Just like any other sport, diving has many ‘faces’. You can go on motorcycle trips, or take part in motorcycle cross-country races - how to compare the level of danger? And both these activities consist in riding a motorbike.
In this study I will refer to recreational diving which we had previously defined here: How deep can I dive?
Recreational diving, just like any other sport, is safe on the condition that specific rules are observed. These rules are discussed during the diving courses, but I would like to bring them closer collected in one place by a global organisation acting to the benefit of divers and diving world - Divers Alert Network (DAN).
The safety rules prepared by DAN can be found here:
http://www.daneurope.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=2128d869-87f9-4868-9834-1acc191c0539&groupId=10103
Below I will try to discuss the rules based on DAN principles, emphasizing at the same time that each diver must be aware of the injury risk when entering water. Water is a foreign environment for the human being. We do not have gills and cannot breathe under water, whereas breathing is necessary for us to live. However, we can minimise the risk of failure of equipment or injuries, provided that we observe specific procedures and rules.
Skills
Take care of your knowledge and skills, improve yourself, learn from those who are better than you - diving is an ongoing improvement process, do not neglect it. Remember not to exceed your limits - not only the formal training limits, but also limits on a specific day - do not dive when you feel bad, when the conditions make you feel unconfident or uncomfortable. Remember that you do not have to enter water if you do not feel like doing it. Gain experience and skills gradually, first in controlled conditions, and only then ‘go into the deep water’.
Health
Examine your health condition regularly, at least once a year. This is absolutely mandatory after each diving injury or disease, but even if you have not suffered any of these, it is worth being familiar with your health condition. Good health, physical and mental condition reduce the risk level in diving.
Irrigation
Remember that our body mostly consists of fluids in which gases dissolve when diving. To improve the process of gas dissolution, and then gas release during the ascent, we must remain well irrigated. Avoid alcohol
Also avoid huge effort before and after diving - remember that desaturation also continues on the surface when diving has been finished.
Equipment
Use the appropriate diving equipment for a particular type of diving. Take care of the equipment! Only the equipment which is properly taken care of and serviced will not fail you in the least expected moment. Use the scientific accessories required at a particular moment (computer or timer and depth measurement rod, diving buoy, adequate cutting tools). Remember that the best accessories are useless if you do not know how to use them - improve your skills so that the equipment becomes your ally rather than an obstacle in an emergency situation.
Partner
Your partner and support from the surface are also elements for providing security under water. However, two divers swimming under water next to each other are not enough to be called ‘partners’. Partners must take proper care of each other, have a developed, coherent system of signs and reactions, as well as the appropriate level of training to be able to actually secure each other. It is good to have a constant diving partner, coherent procedures and similar training level. Practise with your partner emergency procedures in controlled waters, even as a fun element - build the sense of comfort, familiarity with procedures and sense of trust to your own skills in yourself and your partner. Do not be just two objects in water - be the real buddy partners.
Limits
Observe the diving limits! The certificate issued to you by a diving organisation authorises you to perform specific diving. If you are willing to perform another type of diving, above the certification limits, gain new skills by taking part in a specific course or specialisation.
Take care to perform diving in line with the profiles you were taught - avoid the ‘yo-yo’ or ‘saw-tooth’ profiles.
Ascent
Observe the ascent rate not higher than 9/10 m/minute, or such rate that is displayed on your computer. Get familiar with the computer service, use conservative settings. It is better to dive conservatively with specific safety margin than rely on your ‘luck’. There may not be a place for luck under water.
Emergency procedures
Be familiar with the emergency procedures in the area where you dive. In case of suspecting a decompression injury, give oxygen immediately and notify the relevant services. Never perform recompression in water!
Flying
Observe the procedures concerning flying an airplane after diving.
Diving, just like any other sport, carries an element of risk. If you observe the above recommendations, you can minimise this risk.