Scuba Safety – When planning your resort scuba dive, do your research into the dive company you choose to scuba dive with.
Choose a reputable scuba agency and dive with an experienced dive leader who you trust.
Find out the scuba safety standards of the dive centre and the country you are diving in, and know where the nearest medical facility is located.
For a dive resort search anywhere in the world, visit the Scuba Schools International website.
Scuba Safety procedures will vary depending on the dive organisation and conditions of your scuba dive.
Basic safety measures don’t vary, just how they relate to the different dives and locations.
In your pre-dive briefing the dive leader will tell you any scuba safety procedures for your dive and the location.
An example of this would be what to do in the extremely unlikely event that you are separated from your dive leader during a dive.
As said, scuba safety procedures vary from place to place and should be followed accordingly. However, a general rule of thumb if you are ever alone underwater is to stay calm, breathe normally, ascend slowly to the surface, ensure that you float once you get there and call for assistance.
People without the appropriate scuba training and licences may never scuba dive without a qualified dive leader.
These basic safety rules must always be followed:
- Always breathe normally, never hold your breath
- Ascend to the surface slowly – you should ascend with your dive leader whenever possible
- Never dive deeper than your scuba dive leader – you should always be together at the same depth
- Inform your dive leader if you are cold, tired or experience any problems during, before or after your scuba dive
- Never dive when sick
- Stay within arms reach of your scuba Instructor during your scuba dive
- Never dive alone
Scuba diving is an activity that should be undertaken by people in good health.
At the Surface
It is important to know good surface skills.
On the surface of the water always leave your mask in place so you can see, your regulator or snorkel in your mouth so you can breathe, and your jacket (or BC) inflated so you can float until you are safely clear of the water.
If there is ever any danger of you sinking below the surface without wishing to do so, attain positive buoyancy by inflating your jacket and ditching your weight system.
Your scuba dive leader should inform you how to do this in the pre-dive briefing.
Attain your scuba license. If you plan on taking up scuba diving as a hobby, enrol on an SSI Open Water Scuba Course to learn all the fundamentals of becoming a safe, comfortable, independent scuba diver.
There is no better place in the world to learn to dive than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!
Scuba Safety and training standards in Queensland are higher than anywhere else in the world. Click here to learn more about scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef...