A divers guide to getting rescued

after drifting

It is widely acknowledged that the

majority of scuba diving incidents actually occur on or near the surface.

As such it is vital that divers carry a signaling device like a safety

sausage or dive flag to alert boats and other potential rescuers to

their position.

Whilst working in the Red Sea I took

a group of students on a dive that we normally avoided due to strong

currents. On this day the weather was in our favour so my group dived

first followed by three other groups, led by dive guides, at various

intervals.

We started our dive into the current

and enjoyed a spectacular coral encrusted vertical wall which was great

fun to drift back along as we neared the end of our dive. Hanging

on the safety line I noticed just how much the current had picked up

but we were all soon back on board. However, the other groups did not

fare quite so well. We let out a tag line off the stern and some divers

were able to get on it but others surfaced quite a distance away. Without

dive flags and S.M.B.s they were not easy to spot and keep in sight.

So, you have drifted down current and

the boat is a tiny speck on the horizon. What is the best way to get

rescued?

Prepare for Rescue

Firstly, don't attempt to fight the

current unless it is fairly weak otherwise you will waste precious energy

and if you are using your reg., you will burn air at an alarming rate.

If conditions allow you could submerge and pull yourself hand over hand

along the bottom where the current is weakest otherwise concentrate

on getting buoyant, conserving energy and planning on how to signal

the dive boat.

Signal

To get rescued you have to get noticed.

In such circumstances a pocket B.C. flag such as the H.E.L.P. is ideal

to let a boat know where you are. A bright yellow extendable dive

flag like the H.E.L.P. has been shown to be seen for up to 3 km and

is perfect to enable potential rescuers to both find and keep you in

sight. Other items that can also help in diver location are safety sausages

and audible devices such as whistles and air horns. Audible devices

can be very effective in gaining attention but you cant 'see' sound

so a dive flag is still imperative to get you seen quickly.

Stay Calm

If you have been seen you will be rescued

(particularly if have made yourself easy to find with a dive flag etc).

Sometimes you have to be patient, as the boat captain may need to collect

other divers first. Remain calm, keep your snorkel/reg and mask in place

and be prepared to drop your weights if necessary.

Take a Fix

Keep your eye firmly on the boat and

continue signaling with your dive flag, S.M.B. etc. If you are in immediate

distress then wave your flag otherwise just let it mark your position

and wait for your pickup.

Stay Warm

A few hours in the water can make you

pretty cold. Swimming burns energy but doesn't make you any warmer.

Cuddle yourself and conserve energy and heat. Clip you dive flag/S.M.B.

to yourself so it will act as a permanent marker

Prevention is better than cure. Plan

your dive, listen to the dive brief, start off against the current,

be practiced in navigation skills and always carry an emergency signaling

device like a dive flag.