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THE SAFETY PROCEDURES
1) Never Freedive alone and select your partner
Fixed Weights Depth - Never dive at the same time as your partner Line - The safety diver watches the dive line for the Freediver who
must follow it at all times. Partner - should be easily capable of rescuing a diver from the required depth (at least 15m) and should be
fully trained in rescue techniques, CPR and administration of O2 etc. Meeting - The objective is for the safety diver to meet the freediver
and escort him- Face to Face through the area of greatest danger - which is between 15m and the surface. The depth at which they
meet should be relative to the depth that the freediver has dived but not deeper than 15m. In all dives the safety diver is responsible for
timing the dive and he should begin his descent at half the expected dive time. Any dives greater than 30m require either a stand-by
SCUBA set with organised lift tackle or a safety lanyard and retrieval system. Different sea/lake conditions may require safety divers at
more frequent intervals.
2) Never Freedive after a Scuba Dive
The Nitrogen remaining in the tissues after Scuba Diving can lead to decompression sickness when micro-bubbles are recompressed
and their consequent expansion upon the rapid ascent during an ensuing freedive. Those with PFO are in a much higher risk category.
Wait at least 12 hours after a Scuba Dive before you do a Free Dive.
3) Never 'ride' the flexibility of your eardrum.
Equalise on descent only (about every 3m). Never force an equalisation. Never continue after a failed equalisation - abort the dive!
Never equalise on ascent. A nose clip, where used should be removed at the beginning of the ascent. " 'Ramboism' The 'I must get to
40m 'syndrome. I successfully dive to 35m and equalise, cannot equalise at 38m but try for 40m nevertheless as the bottom seems close
and pressure differentials are less. This is a seductive process and is nothing but a gamble on the flexibility of an eardrum. If you guess
wrong the result can be a burst eardrum with its associated consequences; extreme vertigo and nausea ".
4) Always be correctly weighted
It is dangerous to be over weighted. This can cause equalisation problems on descent and on ascent can cause an unnecessary
expenditure of effort. Particularly dangerous with thicker suits for winter diving. A good rule of thumb is to achieve neutral buoyancy at
15m.
1) Never Freedive alone and select your partner
Fixed Weights Depth - Never dive at the same time as your partner Line - The safety diver watches the dive line for the Freediver who
must follow it at all times. Partner - should be easily capable of rescuing a diver from the required depth (at least 15m) and should be
fully trained in rescue techniques, CPR and administration of O2 etc. Meeting - The objective is for the safety diver to meet the freediver
and escort him- Face to Face through the area of greatest danger - which is between 15m and the surface. The depth at which they
meet should be relative to the depth that the freediver has dived but not deeper than 15m. In all dives the safety diver is responsible for
timing the dive and he should begin his descent at half the expected dive time. Any dives greater than 30m require either a stand-by
SCUBA set with organised lift tackle or a safety lanyard and retrieval system. Different sea/lake conditions may require safety divers at
more frequent intervals.
2) Never Freedive after a Scuba Dive
The Nitrogen remaining in the tissues after Scuba Diving can lead to decompression sickness when micro-bubbles are recompressed
and their consequent expansion upon the rapid ascent during an ensuing freedive. Those with PFO are in a much higher risk category.
Wait at least 12 hours after a Scuba Dive before you do a Free Dive.
3) Never 'ride' the flexibility of your eardrum.
Equalise on descent only (about every 3m). Never force an equalisation. Never continue after a failed equalisation - abort the dive!
Never equalise on ascent. A nose clip, where used should be removed at the beginning of the ascent. " 'Ramboism' The 'I must get to
40m 'syndrome. I successfully dive to 35m and equalise, cannot equalise at 38m but try for 40m nevertheless as the bottom seems close
and pressure differentials are less. This is a seductive process and is nothing but a gamble on the flexibility of an eardrum. If you guess
wrong the result can be a burst eardrum with its associated consequences; extreme vertigo and nausea ".
4) Always be correctly weighted
It is dangerous to be over weighted. This can cause equalisation problems on descent and on ascent can cause an unnecessary
expenditure of effort. Particularly dangerous with thicker suits for winter diving. A good rule of thumb is to achieve neutral buoyancy at
15m.
