangerous, than using alternative source of air.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Before going to a diving place, it is necessary to make a meteorological inquiry about the condition of weather at the moment of diving. This information and also the information on inflow and tides, currents, the strength of the wind and waves will affect the diving planning. It is also necessary to take into consideration the fact that the weather can change during diving. Quite often it happened, so that the diver, who was under the water was unpleasantly surprised by the changes that occurred on the surface during his absence. A huge help in elimination and prevention of such unpleasant surprises will be a detailed conversation with local instructors, fishermen etc.
UNDERWATER SIGNS
In order to avoid misunderstanding under the water before each dive the system of underwater signs should be accurately discussed. It is recommended to apply the system of underwater signs established by federation CMAS. It is recommended not to use your own system of signs, as it may fail while using it with a diver with whom you’re going to dive first time.
MEASURES DURING EMERGENCY SITUATION
During each dive, even if it is a usual type of dive, you should know that emergency situations may arise. Therefore, before immersion it is necessary to find out phone numbers of the nearest medical institution, also it is good idea to check if they have pressure chamber , their working time and degree of their congestion (it is especially important during night diving). Only in this case corresponding services can appear on time and show the needed help. It is also necessary to find out accurately where the nearest phone or other communication facilities are located and if they are working. These measures are additional to the absolutely necessary things, such as presence of the complete set of first aid and a cylinder with oxygen.
SAFETY SYSTEM OF THE DIVER
Besides essential positions of planning of the diving, the system of underwater safety assumes first of all correct observance of rules of checking the partner before diving.
As it is necessary to remember always such moments, as:
• Discipline
• Acquaintance with a place of diving and environmental conditions
• The Measures taken in case of extreme situations:
What should be done in case of losing partner?
Where is the first aid complete set?
Where is the car key?
Where is phone and what numbers are necessary to know?
Discussion of the diving type
• Check of system of buoyancy compensation
• Check of systems of the basic and alternative air filing
• Check of the additional equipment (a lamp, cords etc.)
• Final acknowledgment of readiness by a sign «Island К»
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