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SPRING 2012
FROM THE SAFETY STOP
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P E R S P E C T I V E S
T
here is virtually no aspect of diving — or life, for
that matter — that does not benefit from thorough
preparation. Preparation for scuba diving begins long
before arrival at the dive site and involves a blend of
knowledge and skill. As a broad overview for preparation, let’s
consider the concept known as the personal safety envelope,
which identifies the parameters within which an individual can
dive with relative safety. Each of us has our own personal safety
envelope, and it is defined by our experience and qualifications
as a diver. The more experience, practice (especially recent
practice) and knowledge you have of essential diving and safety
skills, the larger your personal safety envelope becomes. The
reverse is also true: If you have very limited experience, have not
practiced your skills for some time and have not taken advantage
of continuing education opportunities, your personal safety
envelope limits the kind of diving you should do.
The adage “dive your experience not your certification
card” is a great one to remember. Your C-card grants you
the opportunity to dive; your experience helps you safely take
advantage of that opportunity. It is crucial to have all the
information needed to make good decisions about the dive
you are planning. Besides the basic skills it takes to enjoy the
dive, you should be healthy, fit and confident your skills and
abilities match the dive’s potential demands.
Being well prepared also includes making sure you have
the right gear for the dive, it’s inspected annually and
maintained by a qualified technician. It is critical your
equipment, like you, can meet the potential demands of
the dive. Don’t underestimate the value of a comprehensive
predive ritual and a thorough checklist. Establishing a
predive ritual and using a checklist will help you and
your buddy make sure everything is done properly before
entering the water, thus reducing the likelihood an otherwise
enjoyable dive will turn into a tragedy for you and others.
To help you be better prepared, DAN
®
offers training
courses, seminars, webinars and lectures that provide divers
with the knowledge and tools not only to manage diving
emergencies but also to understand how to recognize and
mitigate risks. Our expert staff writes articles for Alert
Diver as well as other magazines and publications. Essential
information for making decisions regarding your safety (and
your buddy’s) can be found in our online safety seminars and
in the FAQs found on DAN’s website, www.DAN.org. Take
advantage of DAN’s medical information line (+1-919-684-
2948), and speak directly to staff who can answer questions
and provide information on health-related issues. All these
resources give you valuable knowledge and tools to help you
make the correct choices before diving.
So review your training from time to time. Practice little-
used skills, and seek local knowledge. Learn from DAN, learn
from your mistakes (and others’ mistakes), and don’t miss
opportunities to prepare yourself for safer diving.
AD
Preparation
B y D a N O R R , M . S .
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
— Benjamin Franklin
B E T T Y ORR