1. Go to the Doctor Before Scuba Diving
Certain states or provinces require that you get a full medical examination and that you provide proof of this exam in the form of a statement from your doctor before you go for your first dive. Basically, this statements says is that you are healthy and are free of any health condition that might compromise your safety or the safety of other divers. The statement usually does not provide personal information about your health. Conditions that could prevent you from getting the doctor go-ahead to scuba include recent heart surgery, diabetes requiring insulin, epilepsy, pregnancy, a collapsed lung, blackouts, sinus surgery or high blood pressure.
2. Get the Proper Equipment
You should have a face mask, swimming fins, a reserve device or bailout system, an open-circuit demand apparatus with quick release harness, submersible pressure gauge, diving knife, exposure suit, buoyancy compensator and diving watch with elapsed time indicator. Also make sure you have a way to summon help while you're underwater and an effective 2-way means of communication with other divers. Know international hand signals and rope pulls. Make sure your diving equipment can handle the type of dive you have planned.
3. Don't Get in an Airplane Immediately After Diving
Flying too soon after diving can cause decompression sickness, according to the Divers Alert Network at Duke University Medical Center. Popularly known as "the bends," this serious danger that can cause unconsciousness, paralysis or even death. Milder forms show up as a dull, achy pain in joints. It happens when you don't give your body a chance to adjust to the pressure changes involved in diving. The deeper you dive, the more nitrogen gets into a solution in your blood. You need to allow your body to slowly decrease the pressure of nitrogen when you come out of a dive so that it doesn't come out of the solution and float around in your blood and tissues as air bubbles. Cabin pressure is lower than atmosphere pressure, which can cause problems with the way nitrogen is released from the body. It's important to stay at sea level long enough for the nitrogen to be released. The amount of time it takes for this to happen depends on the length and depth of the dive.
4. Use Your Life Line
The life line should be securely anchored to the surface so that it reduces the chance of losing a diver. It has to be long enough to attach to your diver's safety harness and lifting ring. The life line must also be knot-free and have no splices. Someone should be watching the life line at all times.
5. Don't Hold Your Breath
Breathe normally and slowly. This type of breathing prevents a diving medical condition called pulmonary barotrauma. It can cause shortness of breath, hoarseness and chest pain.
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