SCUBA safety

[Pliny]

I have mentioned safety in general terms in other threads. I would like to start a new thread on safety and start by asking some questions. Considering the number of deaths in the sport each year, and the amount of diving that is done, is SCUBA diving safe? One might make a comparison with driving on the freeway, or parachute jumping out of an airplane, or mountain climbing. Some pretty good statistics have been done for many sports (National Safety Council's "Accident Facts" is published annually), but I don't know if there are any accident rates published for scuba diving.

Of course there are many factors, conditioning, health, experience, training, environment, and equipment, for example. But what are the most important factors? Is the training adequate nowadays? Are enough people in poor condition or poor health "washed out" of classes?

I'm interested in what other people think. And if you have any current statistics (number of accdients and deaths, most frequent causes of accidents etc.) please include some of that too.

 

[aesop]

Here is something that MAY interest you.

http://www.cdnn.info/news/editorial/o050620.html

 

[omega3]

I would say the most important factor is to know your own limits/abilities.

The doctor I get my medical off of every year thinks scuba diving should not be allowed.!

 

[naiad]

The doctor I get my medical off of every year thinks scuba diving should not be allowed.!

I don't even dare tell my doctor about freediving!

 

[omega3]

I don't even dare tell my doctor about freediving!

LOL quite right. And what he doesn`t know ......will spare me ridicule and a lecture!

 

[Pliny]

Thanks for the CDNN link Chris. I truly did enjoy the article. Dumbing down of the level entry PADI course was a good way to put it. And "marketing based" rather than education based was an interesting way the author described PADI's classes. As far as doctors go...well it is their job to make sure you do what will keep you living to a happy old age. The problem with mountain climbers, scuba divers and such is that they want to be very happy living on the way.

Comment to Omega3: The problem is, sometimes, that you don't know your limits until suddenly our are outside them and fighting off panic!

Thanks to both of you for your helpful comments. JIM

 

[omega3]

Comment to Omega3: The problem is, sometimes, that you don't know your limits until suddenly our are outside them and fighting off panic!

Thanks to both of you for your helpful comments. JIM

I know my limits!
Now where to start about panic....probably one of the best/hardest lessons ever learn`t.(for me 1997)

Panic is a downward spiral. The sooner the onset of panic can be identified the sooner it can be dealt with.

Catch 22, the only way to truly identify the onset of panic apart from textbook shallow breathing which perpetuates shallow rapid breathing which results in reduced O2 in the system which results in increased breathing/heart rate which results in build up of CO2 which causes....and so on........is to experience and LEARN from that first panic attack hence that old saying "what doesn`t kill you makes you stronger" if a person doesn`t learn then ...chances are they won`t. And if a person likes being in that situation, that is not normal. So when the next feeling of anticipation/aprehension comes on and the change in breathing/dryness of mouth, cold clammy feeling(not too apparent in the water)etc etc which can be just about as rapid as the flick of a switch occurs......it can be dealt with!!

first ...control the breathing and seek a refuge.

panic helps nobody!

I suggest that if you are finding yourself in that situation more than once that you are beyond your limits or abnormal or bloody unlucky LOL

Regards

 

[]-[@biT]

Hi Jim,

Something you might consider is diving with experienced divers (maybe a Dive Master or Instructor) where you haven’t dived before (or situation you haven’t been in). By informing them of how you feel your qualification and fears, it could prove useful to “test” your limits… because you are “out of your element” but surrounded by competent people who could assist you if necessary.

E.g. you have always been diving with people that have the same qualification and experience level (usually happens when friends do a course together and dive thereafter only with each other). You are at the sea, want to do a dive, but conditions is not the same as you are used to… do you dive or spend the day at the beach?

If you have tried “the first paragraph” it could help you make a more objective decision… or the right one

 

[Helen F H]

Hi,

This is the British Sub Aqua Club Diving Incident report from 2005. It details all incidents reported to them. Obviously there are many many more which never make it into the report as the divers were not members of the BSAC but it gives a good and up to date set of figures, reasons and reports.

The archives also have them going back to 1997.

Hope that helps.

 

[Pliny]

I sent an answer to Helen F H but somehow it didn't get posted. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the great site. The British Sub Aqua Club has published some really good stats there. What I would like to see, and I think they have enough records to do it, is an estimate of the number of accidents (or fatalities) per 100,000 hours underwater: that is, an accident or fatality rate. I'm wondering if DAN publishes thier stats on line for free, and am going to look right now. JIM