Is the surface the most dangerous part of the dive?

[Eric Sedletzky]

Having worked in the scuba industry from levels ranging from DM to captain, I can say most of the near misses with injuries and panic attacks have occurred at the surface. Especially with boat dives, where getting back on the vessel in any sort of sea state presents numerous challenges.

I attribute these near misses to complacency (thinking the dive is over) and not following directions. When divers hit the surface and get in the mindset that the dive is over, they tend to forget the basics of establishing positive buoyancy and maintaining a way to breathe. Can't express how many times a diver hits the surface, immediately pops out their second stage, and begins to sink back underwater without an air source. Similarly, not following crew instructions and either turning their back to the rocking boat, approaching swinging ladders without being ready to board the vessel, and finding themselves directly under another diver who is climbing have lead to some real hairy situations.

I always try to reiterate to divers on my boats that the dive is not over until you are back in your seat. Then, it is safe to relax and talk about how the dive went.

How on earth does a diver sink back down after surfacing, especially after a dive with a spent tank?

 

[PR_SMITH]

How on earth does a diver sink back down after surfacing, especially after a dive with a spent tank?

I have seen plenty of divers surface, and fail to establish positive buoyancy and use a lot of energy trying to stay on the surface.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

How on earth does a diver sink back down after surfacing, especially after a dive with a spent tank?

They just do it - they remove fins, pull off mask, spit out regulator with 3-4 foot seas. Just some are dumber than a box of rocks, then get insulted when you suggest that NEXT time they don't do all that stoopid sh*t.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I would say the descent is much more tricky. Most of the problems happen underwater, but they become visible on the surface.

I was going to vote for the descent as well, but in fairness, a lot of the issues discussed in the video in relation to the surface overlap with the descent.

For example, there is that classic scenario of a valve being only partially open, and while you can breathe from it on the surface it becomes difficult to breathe during the descent. If a problem is going to occur, it is likely to become noticeable on the descent if you're paying attention. Of course check everything before splashing, but continue to monitor for anything amiss during the descent. And keep an eye on your buddy, who may also have found something amiss!

 

[TMHeimer]

Kinda
disagree. You are obviously correct in that more accidents happen on the surface than at depth. But that, as you point out is due to inexperienced divers panicking or otherwise messing up on the surface. For those who are more experienced and not prone to these type of actions, my feeling is the deeper you go the more danger you are in. We all know that by "following the rules" you can pretty much solve most problems at depth. But, there is catastrophic equipment failure-- I would rather be on the surface or at 20 feet depth when that would happen as opposed to down 130 feet.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have seen plenty of divers surface, and fail to establish positive buoyancy and use a lot of energy trying to stay on the surface.

Wouldn’t that mean they are grossly overweighted?

 

[Vicko]

How on earth does a diver sink back down after surfacing, especially after a dive with a spent tank?

When I used to dm for a living I would give the same weight belt to pretty much every customer, 10kg with a 15L steel tank and a 7mm one piece and not many of them would complain.
Trust me, there are more divers who are diving heavily overweighed, and are actually incapable of diving without the extra 2-3 kg, than those who dive properly weighted.

 

[PatW]

He covers all the points. And he knows the joys of diving with Florida boaters in the water. Every year, it seems as if a diver or two gets run over. He does a good job and pointing out what it is like for the dive master to deal with a diver‘s boneheaded move.

 

[IrishLoaf]

In terms.of injuries, sunburn is probably the highest ranking and I would guess transportation accidents would rank next with slipping. Falls. Dropping heavy gear on toes. Bumping your tank into another diver. Arm attempting a swimming motion smacking another divers tank. Someone cutting themselves playing with a knife. Burning your hand melting silicon on a mask.

Shark attacks, needing decompression chambers, out of oxygen deaths, lost at sea, all of those probably so low probabilities you have better odds winning the lottery.

With divers going alone and mavricks going beyond their limits, all bets are off. They get lost at sea, need a decompression chamber, run out of oxygen, get sunburn and eaten by sharks I presume.

Not that we shouldn't take care during the dive but I probably think it's the things around the actual dive that cause the most injuries.

 

[johndiver999]

In terms.of injuries, sunburn is probably the highest ranking and I would guess transportation accidents would rank next with slipping. Falls. Dropping heavy gear on toes. Bumping your tank into another diver. Arm attempting a swimming motion smacking another divers tank. Someone cutting themselves playing with a knife. Burning your hand melting silicon on a mask.

Shark attacks, needing decompression chambers, out of oxygen deaths, lost at sea, all of those probably so low probabilities you have better odds winning the lottery.

With divers going alone and mavricks going beyond their limits, all bets are off. They get lost at sea, need a decompression chamber, run out of oxygen, get sunburn and eaten by sharks I presume.

Not that we shouldn't take care during the dive but I probably think it's the things around the actual dive that cause the most injuries.

You know, some people suffer from hypoxia, even when not diving.