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 many years of diving, you've probably heard about people who needed help following an accident.
Lessons learned from scuba diving accidents
In a recent DAN report, environmental factors were a significant factor in scuba diving accidents. These factors included changes in visibility that could trap divers. Changes in currents and waves pose dangers to divers who aren't physically or mentally fit.
A diver must learn that they should never hold their breath underwater. Breathing, no matter how simple it may sound, helps diver calm nerves, concentrate and connect to their bodies. It is possible to avoid common diving injuries by improving your breathing technique. In addition, it's essential to learn how to share air and recover your primary regulator. These will help you survive a dive.
The most common causes of diving accidents are improper use of equipment and inadequate skills. These problems usually involve incorrect use of the air cylinder valves. These problems can cause a diver to reconsider diving or abandon the dive.
Preventive actions
Although scuba diving is relatively safe, it is important to follow the instructions and practice proper preparation. Simple steps can help prevent minor problems from becoming serious and leading to an accident. Training and the proper equipment will make sure you do not suffer from a decompression injury, or a life-threatening emergency.
Divers must make sure that the valve on their tanks is open before they dive. 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 an excessive pressure from leading to overpressure. In addition, it can help avoid respiratory complications such as anoxia and gas narcosis.
You should also consider the environment where you are going to dive. If the water is turbid, it may pull a diver's fins or equipment. Strong underwater currents can also separate divers from the boat covers. They may be stranded underwater. A poor visibility may cause the boat crew to miss them. In addition, divers should carry yellow flags to attract attention to themselves. Divers can also use a personal EPIRB (emergency oxygen) submersible or vhf radio signaling their presence to shore.
Compensation for accident victims
In some cases, compensation may be available for injuries sustained in a dive accident. The amount of compensation that you can claim depends on the type of accident you were involved in and how severe the injuries were. Compensation for lost wages may be available if the accident occurred while you were working on a commercial dive vessel. A qualified attorney should be consulted to find out more about the compensation that you could receive.
If you were hurt on a diveboat, the captain may be liable. 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.