Glare from the sun, waves,
passengers, weather conditions and
other factors can make noticing a
diver in the water difficult.
BE ATTENTIVE UNDERWATER
In addition to using signaling
devices and paying attention to
boat traffic topside, divers must
be aware of passing boats when
they are underwater. Looking and
listening for boats overhead is a
good practice, but keep in mind
that poor visibility and sound
localization when underwater
can interfere. In most cases, a
diver should be able to hear a
boat from underwater, but it
may be difficult to localize the
direction from which the sound
is coming because sound travels
approximately four times faster in
water than in air. Wearing a
hood may alter hearing thresholds
even more.
A safety stop for three minutes
at 15 feet (5 meters) allows a diver
to decrease nitrogen uptake and
is also an opportunity to scan
for boat traffic before ascending
to the surface. Divers should
be careful not to rely on quick
reaction time in the event that
they must move away from a
passing boat while underwater.
A boat can rapidly close on an
unknowing diver without always
granting enough time to move
a safe distance away. For these
reasons it is not advisable for
divers to rely on observing for
boats under the surface without a
surface signaling device.
HAVE AN ACTION PLAN
A plan for treatment and
evacuation of a diver struck by
a boat or propeller should be in
place before arrival at the dive
site. To treat a laceration wound,
stem the loss of blood by applying
pressure bandages, and get the
injured person to medical services
as quickly as possible. Know
who to call and what role others
play in responding to a medical
emergency.
RESEARCH AND PREVENTION
DAN Europe currently has a
propeller-injury campaign to
educate boat operators and divers
how to safely share dive sites; visit
safety-campaigns1. The website
provides a collection of incidents
and witness accounts as well as
posters and educational materials
so that divers can learn to prevent
future incidents.
In North America, DAN utilizes
an online incident-reporting
system to collect information
on dive accidents and injuries,
including propeller and other
boat-collision incidents; visit
DAN.org/divingincidents. The
information on reported cases is
used for case summaries and to
create prevention materials.
AD
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53
Although laws vary
by jurisdiction, divers
should stay within
300 feet of a diver-
down flag in open
water and within
100 feet in rivers,
inlets or navigation
channels. When
surfacing, stay as
close to the flag
as possible.
STEPHEN FRINK
The Boutique Liveaboard
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