Abandoned Scuba Diver

Don't give way to despair should you get lost or separated from the rest of your dive group in course of performing a dive.

If acting properly and accordingly to the situation, the diver still has big chances to survive, even close in the water to the sea animals, known as dangerous predators with history of having attacked scuba divers like certain species of shark. Yes, that's right, even if attacked by shark, scuba diver still can resist and win the battle provided that person has at least some basic knowledge about what diver must do to rebuff a shark attack. There are some guidelines for correct behaviour even in such seamingly hopeless situation.

In March 1997 a 45 years old recreational scuba diver Vivienne Slear found herself abandoned after resurfacing after a group dive off the island of Tobago. Vivienne did survive after spending 27 hours floating in the open sea, even if no proper find-and-rescue mesures were organized by the dive organizers because everybody believed she had just failed to resurface. In spite of having to fight with a strong sea surface current that was taking her away from the shore. The courageous scuba diver won the battle for her life, while there are numerous other cases where abandoned divers perish in much simpler situations just because they were not properly instructed what to do if abandoned.

In fact, finding oneself abandoned by a dive boat upon resurfacing must be scuba diver's worst nigtmare. Even if the occurence of being abandoned is statistically rare, any diver should be ready and prepared to tackle the emergency situation of the sort.

If upon surfacing you see you are abandoned, follow these rules, for if not, they could coast you life: