To be attributed to Sergeant Bruce Adams, O/C NZ Police National Dive Squad
Following eight fatal dive accidents throughout the country since Christmas, the fourth in Wellington waters today, the Police Dive Squad urge divers, of all experience levels and abilities, to exercise extreme caution and remember the basic safety principals.
With a long stretch of fine weather, more divers have returned to the water, but regardless of whether your last dive was last year or last week we must all remember the basic diving safety principals to make sure we surface safely at the end of the dive. While it is too early to comment on the specifics of the latest fatalities, it is a timely reminder to all divers that we must never relax our safety measures and always remember the basics:
- Stick within your own ability.
- If you have been out of the sport for some time, dive infrequently, or only complete several dives in summer, have a refresher course and join a dive club.
- If you are not familiar with your equipment, get advice from a training establishment and/or equipment supplier.
- Check your equipment, ensure it is serviced each year and faults are fixed. Complete pre dive checks of your equipment and of your dive buddy's .
- Monitor the weather conditions, put off diving if any doubt exists.
- Always dive with a buddy and stay together at all times.
- Constantly monitor your cylinder contents and that of your dive buddy during the dive.
- End the dive with plenty of air supply to safely return to shore, retain at least 50Bar/500Psi.
- Have a specific dive medical when you enter the sport, when your health changes, and again when in your 40's. Discuss your diving with your GP.
- Alcohol and diving, any water sports, do not mix. Nor do recreational drugs and most medications. Seek advice about any medication you are prescribed if diving.
- Do not attach catch-bags to your person, keep them in hand and drop them in the first outset of trouble.
- Have a plan and discuss what you will do if you encounter trouble, suffer an injury or become separated from your dive buddy. End the dive.
- Carry the minimum of buoyancy weight. Complete a buoyancy check at the start of the dive on the surface, remove excess weight (your BCD should be deflated for this pre-dive check). Be prepared to ditch weights if in trouble.
- Know and understand limits for depth and time. Ensure you follow these rules, if you do not understand them, again this is a sign that you need a refresher course and there is nothing wrong with doing this.