Scuba diving is one of the most popular recreational sports in the world, enjoyed by people of all ages from all walks of life. Fantastic coral reefs, eerie shipwrecks, and incredible marine life are major attractions for people. But it’s important to remember the dangers of scuba diving, as some are potentially life threatening!
Malfunctioning Equipment
Many divers, especially casual ones, don’t own their own equipment so they have to rent everything. This holds a potential hazard: a broken depth gauge could lead to mild decompression sickness, while a bad regulator might result in drowning. A diver should always thoroughly check rented scuba diving equipment, and never be shy about asking for a new piece of gear if they suspect something is wrong with what they have.
Pulmonary Embolism
A diver who rapidly ascends to the surface has a great risk of experiencing pulmonary embolism. The increased pressure of the underwater environment results in the gas a diver breathes becoming denser, as more gas is crammed into the same space under pressure. The gas held in the lungs will expand at the same rate that the pressure on the body is reduced, so a rapid ascent can cause the lungs to swell and even pop like a balloon. Scuba divers guard against pulmonary embolism by making slow ascents to the surface and never holding their breath.
Oxygen Toxicity
Oxygen toxicity is usually only a problem for deep divers who go below 135 feet. Like nitrogen, the body absorbs extra oxygen under increased underwater pressure. For most divers this is not a problem, but at extreme depths so much extra oxygen is absorbed that it becomes toxic. The effects range from tunnel vision and nausea to twitching to loss of consciousness and seizures.
Nitrogen Narcosis
Another nitrogen-related danger is the narcotic effect of extra nitrogen in the body. Anyone who has had nitrous-oxide gas at the dentist is already familiar with this effect. Nitrogen narcosis is a danger because it impairs judgment and sensory perception. As with the bends, the degree of nitrogen narcosis is related to how deep a diver goes and how much nitrogen they absorb.
Marine Life
Divers should never forget that every dive is the equivalent of entering the wilderness. While most sea creatures are not aggressive towards divers and attacks are very rare, incidents do happen. A diver cannot afford to forget that wild animals surround them. Divers should always treat sea life with great care, caution and respect.
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