Avoid Scuba Diving Risks

Scuba Diving definitely gets the adrenaline flowing. The concept of life without scuba diving terrifies me, as I will have to face the boring reality of normal life. I am not a typical adrenaline junkie, chasing the next "high". Instead I prefer escaping deep under the ocean; this is one place that I feel in touch with nature and at peace with myself. However, if you are new to scuba diving, there are some important things you need to know.

There are some risks associated with scuba diving. Decompression sickness is a term you will hear mentioned throughout your career as a diver. It is a term used for two main pressure related sicknesses that affect divers in an emergency situation; these are decompression sickness and lung- over expansion injuries.

Decompression sickness is caused by rapid reductions of pressure exerted on the body. When a diver is submerged, the weight of the water creates greater pressure, as the diver moves towards the surface the weight of the water reduces and there is a reduction in pressure. This causes major problems with your lungs and a diver can reach the surface unconscious.

However, decompression sickness can be avoided. Simply stay away from drugs, alcohol and caffeine, stay properly hydrated, do not dive when you are sick, keep your fitness levels high, and exercise during and after diving. The most important thing to do is not to ascend quickly. Do not panic and remember your training.

In the unlucky event of equipment failure, you find your diving partner without air and he is forced into a rapid ascent, remember to get him to the shore as quickly as possible. Also, provide him with 100% oxygen and once he is awake put him in the recovery position (so to reduce gas bubbles which will cross from one side of the heart to the other). The next step is to rush him to hospital and get them to place him in hyperbaric chamber; this will re-compress the bubbles and then allow the body to surface slowly.

This may scare you, however if you follow the correct steps and procedures, your diving will be without incident...and believe me it is worth the risks.