Safe Diving Practices T

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Tangle nets / Gill nets

Indiscriminate fishing, particularly on wreck sites, with difficult-to-see monofilament netting, is a real hazard around the British coast. Experiments have shown that the average diver's knife is very ineffective should the diver become entangled. A line cutter or a curved blade 'dinghy' knife, with a blunt end, are probably the most effective for this purpose and need to be worn on the arm. A knife with a sharp point could lead to a diver stabbing himself when in difficulties. Small shears or scissors are recommended as an effective tool for cutting netting. Once caught in netting, it is advisable to partially inflate your BC, so you rise inside the net, putting it under tension and making it easier to cut. The positive buoyancy will also help to 'tear' you away. If your buddy is free of the netting it may be easier for him to cut you away from the bulk of the netting but still enmeshed, and complete the job at the surface.

Tides

The success of any sea dive depends on accurate, local, tidal predictions for the dive site you wish to visit. Admiralty charts give accurate large scale predictions and should be used in conjunction with the relevant local tide tables. Tidal Stream Atlases are also useful and are available for the UK and many other sea areas throughout the world.

Training and qualification (Technical diving)

All divers must have completed a technical training course with one of the BSAC recognised agencies:-

British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC)
Technical Diving International (TDI)
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD)
International Technical Diving Association (ITDA)
American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI)
Professional SCUBA Association International (PSAI)

All divers wishing to participate in technical diving should hold a minimum qualification of Sport Diver and a relevant nitrox certification.

Trimix

Trimix is a mixture of three gases, oxygen, helium and nitrogen in various percentages.

(See Mixed gases)

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Page last modified: 18th Dec 2006 - 11:40:28