Safety Stop Procedures

Although the primary reason for making that final safety stop is to allow your body to offgas, there are other advantages. First, the pause gives you the opportunity to look toward the surface for water conditions, hazards and approaching boat traffic. It is dangerous to make the stop or surface directly beneath the boat. It is safest to surface upcurrent and beside the boat.

The stop also allows you to check that your gear is secure for exiting and fine-tune your buoyancy for that final ascent to the surface. During the stop, have just enough air in the buoyancy compensator (BC) to keep yourself neutrally buoyant and able to maintain a constant depth by varying lung volume. As you begin the final ascent, any air in the BC will expand significantly; unless vented this may cause your buoyancy to become excessively positive. If this happens you’ll reach the surface faster than desired.

This video is for demonstration purposes only and not intended to replace formal scuba instruction. For more information, contact your local dive center.

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