Safe Diving Practices P
| Pairing divers (Tech. diving) |
| Patent Foramen Ovale |
| Pots and markers |
| Pregnancy |
| Propeller guards |
Pairing divers (Technical diving)
The best option is to pair technical divers planning the same dive, equipment and decompression schedule.
If pairing air and mixed gas divers together, both divers must carry out the same decompression schedule to ensure they remain together at all times. This means both divers follow the most conservative schedule.
As with all diving, a thorough buddy check should take place prior to the dive.
Patent foramen ovale
During pregnancy the right and left sides of the foetal heart are connected. The hole between the right and left sides is known as the foramen ovale. Normally this should heal over after birth, separating the venous and arterial blood supplies passing through the heart. However in a proportion of the population (perhaps 25%) this hole does not close up completely, resulting in a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The consequence for divers is that having a PFO can increase the risk of decompression illness. This occurs as a result of bubbles in the venous circulation (which would normally be filtered out in the lungs) shunting across to the arterial circulation, where they continue to expand in size.
Pots and markers
Dive well away from fishermen's buoys, pots and pot markers, unless there are special circumstances.
Pregnancy
Medical evidence as to the safety of diving whilst pregnant is not conclusive. However there is evidence that deep diving may cause harm to the foetus. Certainly decompression illness and its subsequent treatment could be harmful to the foetus. Consequently if a woman is pregnant, or is trying to become pregnant, she is strongly advised not to dive.
Women who decide they wish to continue to dive whilst pregnant, or trying to become pregnant, should only undertake shallow dives, ideally less than 10m and no deeper than 20m, and remain well inside no-stop times. Even at shallow depths there remains a risk of pulmonary barotrauma which could require recompression treatment and cause harm to the foetus.
If a woman discovers she is pregnant and has been diving during the pregnancy, she is advised to discuss her case with a BSAC medical referee. The scientific evidence is not clear cut and ultrasound studies, together with other indications, may be useful to allay fears and help in the decision as to how the pregnancy should be managed.
Propeller guards
A propeller guard, fitted to an outboard motor, gives a degree of protection from injuries to divers. Before fitting a propeller guard, take note of the manufacturer's recommendations and instructions, as it is possible to cause stress to the gear box and low end of the engine. Some loss of power may result from fitting a propeller guard.
Page last modified: 18th Dec 2006 - 11:38:05