When it comes to managing emergency situations underwater, the key component is safe and effective emergency ascents. A diver who can recognize and manage an unexpected incident, and then execute a successful emergency ascent, is a diver who can avoid dangerous consequences. This article will explore the specific steps to safely ascend in case of an emergency underwater.
1. Understanding Emergency Ascents: What You Should Know
In scuba diving, emergency ascents are an incredibly important aspect of safety. If something goes wrong – equipment failure, coral cuts or SARS – a diver may need to make an emergency ascent to the surface quickly yet safely. Here’s what you need to know about emergency ascents.
- Keep your dives shallow. There’s no need to push your dives deep. Keeping your dives to suitable depths is an important way to manage your safety and reduce the likelihood of needing an emergency ascent.
- Don’t ascend too quickly. If you have to make a rapid ascent, you need to be aware of the risk of decompression sickness. This can create serious or even fatal symptoms, so ensure you ascend gradually enough to release the nitrogen safely.
In the event of needing to ascend rapidly, make stops on the way up to allow for the nitrogen to come out of your body. These stops should be around 15-20 feet apart. This allows for time for your body to equalize the pressure, reducing the risk of decompression sickness. By following this method, you can significantly reduce the risk to your safety.
It’s also important to ensure your safety gear is appropriate. This means checking that you have the necessary tools and equipment to make emergency ascents. Emergency flotation gear such as lift bags can be essential in a situation. Additionally, you may also need quick access to air, especially if your regulator fails. Hiring a divemaster who knows the area can also be incredibly beneficial to ensure you stay safe in the water.
2. Preparing for an Emergency Ascent: Mitigating the Risk
When ascending quickly through water, risks of the bends and decompression sickness are vastly increased. To mitigate these risks, it is paramount to adhere to the dive plan and refer to the dive tables. Furthermore, all divers must be adequately trained in emergency ascent techniques and first aid.
Seek Depth in the Ascent – Air pockets and uneven pressure can occur while ascending. To improve control, maintain the deepest possible depth while continuing to ascend to the surface. A depth of roughly one and a half times the depth at which you commenced your ascent is most desirable.
Equalize and Check for Comfort – Quickly but steadily, equalize the pressure in your air cells in line with the pressure of the water, checking for any discomfort. Remain at that designated pressure for around two full minutes, while continuing your ascent.
Maintain Neutral Buoyancy – As you ascend, constantly monitor your buoyancy so that you remain neutral. This is important for preventing a nauseating freefall sensation. To neutralize your buoyancy, rely on your breath and body position. For extra control, use longer, slower breaths to maintain upright stability.
- Stay relaxed and remain in control
- Ascent should never exceed 18m/min
- Safety stops at 5m for 3-5min
By striving to manage our breathing, and utilizing these tips, a positive and controlled ascent can be maintained. It is important to bear in mind that an emergency can arise at any time, so diving safely is the best defence against the risk of decompression illnesses.
3. Tactics for a Safe Emergency Ascent: Strategies for Success
Sometimes an emergency ascent from a dive can be necessary for various reasons. When this situation arises, having strategies and tactics to ensure a safe emergency ascent can be critical. It’s important for divers to be familiar with the skills required for an emergency ascent, including:
- Surface Marker Buoy: Using a marker buoy to indicate your position on the surface or offer assistance to other divers in need.
- Regulator Exchange: Switching to a buddy’s regulator in the event of a regulator failure.
- Emergency Ascents: Utilizing the correct procedures for a safe and controlled ascent.
In order to make sure your emergency ascent is safe and successful, thoroughly practice these key elements before you dive. Being familiar with the safety plan and rehearsing it on each dive can help protect you in the worst of situations. If you’re diving with a partner, discuss any possible emergency plans ahead of time so one can provide assistance if the other is in trouble.
When an emergency happens underwater, immediately signal your dive buddy and ascend together using the buddy system. To ensure a safe ascent rate, use a controlled and methodical approach by counting mentally, or using a dive computer. A controlled ascent rate keeps the diver’s body from accumulating nitrogen bubbles within the body which can lead to a painful condition known as decompression sickness, otherwise known as the “bends”.
Finally, always remember to deploy your surface marker buoy (SMB) upon reaching the surface. This will help alert boats and other divers to your presence as well as give you a visual reference of where you are in the water. Following these tips as part of your emergency ascent strategy can mean the difference between a safe dive and an unpleasant diving experience.
4. Post-Ascent Considerations: Assessing and Moving Forward
Consider Team Performance: Now that you’ve completed your ascent up the mountain, it’s time to take stock of how the team did. From the outset, have meetings to discuss what went well and what areas need to be addressed for next time. Think through your planning process, review how you communicated throughout the climb, and make notes of any important lessons to keep in mind for future ascents. Remember, this isn’t a personal assessment—this is an evaluation with the entire team’s input.
Aim to Improve: Once you’ve had your team feedback session, determine where areas can be improved and create an action plan to help augment those areas. Make sure that everyone is committed to following through with the action plan and holds each other accountable. After all, the goal is to become a better, and agile, team. As a result, your team should continually work together and assess performance in order to reach the best end-state.
Be Open to Change: Lastly, it’s important to be open to change. Take advantage of the post-ascent debriefing to get to the root of any issues your team might have encountered. And if the necessary adjustment means expanding the team or redefining roles, be adaptable and don’t be too afraid to make big changes. With a combination of incremental improvements and willingness to adjust as needed, you can create an environment that will support and sustain your team through future climbs.
Whether you’ve encountered an emergency ascent situation firsthand or have just the knowledge of potential hazards, no one should feel alone — the safe management of emergency ascents can be practiced and mastered with careful preparation. Stay safe, stay informed, and always keep your eye on the sky.
