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News > Scuba Diving Safety Tips
Here are a few things to keep in mind while enjoying a great summer’s diving:
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Make sure your gear is serviced and in good condition, as your life depends on it!
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Make sure your fitness and experience are up to what you are trying to achieve.
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Seek local advice about where you plan to dive, as some locations will have hazards you need to be aware of, such as strong currents.
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Keep an eye on the conditions; a small surge when watching from the shore may not look very powerful, but once you have your cumbersome dive-gear on, that sedate – looking swell can easily smash you against the rocks. Choose your entry and exit points wisely.
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There are heaps of boats on the water at this time of the year, so use a dive flag at all times when leaving your boat. Or, if shore diving, tow a float with a flag on the surface to let the boat drivers know that you are there.
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If diving in a current, I prefer to anchor the boat slightly down-current of the spot I want to dive and swim up to it. Swimming with a current is very deceptive, so when you surface you could be well beyond sight and sound of your boat person.
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When diving from a boat, make sure your boat person knows what your plans are (i.e. how long you will be down, the direction you are heading in, and what they need to do when you get to the surface etc). Stress that they must stay attentive until you get back to the surface, as something really simple like cramp could make it impossible to swim back to the boat, and you may need to be picked up. Consequently, ensure they also know how to start your boat, lift the anchor, use your cell phone or VHF, and what the location is called in case of an emergency. Enjoy.
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