6 Common Scuba Diving Dangers and How to Avoid Them
An estimated 50-80% of all life on earth is found underwater, but humans have explored only 10% of the ocean’s living space. What are you waiting for?
The best way to explore the underwater world is by scuba diving. However, you need to know the scuba diving safety rules, which you will learn at scuba diving training. It is also essential to understand the scuba diving dangers so you can make safe and informed choices.
Read on to learn six scuba diving dangers and how to avoid them.
1. Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness (DCS), also sometimes called ‘the bends,’ is one of the main scuba health risks. It is when you resurface too fast from diving, which means your body absorbs too much nitrogen, resulting in bubbles in your tissues and pain.
You avoid DCS by always ascending slowly. You should always follow the scuba diving safety rules, including your no-decompression limits.
2. Lung Overexpansion
Lung health issues such as overexpansion causes collapsed lungs and other injuries. It is when you inhale and hold your breath as you ascend. The air will continue to expand in your lungs because of the reducing pressure as you ascend.
Avoid lung overexpansion by continuing to breathe normally without holding your breath during a dive.
3. Malfunction of Scuba Diving Equipment
Scuba diving equipment malfunctioning can lead to panic and grave consequences, such as drowning. Know and maintain your equipment and have it checked regularly. If you are renting equipment as part of a class, do not hesitate to ask for it to be checked, especially if you think it is damaged.
4. Ear Barotrauma
It is essential to equalize your ears frequently when diving due to the pressure. If you do not equalize, you may end up with a perforated eardrum, which can mean hearing loss and pain.
You will learn to equalize as part of your diving course. Also, avoid scuba health risks such as this by not diving when congested or unable to equalize.
5. Nitrogen Narcosis
Deeper dives of 25 meters or more can cause nitrogen narcosis, also known as gas narcosis. It makes you feel drunk, which is why it is also called the ‘martini effect.’ The impaired judgment due to symptoms such as dizziness is why it is one of the scuba diving dangers.
6. Oxygen Toxicity
Oxygen toxicity is another one of the scuba diving dangers that happens when deep diving. Deeper dives often use compressed air (Nitrox), which has higher concentrations of oxygen. Absorption of high quantities can be toxic, which causes nausea, seizures, and often scuba health risks.
Always complete your training to use Nitrox. Stick to the scuba diving safety rules of diving in recreational limits.
Avoid Scuba Diving Dangers
Scuba diving is considered relatively low risk, with around 1.8 deaths per million recreational dives. And the rewards far outweigh the scuba diving dangers. However, that does not mean you should ignore scuba diving safety rules.
Scuba diving courses are the best and only way to practice safe scuba diving. You will learn everything you need to know. Contact us today to learn about our scuba diving courses!
