…because it’s life support
Scuba gear is life-support equipment. This letter highlights why every diver should:
- Own their own equipment.
- Keep it clean, properly maintained, and serviced.
- Know how to use it in an emergency.
I recently discovered scuba diving and quickly learned just how important it is to be prepared.
Only a couple of weeks after earning my Open Water certification at Harry’s Dive Shop, I headed to the Caribbean for my first dive trip. To be extra safe, I hired a dive guide who also happened to own the dive center. I thought I couldn’t be in better hands.
Halfway through our first dive at 55 feet, my guide suddenly signaled that he was out of air. My training immediately kicked in. I donated my primary second stage and switched to my backup. Together, we made a slow, controlled ascent back to the boat without further incident.
Later we discovered the cause: poor equipment maintenance. Corrosion had weakened a hose fitting until it failed underwater. Neither of us likes to think about what might have happened if I hadn’t been trained to respond correctly.
My sincere thanks to everyone at Harry’s Dive Shop. Your excellent instruction gave me the skills and confidence to handle a real emergency—and very likely saved a life.
— Anna