Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive

Section 4 - Dive FatalitiesConclusionDeath in recreational diving is rare but a real risk for any diver inany diving environment. Divers should be aware of their limitationsand plan their dive accordingly. Diving experience and physical fitnessare equally important; both need to be maintained. Experienceand fitness often progress in opposite directions, and even the mostexperienced divers may not cope if they become ill or unfit.Equipment must be well maintained and effectively used. Divershave to bear in mind that hazards may be encountered not onlyunderwater but also on the surface. Currents, waves and cold mayturn otherwise pleasant recreation into a struggle for life.Assistance is important both underwater and on the surface. For thebuddy system to work, it takes two able divers, preparation inadvance, cooperation and visual contact in all phases of the dive. Abuddy diver is the first and usually the only one who can intervene,maybe change a direction of an adverse event and eventually preventthe death. Buddies have to extend their assistance until theassisted diver leaves the water.DAN’s <strong>Report</strong> on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration: 2005 Edition 83