Teen Dive Student Dies in Key Largo

http://cbs4.com/local/teen.key.largo.2.781623.html

Every diver cringes at news like this; particularly when it's a brand-new diver under the supervision of an instructor.

A few notes on the safety of diving, however:
In 2005 (the most recent statistics available from DAN http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/report/2007DANDivingReport.pdf), DAN was notified of 167 divers who died worldwide.

Of these, 52% had been certified more than ten years.

What can we learn from these accidents?

• NEVER dive alone
• Make an effort to continually update your skills. No matter how long you've been diving, sitting in on another course or just asking your local shop for a review can be vital.
• Even if you've been diving consistently but it's been a while since certification, you might want to consider buying (and reading!) the newest Open Water book from your agency. These books change frequently, and there are procedures that were recommended in my original 1990 book that are now absolutely NOT recommended.

If you're someone who's considering diving, please don't let an occasional accident deter you. Diving is a sport than can be customized to your comfort level in terms of risk, complexity, etc. I know divers who are always after the next big thrill and always trying to prove how deep they can go, and I also know divers who are completely happy with shallow dives when accompanied by a divemaster or other professional. It's all a matter of choice, and whatever you're looking for, diving can accommodate you.