Safety is Sexy!
- Kelly Carpenter
- Aug 20
- 6 min read
If you’ve taken a course here at Divetech with me, you’ve probably heard my catchphrase: Safety is Sexy!
It might sound a bit incongruous, since 'safety' and 'sexy' aren't words you usually hear together. However, it’s easy to forget that scuba diving is often classified as an extreme sport. While drifting weightlessly through crystal-clear water can feel super relaxing and meditative, the reality is that diving carries inherent risks. These risks, if not respected, can lead to serious injury or worse. The best (and sexiest!) divers, regardless of experience levels, are ones who respect their limits and consistently demonstrate safe practices.
Most divers remember the obvious safety rules: never hold your breath, ascend slowly, wait at least 18 hours between diving and flying. But there are other safety habits that are just as critical. Overlooking them doesn’t just put you at risk, it can also compromise the safety of others. And after all, being dead is not very sexy.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect and Diving
If you haven’t heard of it before, the Dunning-Kruger effect describes the tendency for people with limited experience in a skill to overestimate their knowledge or ability. Diving is no exception to this. In the early stages of your training, you might feel like you’ve mastered it all. But as you gain more in-water experience, you begin to realize just how much there is to still learn.
Confidence is great, but only when it’s backed by competence. True skill comes from a combination of knowledge, practice, and humility.
This blog post isn’t about calling anyone out. As former Divetech staff member Drew used to say, “Every day is a school day.” Regardless of how many dives you’ve logged, there’s always room to improve and learn. With that in mind, here are a few common themes I’ve been noticing lately - and some tips to help keep you safe, confident, and very sexy in the water.
Know Your Gear and How to Use It
Knowing how your dive gear works is essential for both safety and comfort above and below the surface, and being able to set up your own gear is the best way to familiarize yourself with your kit. While some “valet” dive operations will set up everything for you, this convenience can lead to complacency and at the end of the day your gear is your own responsibility. I’ve seen divers jump into the water only to panic and need rescuing because they couldn’t locate their inflator hose - don't let that be you.
We absolutely don’t expect you to be perfect - especially if you’re using rental gear or new equipment - but make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with your kit well before the dive. Lay out your gear, check that everything is in working order, and make sure it’s properly assembled. And ask for help if you need any! But faffing around because you forgot your dive booties or still need to set up your camera while 15 divers are in the water waiting for you to jump in? Not sexy - and not fair to others.
Check 👏 Your 👏 Gauges 👏
It’s easy to become completely absorbed in the magic of underwater world. But while your dive guide is there to help, certified divers are responsible for their own safety. That includes checking your pressure gauge and monitoring your no-decompression limit (NDL) throughout the dive. These are basic skills from your Open Water Course, and these numbers are unique to you - they can’t be guessed or “shared” with your buddy.
Running out of air or accidentally going into deco on a recreational dive should never happen. But for some reason lately it feels like we've had more than a few certified divers who just look at us blankly when we talk about NDLs (this is actually where the inspiration for this blog post came from). Just like good drivers frequently check their mirrors and speedometer while on the road, good divers frequently check their gauges. And if NDL is a term you haven’t heard in a while, it might be time to review your Open Water materials or ask your local dive shop about doing a refresher before your next dive trip.
Know How to Read Your Dive Computer
And while we're on the subject of dive computers...know how to read yours. Whether you’ve just purchased your first dive computer (congrats!) or you’re renting one from us, being able to read and understand it underwater is non-negotiable. If you’re renting one of our dive computers, we’re always happy to walk you through the settings. We’d much rather you ask questions, we're here to help!
And if you have your own computer, take the time to read the manual before you use it. Don’t surface from a dive asking why your computer is “acting weird” only to find out you unknowingly went into deco. That’s dangerous.
Take Care of Your Equipment
Your gear is your life-support system, so treat it accordingly. Whether it’s yours or a rental, it should be handled with care, serviced regularly, rinsed thoroughly, and stored properly.
And please, please also make sure your equipment is properly secured once set up on a tank. Take advantage of tank holders or bungee cords to hold your gear in place, or lay your gear down if it’s on the floor. This includes keeping weights on the ground until they are put away, especially on boats. I’ve seen everything from smashed SPGs to sheared off hoses to broken toes from gear or weights falling over or onto feet.
Listen Up!
We give dive briefings and boat briefings every day. Every so often there are people who completely ignore the briefing, talking and distracting others which inevitably leads to problems. Briefings are full of important information, especially if it is your first time diving with us, and not listening to the dive procedure can result in anything from confusion to serious safety issues. Even if you know the procedures inside and out, please be respectful of others who don't.
For example, on our boat we kindly ask people to gear up in their seats then walk to the back of the boat before putting fins on. I know this isn't the practice in other places around the world, but it's the safest practice here. I've seen too many people fall over when the boat rocks because they tried to walk to the back of the boat with their full kit and fins on - and its almost always those who were joking around with their buddies while the crew briefed how to safely enter in the water.
Be a Good Buddy
Being a good dive buddy - above and below the surface - is a crucial yet often underestimated skill. Make sure to support each other, communicate, and pay attention before, during, and even after the dive.
And if your buddy says they’re not up for a dive? Respect it, and be supportive and constructive, not condescending or pushy. Diving should never involve peer pressure. As we often say: “It’s better to be on land wishing you were in the water than in the water wishing you were on land.”
Refreshers are Sexy
Your dive certification never expires, but knowledge and skills do fade. If it’s been 6 months to a year since your last dive, a refresher is strongly recommended or even required. This isn’t gatekeeping, it’s about safety - for you, your buddy, and the rest of the group.
The Dunning-Kruger effect rears its head here often when it comes to requiring refreshers. I’ve heard it all:
“I don’t need a refresher, I’m super experienced and very comfortable in the water!”
- from someone who hasn’t dived in over 6 years with a grand total of…8 dives
“I’ve already done a refresher! Well, it wasn’t in the water but I watched a bunch of Youtube videos so I’m good to go”
- from someone out of the water for more than 10 years
“I don’t need a refresher, I practiced using a compass in a pool so I know how to read a dive computer”
- from someone out of the water for more than 20 years
It should be obvious why the above statements are concerning. If not...maybe it's time for you to also do a refresher. Keep in mind that refreshers are a small investment for a safer, more enjoyable dive experience for you and for others. If your dive shop has a strong reputation for safety and asks you to do a refresher, take their recommendation seriously and just do it!
Final Thoughts
Scuba diving is an incredible sport, and it rewards those who approach it with respect, preparation, and a willingness to learn. The most experienced divers know that safety is never “done” - it’s an ongoing practice. So whether you’re on your first dive or your thousandth, remember: Safety is Sexy!
