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The Danger of Scuba Diving - Facts and Myths
Scuba diving remains a relatively safe sport, but there are those instances where people have caused themselves great harm by violating a number of common sense safety rules. It is best to examine the common errors people make when scuba diving so that the perceived danger of scuba diving can be greatly limited.
A Danger of Scuba Diving - Lack of Certification
While it is impossible for someone to rent or purchase scuba equipment without proper
beginner or advanced diver certification, it is (sadly) not uncommon to see certified divers purchase or rent equipment and then hand it over to an uncertified person. This is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. Scuba diving requires special skills and knowledge and to attempt a dive without that can lead to a serious catastrophe.
A Danger of Scuba Diving - Limited Skill
Certain dives require specialized skills because they are extremely dangerous to an untrained person. Ice diving, cavern diving, shark diving and wreck penetration diving MUST be performed by someone who has been specifically trained in these areas. Those who attempt these types of dives without proper training have suffered the ultimate penalty for their inexperience. This is a shame as $300 and a weekend of training would have saved their lives.
A Danger of Scuba Diving - Alcohol
While most people who partake in the sport of scuba diving do so in a safe and responsible manner, there are those who take irresponsibility to new heights. In particular, there will be those who will go scuba diving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is, of course, an incredibly dangerous practice and has led to a number of fatalities. As such, it is critical not to dive while under the influence of any addictive substances.
A Danger of Scuba Diving - Poor Conditioning
While most do not like to call attention to it, a number of scuba diving mishaps have involved people who were morbidly obese, smokers or morbidly obese smokers. The stats do not lie: people who fall into this category have suffered cardiac arrest while diving. It was not diving that killed them; it was the lack of concern for their own health. Had they not neglected their health, they would not have suffered the fate they did.
Virtually all these areas of increased danger could have been modified, but the neglect on the part of the diver was the impetus for the dangers that resulted. The moral of the story is thus obvious.
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