The Safety Stop


As a SCUBA diving instructor, one of the most important safety protocols that I stress to my students is the "safety stop." This brief pause during the ascent from a dive serves as an added precaution to help prevent decompression sickness, also known as "the bends."

The basic principle behind the safety stop is that as divers descend, their bodies absorb nitrogen from the air in their tanks. As they ascend and the pressure decreases, this nitrogen is released from the body. However, if a diver ascends too quickly, the nitrogen can come out of solution too rapidly, forming bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including joint pain, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, paralysis or death.

To prevent this, divers are taught to make a "safety stop" at around 5 meters (15 feet) below the surface for a minimum of 3 minutes. This allows the nitrogen to be released more slowly and reduces the risk of decompression sickness.

It's important to note that even though a safety stop is an added level of protection it's not a guarantee that a diver will not develop Decompression sickness. Before diving it is also important to check dive tables and dive computers to plan the dive and also to follow the dive profile.

As a diving instructor, I always make sure that my students are aware of the importance of a safety stop, and I drill the procedure into them until it becomes second nature. I also make sure that they understand the signs and symptoms of decompression sickness and how to respond if they or another diver experiences them.

In summary, the safety stop is an essential part of SCUBA diving and one that every diver should take seriously. By taking the time to pause briefly at the end of a dive, divers can greatly reduce their risk of developing decompression sickness, and ensure a safe and enjoyable dive.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you found the information and insights we shared to be valuable. Your thoughts and feedback are important to me, so please don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic and any questions you may have. Additionally, if you found this blog helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues on social media. Your support helps me to continue providing valuable content like this. Thanks again for reading!


Antonio CIGLIOLA
PADI Instructor IDC-S No. 358644
Mobile: (+39) 392 2921903
E: cigliolaa@gmail.com | W: DiveBaseMalta.com

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