Safe Diving After a Near Miss

Diving is a remarkable and exhilarating experience, but it comes with inherent risks. Occasionally, divers face "near miss" incidents—events that could have led to serious injury but fortunately did not. Such incidents serve as critical reminders of the importance of diving safety. If you've recently experienced a near miss, here's expert advice to safely return to the water.

Step 1: Pause and Reflect

Immediately following a near miss, stop diving for the day. Adrenaline and stress can impair judgment, increasing the risk of subsequent incidents. Take the time to calmly evaluate what happened, ideally with the support of your dive buddy, instructor, or dive professional.

Step 2: Assess and Learn

Analyse the incident objectively:

• What factors contributed? Consider environmental conditions, equipment issues, diver fitness, or training gaps.
• Could better pre-dive checks or equipment inspections have prevented it?
• Would further training or a refresher course help?

Reflecting and honestly evaluating the incident can prevent future occurrences.

Step 3: Check Your Health

Following any incident involving potential physical harm—rapid ascents, buoyancy control issues, or exertion underwater—consult a diving medicine professional. Even seemingly minor incidents can lead to complications such as decompression illness, pulmonary barotrauma, or ear and sinus injuries.

Step 4: Equipment and Skill Check

Before returning to diving, thoroughly inspect your equipment, ideally with a qualified dive technician. Consider a refresher or additional training focusing on identified gaps or weaknesses, such as buoyancy control, emergency procedures, or dive planning.

Step 5: Mental Readiness

Psychological stress after a near miss can affect your confidence underwater. If anxiety persists, talk to a diving instructor or mental health professional experienced in diving psychology. Regaining confidence is critical for safe diving.

Step 6: Ease Back into Diving

Resume diving gently and progressively. Choose conservative dive profiles and familiar, uncomplicated dive sites. Dive with an experienced, reassuring buddy who understands your situation.

Step 7: Share Your Experience

Help the diving community by sharing your experience responsibly. Reporting near misses through established channels helps others learn and promotes safer diving practices.

Preventing Future Incidents

• Maintain a regular training schedule.
• Consistently follow safe diving practices.
• Always perform thorough pre-dive checks.
• Continuously improve your dive skills and knowledge.

Diving safely after a near miss is possible and beneficial. By taking time to understand and learn from your experiences, you ensure safer, more enjoyable dives in the future.

Safe diving starts with you. Dive smart, dive safe.