For years, deep sea diving was primarily used for the research of marine organisms. Mechanics for scuba diving have improved greatly and became more available to the everyday thrill seekers. It has also become an interest to many people to learn and experience it as a recreational activity. Most of the people who dive without being certified or dive alone, face dangers that other trained divers are not subjected to. For example, diving alone is particularly dangerous as should an injury occur, nobody is there to assist. As for those who are trained and have companions, they may enjoy the experience of being surrounded by beautiful marine life and the earth’s natural wonders at less of a risk. Certified or uncertified there are still dangers that lurk beneath the water’s surface and accidents can occur at any time, anywhere. Safety precautions have been taken to help address the dangers that divers are at risk of while being submerged, but not all can be prevented and more still needs to be done. Being underwater is experiencing a whole new world. We don’t belong underwater so there are many things that have to be done to keep us safe. There are many hazards dealing with scuba equipment. Descending deep into the water is very tricky, as pressure increases, many things can go wrong such as decompression sickness. Decompression sickness is the result of breathing high pressure gases. Inadequate equipment for diving can lead to fatal injuries and illnesses, including nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity. “The prolonged exposure to breathing gases at high partial pressure will result in increased amounts of non-metabolic gases, usually nitrogen and helium…” (Wikipedia #16) Nitrogen narcosis can affect a diver by giving them the feeli... ... middle of paper ... ... Web. 25 Feb. 2014. National Science Foundation. “Panic Underwater.” SIRS Discoverer. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. . Rossier, Robert N. “The Personal Limits of Fear.” Dive Training. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. . “Scuba Diving.” Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. . Ullrich, Arthur H., Jr. “Diving Underwater.” World Book. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. World Book Online Reference Center. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. . “Why Do People Dive?” Dive Training. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. .
Deep water and strong currents could lead to drowning. - stay away from the sea.
Decompression sickness is unusual in diving mammals, but may occur under specific circumstances, including an uncharacteristically rapid ascent to the surface. Rapid ascents such as these may be the result of predation, stress, or even due to sonar signals from sources such as military operations. Marine mammals such as beaked whales have been found stranded on coasts with gas bubble associated lesions on vessels and in vital organs. This is thought to be the result of intense sound that may destabilize the gas nuclei, leading to nitrogen bubble growth in tissues that have been supersaturated during a dive (Jepson et al., 2003). Decompression sickness due to sonar from naval and military operations seems to arise from repetitive shallow dives instead of long, deep dives, facilitating higher tissue supersaturation levels (Tyack et al., 2006).
Scuba diving itself can be challenging at times. Imagine having a difficult task, like welding, to perform at the same time as scuba diving. This is a task that can cost you your life if not done correctly and as safely as possible.
My vomit clouded the ocean surface with a purple-brown color before fading below the depths. On the other side of the vessel, I re-equipped my mask and plunged into the water to be greeted by my aunt – she was to be my snorkeling partner as she had much experience in the depths of Hawaii. When I submerged my head it was almost as if I had entered a new world. This unseen dimension housed a coral reef that vibrantly shone with a mixture of bright reds and deep blues. The reef almost seemed to pulsate as thousands of fish darted in and out of their subterranean homes. The water was thick with salt and teemed with plankton. We often resurfaced to point out fish to each other. I remember my aunt telling me of the environmental dangers of touching the still-living coral. “If you pierce its skin it will likely become infected and die, and all of the fish who live in it will die too,” she expertly explained. From then on I kept my distance to at least 5-6
Human Diving Response. Department of Biology, saint Louis University. Retrieved from starklab.slu.edu/PhysioLab/Diving.htm. April 18, 2011.
N.A. “Traffic Safety facts 2011: Alcohol-Impaired Diving.” National Highway Traffic Administration. 2012. Web. 2 April 2014. .
This force now can be used by the diver not only to go up, but to rotate and therefore perform various dives.
There are an estimated 8,000 deaths per year in the United States from drowning. Near-drowning occurs anywhere from 2-20 times more frequently (for estimated 16,000-160,000 events per year)7. The definitions for drowning and near-drowning have for the longest time been very confusing to understand. Recent health officials have attempted to resolve some of this confusion by redefining drowning as “the process of experiencing respiratory insufficiency or difficulty following a submersion or immersion in a body of liquid.” Near-drowning has also been redefined as “survival from a drowning event which involved impaired consciousness or water inhalation for 24 hours or more”2. Both near drowning and near-drowning occur when someone experiences a submersion event. A submersion event is when someone, in this case a pediatric patient, experiences an unexpected submersion in water. When an unexpected submersion, regardless of water type (salt or fresh) occurs, the individual experiences breath hold, panic, and a struggle to resurface1. Humans, naturally, can only hold their breath for a short period of time. This prolonged breath hold results in hypoxia and eventually leads to involuntary gasping. As the individual attempts to gasp for air they sometimes aspirate7. This paper will attempt to look at the clinical presentation of a near-drowning patient who has suffered from a submersion event.
is not something parents tell a child to do for safety before walking on a diving board. This is a
the history of our mission to conquer the underwater world.” Geographical Aug. 2005:54+. Student Edition. 3 Nov. 2009 .
Allows divers to dive deeper and stay submerged longer. Scuba comes a long way from other forms of diving by using an air-tank and regulator. This is what allows them to stay under longer and dive deeper. Scuba originally began with military and commercial applications, where it is still used today. But now, by far the largest group of divers is “Recreational Divers”. These dives are practiced at depths of less than 130 feet, from these depths, divers can make a straight ascent to the surface. Diving beyond this limit requires advanced training. (Lawrence, 4)
4 James E. Counsilman and Brian E. Counsilman, The New Science of Swimming, (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1994) 10-22
You can greatly reduce the chances of you and your children becoming a drowning victim or being injured if you follow a few simple safety tips:
It is was a great opportunity to learn and gather new information and wider my variety of future job opportunities by having completed the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF) Snorkelling Certificate. 2. During this unit, I was able to advance in my skill development of snorkelling and knowledge by reflecting on my own learning and personal progress. This was accomplished by, always participating throughout the snorkelling unit, going on majority of snorkelling excursions and partaking in the snorkelling evolution.
The lorenzini is a pit-like organ located on the head of the whale shark that senses weak electrical and magnetic fields. This is an area that is currently being researched extensively and is largely unknown. It is speculated that this organ is used by the whale shark as a navigational aid by using the earth’s magnetic force (Rowat 2012). Evolution Studying the evolutionary history and adaption for this species is difficult and an ongoing struggle for scientists. It is classified in the order of Chondrichthyes, suborder Elasmobranchii, and family Rhincodontidea.