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Scuba Diving Safety and the "Safety First" Principle |
There are few statements that are used and abused as often as the statement "safety first." When we do dangerous work, when we are planning an adventurous holiday, and with activities like scuba diving. The statement is used often because it is a political correct statement to make on several occasions. The statement is abused often because the actions after making this statement not always match the words.
"Safety first" in scuba diving means for example that when you plan an exciting dive, but your buddy is not feeling well that day, you cancel the dive and do it on a day when you both feel well.
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It means that you maintain your diving equipment well, because you are familiar with another diving cliche: "Take care of your equipment, and your equipment will take care of you."
When you claim that "safety first" is your motto, and as a diver you are unfit and lead an unhealthy life-style, your actions do not match your words. When you dive to get an adrenaline rush, constantly pushing the limits of what is accepted as responsible diving, then "thrills first" is your guiding principle. In both cases you only use the words "safety first" because they sound good.
We engage in scuba diving to have fun under water. Normally, that would mean that "having fun" should be the guiding principle of scuba diving. But it does not work this way. Scuba diving is a combination of "safety first," "protecting the environment" and "having fun." These three elements always have to be present, to make scuba diving complete.
If we do not dive with the "safety first" attitude, we will never feel truly comfortable under water. This confidence only comes when we train and practice with the "safety first" principle. Only then we can feel relaxed while diving. And this is also the way we prevent "accidents" from happening. The quickest way to destroy the fun of diving is to have a diving accident.
When we preserve the underwater environment we can continue to enjoy diving, because then there will always be something interesting to see. If we would destroy every coral reef and all the marine life, what reason would there be left to go diving? The fun we have under water should therefor never be at the expense of the underwater environment.
This triangle - safety first, protect the environment, having fun - is the foundation of good scuba diving. Some beginning divers get the impression that all the theory that has to be learned, all the skills that have to be practiced, and the focus on paying attention to the environment, somehow prevent them from having fun under water.
But this is not true. Only competent divers who respect the underwater environment and dive with a "safety first" attitude enjoy diving to the fullest. These divers often stay active as divers, because there is always more to see, and they will have the most fun.
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