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10 Ways To Save Your Life

By Jon Hardy | 

The trial was heading into its third week. At stake was nearly $8 million and the future of diving. I was the last witness, called as a diving liability expert for the defense. Preliminary questions and direct examination established my qualifications, knowledge of the case and my opinion that the defendants — dive store, boat and dive leaders — were not at fault.

"So then, Mr. Hardy, in your expert opinion, who is negligent?"

"Mr. Paulis, the plaintiff."

"And how is he negligent for his own injuries?"

"Mr. Paulis is an experienced certified diver, and as such has certain responsibilities that only he can fulfill. He failed in several significant ways to meet those responsibilities.

"What are the specific responsibilities he failed to meet?"

"Mr. Paulis was not fit for this dive. His medical condition, his heart trouble that he concealed from the dive leaders, his lifestyle and recent illness all added to his physical and mental stress, which, when combined with the cold and fatigue he encountered on this dive, set him up for an accident. During the dive, he swam away not only from the group and the dive leader, but also from his buddy, so when he encountered difficulties, there was nobody there to help.

"Next, as the current increased, Mr. Paulis experienced difficulty swimming, breathing and controlling his buoyancy. Rather than pausing to regain control of the situation, he continued on until his level of stress was out of control, causing him to panic and begin an out-of-control ascent that led to an air embolism.

"The equipment, environment and the others on this dive were not the cause of Mr. Paulis's accident. He was. Fortunately, others were available when he surfaced unconscious, and they gave the best possible emergency care. Mr. Paulis is lucky to be alive."

And so it goes in case after case: Divers make mistakes, have accidents and then look for someone else to blame. Yes, there are cases where the dive leader, boat operator, store owner or manufacturer makes a mistake that harms the diver. That's why we have dive accident and liability insurance.

But the vast majority of diving accidents are caused by diver error. These accidents lead to legal actions and increased insurance costs for all. Most sadly, they lead to needless suffering and loss. After more than 25 years of investigating scuba accidents and testifying in trials all across the U.S., I've come to believe that most accidents can be prevented. How?

Below are 10 guidelines distilled from my involvement in hundreds of scuba accident investigations as well as from my experience as a dive instructor for nearly 40 years. Their purpose is to save lives. They are what I firmly believe instructors should emphasize in training courses.

Save Your Life: Have Good Overall Fitness

Rich swam over to his buddy, signaling frantically to share air. As the two share air, the buddy looks at Rich's pressure gauge. It still shows 1,500 psi. Suddenly Rich rejects his buddy's alternate air source and bolts for the surface, arriving unconscious and not breathing. Aggressive CPR brings him around, but he dies at the recompression chamber. An autopsy reveals a major heart attack, while the investigation uncovers a lifestyle that created a high risk of heart problems.

Several studies have indicated that 20 to 35 percent of all scuba fatalities result from heart and circulatory problems. Prior lifestyle and medical conditions set the stage, while the mental and physical stresses of diving trigger the event, usually in middle-aged men. Because the accident occurs in or under water, it is usually fatal and officially listed as a drowning.

Other fitness concerns include recent illness, the stresses of cold and fatigue, use of drugs and alcohol, and respiratory problems, including smoking. The keys to fitness are clear: eat well, exercise, get rest, and avoid stress and harmful habits. Easy to say, tough to do. What's easy, however, is for all divers, especially middle-aged men, to have a regular medical exam to determine whether they're fit for the stresses of diving. The small investment of time and money required for an annual physical is a big favor to yourself and everyone who cares about you — and could prevent as many as one-third of all scuba fatalities.

Save Your Life: Dive With Others & Know When and Where to Dive

While driving along the coast, Jan and Dave spot a beautiful cove. The surf's up, but it looks diveable to the experienced couple. They are alone as they climb down the cliff and prepare to dive. The swim out to the rock is easy, but then a large wave overwhelms them. When they bob back up to the surface Dave is unconscious and not breathing. Jan is trained in rescue, but it's too much for her. Alone in the water, she struggles to help Dave as he dies.

Diving solo or separated from other divers does not cause accidents, but it does mean that if something goes wrong, additional help is not available. Diving on organized trips, with dive clubs or dive stores, from dive boats or dive resorts, in dive classes or under other supervision ensures that dive professionals and emergency support equipment are available if a problem arises. Experience clearly demonstrates that when a dive leader is present, a potentially fatal accident often becomes a near-miss or a lesser injury. Diving with support and supervision is particularly important when you are new to diving or have been away from diving for a while.

Knowing when and where to dive takes skill and experience. One of diving's most important safety rules is that every diver has the right to make a "no dive" decision at any time before or during a dive, and that other divers will respect this decision regardless of whether it is based on environmental conditions, fitness, equipment or the planned dive activity. The bottom line: Know when to say no; know when to say enough.

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10 Ways To Save Your Life | Scuba Diving