Diver safety paramount

Diving is an amazing pursuit where you can float like an astronaut and access an underwater world of unfathomable beauty. The stark reality though, is that it also brings risks which, unfortunately, some divers underestimate, even the veterans, as they push the limits of safe diving practices and equipment.

In 2020 alone, 12 divers drowned, a record not exceeded since 1995.
Most drownings are preventable. Though overall rates in New Zealand have been trending down on a per capita basis over the last 20 years, our drowning toll remains high compared to other OECD countries and each death comes with a social and economic cost as well as a life cut short as well as long-term consequences that leave families and communities devastated.

Drownings are the leading cause of recreational death in New Zealand and the third highest cause of accidental deaths. In 2020 there were 74[1] preventable drownings, 202 drowning hospitalisations,[2] and ACC spends more than $72 million a year on water-related injuries.

While swimming and falls and slips into water make up close to half of all preventable drownings, over the past five years there were 45 free diving, scuba and snorkelling deaths (2016 – 2020).

Visiting the beach is a passion for most Kiwis. 2021 research[3] identified over 3 million people visit the coast annually and 2 million participate in some sort of coastal activity such as swimming and wading, diving, surfing, kayaking, boarding, fishing, gathering seafood and boating. With nearly a quarter of all Kiwis gathering seafood in one form or another, dive safety must become paramount and top of mind as we head into the water in droves.

Ants Lowe, Water Safety New Zealand’s Funding and Relationships Manager, and a keen surfer and PADI Instructor knows only too well the dangers that water can pose. “Underestimating the risks and over estimating ability is the biggest mistake people make when they’re in the water,” he says.

Know the water safety code

• Be prepared. Check the weather, the water conditions and check your gear. Have you got the right gear? Refresh if you have been out of the water for a while, jump on a course to start your journey or continue your diving training.
  
• Look after yourself and others. Are you fit to dive and how’s your health? When was the last time you had a medical check? Always dive with a buddy and look out for other divers’ safety.
  
• Be aware of the dangers. Check for rips and currents, snags and rocks. Don’t consume alcohol or drugs before diving – even the day before. It will impair your skill level and ability to judge risk.
  
• Know your limits. And remember you will never be able to swim in the ocean as well as in a pool. Cold water will make you tired. Dive only within your capability.
  
• Gaining a diving certification is essential for learning the fundamentals of diving so you can explore the underwater world safely.  
  

Certification enables you to dive with your buddy knowing you have skills to enjoy the open water and to manage any challenges that come your way.

“My biggest fear is mates teaching mates,” Ants says. “The excuses given are that it saves money or ‘I know better than professionals as I’ve been diving for years’. This is meaningless if a diver doesn’t make it home. Uncertified divers continue to get into trouble and don’t know how to manage incidents due to them not being covered in their mate’s course. Certification is vital. It gives you the skills to manage risk when things go wrong - and they do,” Ants says.

“We have to improve our safety record so we continue to have fun, safely gather kai and explore our waterways and sea life so we can share our incredible memories instead of being remembered.

“Have fun but come home.”

References
[1] Water Safety New Zealand DrownBase™
[2] Ministry of Health
[3] Omnipoll (2021). A national survey amongst 1049 people aged 16+ in New Zealand. Respondents were drawn from online consumer panels managed by Lightspeed Research over the period April 22 - May 02, 2021.