Safety in Scuba Diving

Veteran salesman Edwin Shoffner has over two decades of experience in mattress retailing, merchandising, and marketing. He is currently the president of Mattress Wholesale LLC and Mattress By Appointment in Greenville, South Carolina. Alongside, Edwin Shoffner is a scuba diving enthusiast with certifications in Advanced Open Water and in Rescue Diving.

While scuba diving is an exhilarating underwater activity, it comes with inherent risks such as drowning, equipment malfunction, decompression sickness (when nitrogen bubbles form in the body, leading to fatigue and dizziness), and barotrauma (changes in pressure resulting in sinus pain, ear pain, or ruptured lungs). However, one can minimize these risks with proper training and necessary safety measures.

Before entering the water at all, divers should ensure that they are in good health, have adequate stamina, and will not be affected poorly by the changes in water pressure. For first-time divers, a medical consultation is helpful; as with many sports, it is essential to avoid drugs and alcohol before participating, and certain medications may also impact how a diver interacts with the water. They should also familiarize themselves with the area they are diving in, with the local marine life, tides, currents, and potential risks to themselves and the ecosystem.

Both new and seasoned divers should make a habit of checking their equipment beforehand. They must also follow all diving instructions, equalize their ears (i.e., equalizing the pressure between the outside environment and your middle ear), and mask during descent. While at depth, staying within the safety parameters can prevent decompression sickness and ascend slowly with normal breathing, avoiding holding their breath.