Unfortunately, diving accidents can happen but they can be prevented. It is possible to learn from these accidents, take preventive steps to avoid them, and receive compensation if you are in one. Continue reading to learn how to prevent and recover from dive accidents. After many years of diving, you've probably heard about people who needed help following an accident.
Lessons learned from scuba diving accidents
A DAN report recently found that environmental factors were a major cause of scuba diving injuries. Rapid changes in visibility could trap divers, or deprive them from air. Problems with regulators and malfunctioning rebreather units were also factors. Changes in currents and waves pose dangers to divers who aren't physically or mentally fit.
Divers should be taught to breathe underwater. Breathing helps calm nerves, focus, and connects the diver with his or her body. You can avoid many common diving injuries by practicing your breathing skills regularly. It's also important to learn how you can share air and retrieve your primary regulator. Ultimately, this will increase your chances of surviving a dive.
Poor skills and inadequacy of equipment are two of the leading causes of diving accidents. 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 measures
Although scuba diving is relatively safe, it is important to follow the instructions and practice proper preparation. A few simple steps can prevent small problems from becoming major problems and result in an accident. A good training program and equipment will help you avoid serious injuries or life-threatening emergencies.
Divers should inspect their air tanks for leakages before diving. An open valve can prevent air flow and cause 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. In addition, it can help avoid respiratory complications such as anoxia and gas narcosis.
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. Strong underwater currents could also cause a diver to be separated from their boat cover. They could end up stranded in water. A poor visibility may cause the boat crew to miss them. To draw attention to themselves, divers should be wearing yellow flags. Divers can also use a personal EPIRB (emergency oxygen) submersible or vhf radio signaling their presence to shore.
Compensation for accident victims
When you have been injured in a dive accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation that you can claim depends on the type of accident you were involved in and how severe the injuries were. If you were injured while diving on a commercial ship, you could be eligible for compensation. You should contact an experienced attorney to learn more about the compensation you can receive.
The captain of the dive boat may be responsible if you are injured. If the captain was drunken or negligent, you might be able to sue them. If your boat malfunctions, you may also be eligible to compensation if you are seriously injured diving.