Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete one of our Safety Surveys. Scroll down to see the results of our recent Safety Surveys!
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It can be argued that nothing is as important to a diver as the quality of the air he breathes. Whether it’s compressed air, nitrox, or some exotic mix, and regardless of where the fill is received, it is important that the breathing gas is free from contamination. While breathing gas contamination is considered rare in recreational diving, reports indicate that it occasionally happens.
Perhaps the most common contaminant is water. While we might not consider water to be a physiological problem for the diver, it can take a toll on equipment and cause secondary contamination of the breathing gas. Water can cause oxidation of the cylinder, and the formation of debris from the oxidation process can clog filters and foul regulators.
Perhaps the most insidious contaminant is carbon monoxide. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that binds with the blood’s hemoglobin and prevents oxygen from being carried. Exposure to CO even in very low concentrations can lead to serious injury and even death. On relatively rare occasions, CO is found in breathing gas. Breathing gas contamination can be the result of combustion of other contaminants during the compression process, which overwhelms the filtration process. It can also be caused by improper placement of the compressor inlet, or by improper maintenance of the compressor system.
In some instances, cylinders are “contaminated” with the incorrect breathing gas. This can be caused by incorrect fill procedures or simply by incorrect labeling.
Divers use a variety of means to monitor the quality of their breathing gas. Nitrox divers are taught to independently verify the oxygen content of their fills using electronic sensors. Some divers use electronic or color-change monitors to check their cylinder for CO. One crude gas quality test is the “sniff test,” in which the diver sniffs the air from the cylinder. While the “sniff test” won’t detect CO, divers can sometimes detect odors caused by the combustion of oil or other contaminants in the gas. Some divers rely on the results of independent fill stations’ air quality tests as a measure of confidence in the quality of compressed air produced.
Our July ‘09 - Feb '10 Safety Survey explored the issues of air quality, including the types of fills that divers receive and the steps they take to verify air quality. After a lengthy delay, we are happy to report that the results are now available.
Note: Some survey questions included the terms ‘occasionally,’ ‘sometimes,’ and ‘on most dives.’ For the purposes of this survey, those terms are defined as follows:
Rarely: less than once in 10 dives Occasionally: 1 or 2 out of 10 dives Sometimes: 3 to 6 out of 10 dives On Most Dives: 7 to 9 out of 10 dives
Which type of breathing gas do you most often use?
60% - Air 30% - Nitrox 0% - Trimix 1% - Other
From where do you usually receive your fill?
82% - Land-based dive center 5% - Shipboard/Liveaboard 6% - Personal air compressor 2% - Fire/Police/Rescue department 5% - Other
How often do you perform a “sniff test” of your breathing gas?
17% - Never 20% - Rarely 8% - Occasionally 7% - Sometimes 13% - Before most dives 35% - Always 1% - No Response
How often do you test your breathing gas for CO contamination?
83% - Never 7% - Rarely 4% - Occasionally 2% - Sometimes 0% - Before most dives 4% - Always
What type of CO monitor do you most often use?
87% - Not applicable 1% - Color change device 6% - Electronic CO monitor 4% - Other (comment below)
How often do you check your fill station’s air quality test results?
51% - Never 11% - Rarely 15% - Occasionally 11% - Sometimes 3% - Before most dives 7% - Always
How often do you verify the O2 content of your fill (Nitrox/Trimix divers only)?
0% - Never 0% - Rarely 0% - Occasionally 1% - Sometimes 67% - Before most dives 24% - Always
How frequently does measured oxygen content vary significantly (1% or more) from the label (Nitrox/Trimix divers only)?
19% - Never 32% - Rarely 11% - Occasionally 3% - Sometimes 2% - On most dives 3% - Always
Have you ever experienced contaminated breathing gas while diving?
8% - Yes – confirmed 24% - Yes – suspected, not confirmed 13% - Maybe/Uncertain 50% - No 3% - No Response
What form of contamination did you experience?
9% - CO 0% - Water 4% - Improper gas mix 58% - Other 29% - Unknown
Which of the following symptoms have you experienced while diving (check all that apply)?
One of the primary skills that any open water diver should master is that of underwater navigation. The process of maintaining orientation and getting around in the underwater world can be a challenge, but is essential to safe, stress-free diving. Despite their training, divers sometimes become disoriented on a dive, and must surface or take other steps to regain proper orientation and return to the shore or boat. This Safety Survey was designed to explore the issues underwater navigation, including the types of navigational techniques and tools used by divers, and the difficulties they occasionally encounter. Fifty-three divers responded to the survey.
In this survey we used the terms “natural navigation,” “compass navigation,” and “electronic navigation.” Natural navigation is a process by which the diver maintains orientation through a system of physical references such as lighting, depth, sand ripples, and underwater landmarks. Compass navigation involves the use of a magnetic compass, sometimes coupled with time or distance measurement. A diver using compass navigation might swim back and forth along a straight-line course, or swim in a predetermined geometric pattern. Some divers use a combination of natural and compass navigation to crosscheck their position while diving. Electronic navigation involves the use of sonar or other technologies to maintain orientation to a fixed location or point during the dive.
Note: Some survey questions include the terms occasionally, sometimes, and on most dives. For the purposes of this survey, those terms are defined as follows:
Occasionally: 1 or 2 out of 10 dives Sometimes: 3 to 6 out of 10 dives On Most Dives: 7 to 10 out of 10 dives
In which type of diving do you most often engage?
45% - Beach/shore diving
23% - Boat diving – drift or live boat
28% - Boat diving – stationary boat
4% - Cave/cavern/wreck
0% - Other
How often are you the diver responsible for navigation on a dive?
6% - Never
6% - Rarely
11% - Occasionally
19% - Sometimes
55% - On most dives
4% - Always
How often is natural navigation your primary navigation technique?
4% - Never
2% - Rarely
21% - Occasionally
19% - Sometimes
53% - On most dives
0% - Always
How often is compass navigation your primary navigation technique?
2% - Never
9% - Rarely
26% - Occasionally
28% - Sometimes
28% - On most dives
6% - Always
How often is electronic navigation your primary navigation technique?
83% - Never
8% - Rarely
4% - Occasionally
2% - Sometimes
2% - On most dives
0% - Always
How often do you combine underwater navigation techniques?
6% - Never
8% - Rarely
13% - Occasionally
19% - Sometimes
34% - On most dives
19% - Always
How frequently do you experience navigational problems while diving?
2% - Never
51% - Rarely
38% - Occasionally
2% - Sometimes
4% - On most dives
0% - Always
What techniques do you use to measure distance underwater?
49% - Counting kicks
75% - Timing
51% - Air consumption
8% - Other (comment below)
Which of the above techniques do you find most useful to measure distance ?
11% - Counting kicks
51% - Timing
21% - Air consumption
6% - Not applicable
Which factors cause you navigational errors while diving?
74% - Poor visibility
70% - Current
17% - Darkness (night diving)
32% - Buddy-related problems
8% - Confusion with compass operation
15% - High work-load
42% - Distraction
62% - Few underwater references
Which factor most often causes navigational errors while diving?
36% - Poor visibility
15% - Current
0% - Darkness (night diving)
0% - Buddy-related problems
4% - Confusion with compass operation
2% - High work-load
19% - Distraction
11% - Few underwater references
4% - Other (comment below)
Which navigational problems have you encountered while diving?
68% - Difficulty locating the boat/exit point
13% - Difficulty interpreting or using the compass
23% - Running low on air before reaching the boat/exit point
64% - Lack of desired precision in underwater navigation
How often must you or your buddy surface to regain orientation during a dive?
36% - Never
47% - Rarely
15% - Occasionally
0% - Sometimes
2% - On most dives
0% - Always
Which type of navigation do you find most challenging?
13% - Natural
32% - Compass
8% - Electronic
8% - Combined techniques
30% - None of the above
Have you ever experienced underwater anxiety or panic due to a navigation problem?
32% - Yes
68% - No
How often is navigation technique part of your predive briefing?
8% - Never
8% - Rarely
13% - Occasionally
17% - Sometimes
38% - Before most dives
15% - Always
What is your total dive experience (logged dives)?
8% - Less than 50
9% - 50 to 100
25% - 100 to 250
13% - 250 to 500
23% - 500 to 1000
23% - 1000+
What is your highest level of training?
8% - Open water/BSAC Ocean Diver
11% - Advanced
23% - Rescue diver/BSAC Sport Diver
15% - Divemaster/DiveCon/Dive Leader
2% - Assistant Instructor
40% - Instructor
FEB/MAR '09 Safety Survey: BCDs
One of the most important items of equipment for a diver is the Buoyancy Compensation Device (BCD). Modern BCDs are complex devices, incorporating a myriad of valves, connectors and moving parts. Divers sometimes suffer problems such as stuck inflator valves, or the inability to deflate the device. Our February/March Safety Survey is designed to explore the issues surrounding BCDs. Whether you’ve ever had a BCD problem or not, we would like your input. We’re primarily interested in your current BCD, whether owned, rented or borrowed. Please take a few minutes to complete our safety survey. You’ll be doing your part to improve diver safety.
In this survey, we use the terms “function check” and “inspection.” We consider a function check to be when a diver operates (i.e. inflates and deflates) his or her BCD before a dive to verify proper function. An inspection is when the diver evaluates the physical condition of the BCD, such as the fasteners, hoses, connectors, and stitching. A predive check of the BCD might include both a function check and an inspection.
Note: Some survey questions include the terms occasionally, sometimes, and on most dives. For the purposes of this survey, those terms are defined as follows:
Occasionally: 1 or 2 out of 10 dives Sometimes: 3 to 6 out of 10 dives On Most Dives: 7 to 10 out of 10 dives
Note: All results are in percent unless otherwise indicated.
16 - Yes – Single weight release 44 - Yes – Multiple weight releases 38 - No
Does this BCD have an integrated air inflator (regulator)?
56 - Yes 44 - No
Does this BCD have an autoinflator?
56 - Yes – using main breathing gas cylinder <1 - Yes – using independent air source 42 - No
How old is your BCD? 4.5 yrs
How often do you inspect your BCD?
0 - Never 6 - Rarely 20 - Occasionally 6 - Sometimes 30 - Before most dives 38 - Before every dive
How often do you function check your BCD?
0 - Never 2 - Rarely 6 - Occasionally 0 - Sometimes 14 - Before most dives 74 - Before every dive
Which items do you include in your predive BCD check?
78 - Auto inflator function 84 - Deflator function 72 - Dump valve function 40 - Overpressure relief valve function 50 - Oral inflator function 82 - Mouthpiece security 46 - Stitching condition 66 - Metal/Plastic fasteners condition 60 - Velcro fastener condition 76 - Hose/Connector leaks 78 - Hose/Connector condition 50 - Weight release function (weight integrated models) 70 – Breathing air cylinder security
How frequently do you experience BCD problems while diving?
50 - Never 42 - Rarely 8 - Occasionally 0 - Sometimes 0 - On most dives 0 - Always
Which BCD problems have you experienced?
20 - Accidental operation/button confusion 4 - Unable to inflate 0 - Unable to deflate 26 - Stuck inflator valve 4 - Stuck deflator valve 2 - Failure of overpressure relief valve 2 - Failure of stitching 4 - Failure of metal/plastic fasteners 6 - Failure of Velcro fasteners 6 - Failure/Leaking of bladder 14 - Leaking hoses/Fittings 8 - Hose/Connector failure 0 - Loose breathing air cylinder 10 - Accidental loss of weight (weight-integrated models) 0- Inability to drop weights (weight-integrated models) 0 - Inability to drop all weights (weight-integrated/multi release) 0 - Inability to share air (integrated air inflator regulator models) 0 - Other regulator problems (integrated air inflator regulator models)
Which BCD problems have you found to be more common?
24 - Those resulting in positive buoyancy 6 - Those resulting in negative buoyancy 10 - Neither is more common 56 - Not Applicable
Have you ever experienced underwater anxiety or panic due to a BCD problem?
14 - Yes 82 - No 4 - NA
How often do you clean, rinse or soak your BCD?
0 - Never 2 - Rarely 20 - After every dive 58 - After each day of use 14 - After every dive trip
Which BCD preventative maintenance actions do you regularly perform? 96 - Rinse/soak with fresh water 76 - Rinse or treat inside of bladder 70 - Clean/check fittings 60 - Clean/check fasteners 6 - Other (comment below)
How frequently is your BCD professionally maintained?
28 - Never 34 - Yearly 12 - Per manufacturer recommendations 18 - Only when a problem develops 8 - Other
Is your current BCD under manufacturer recall?
76 - No 2 - Yes – service required <1 - Yes – service completed 20 - I don’t know
What is your total dive experience (number of logged dives)?
8 - Less than 50 2 - 50 to 100 28 - 100 to 250 38 - 250 to 500 14 - 500 to 1000 8 - 1000+
When we think of diver communication, we usually think in terms of underwater hand signs, flashing the “okay” sign to the boat crew after entry, or waving an arm or fin to signal a pickup after a dive. But sometimes it’s critical for divers to signal the dive boat, other divers on the surface, or personnel on shore after surfacing from a dive. Perhaps we’ve been separated from the rest of the group, or a diver in our group needs urgent assistance. It’s these “abnormal” or out-of-bounds situations that can escalate into a full-blow emergency.
Apart from their “natural” devices for signaling for help-- i.e., their voices, brightly colored dive gear, fins and arms -- divers carry a variety of specialized signaling devices specifically designed to aid in communication and to summon help if the need arises. The type can depend on where they dive, and the type of diving they do. For example, drift divers often carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) or “safety sausage” to identify their location to the boat crew. Sometimes the markers are equipped with additional technologies, including strobes, beacons and reflective elements to enhance their effectiveness. Some divers carry signal mirrors for emergency signaling. Still other divers carry audible devices including lung-powered whistles and air horns powered by low pressure air. Divers have even been known to carry submersible signal flares that can be hand-launched in the event of an emergency to help draw rescue personnel to their location.
Hopefully, the need for urgent or emergency communication on the surface is a rare occurrence, but when such a need does arise, it is essential that we know how to use the equipment, and that it performs correctly. OurDecember/January safety survey took a look at the types of surface signaling equipment divers carry, how frequently they need it, and whether or not it worked as advertised. Here are the results from the survey. Numbers are given in percent of total respondents unless otherwise noted.
Nothing is more fundamental and essential to the sport of diving than the regulator. While modern regulators are highly reliable, problems do occasionally arise. Divers sometimes suffer problems such as freeflow, hard breathing, inhalation of highly moisture-laden air, or even an abrupt stoppage of airflow. Our October/November Safety Survey is designed to explore the issues surrounding regulators. Whether you’ve ever had a regulator problem or not, we would like your input. We’re interested in your current regulator, as well as others you have used, including rental or borrowed equipment.
For the purposes of the survey, the following terms applied:
Occasionally: 1 or 2 out of 10 dives Sometimes: 3 to 6 out of 10 dives On Most Dives: 7 to 10 out of 10 dives
Note: The following responses are given in percent unless otherwise indicated.
How frequently is your regulator professionally maintained?
4 Never 69 Yearly 11 Per manufacturer recommendations 6 Only when a problem develops 9 Other
How often do you function check your regulator?
2 Never 1 Rarely 3 Occasionally 1 Sometimes 6 Before most dives 86 Before every dive
How old is your regulator? 5 YEARS
How often do you inspect your regulator?
0 Never 2 Rarely 8 Occasionally 9 Sometimes 26 Before most dives 50 Before every dive
Which items do you include in your predive regulator check?
49 Freeflow 13 Hard breathing under normal conditions 14 Hard breathing during strenuous swimming 4 Hard breathing during air share 3 Failure to deliver air 2 Unable to purge 28 Entrained water in air (wet breathing) 21 Mouthpiece separation or failure
How frequently do you experience regulator problems while diving?
29 Never 66 Rarely 4 Occasionally 0 Sometimes 0 On most dives 0 Always
Have you ever experienced underwater anxiety or panic due to a regulator problem?
13 Yes 72 No 13 NA
How often do you clean, rinse or soak your regulator?
0 Never 3 Rarely 26 After every dive 46 After each day of use 17 After every dive trip
What is your typical regulator backup?
64 Octopus second stage 15 Integrated air inflator 19 Pony bottle/redundant regulator 0 Spare Air 1 None
Again, thanks for responding to our Safety Surveys. Please return soon to participate in upcoming Safety Surveys, or those presently in progress!
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