Scuba is thrilling, exciting and interesting. It can also be very safe if taught properly. If not the dangers are only too apparent and the risk of injury or death very real.

Only a few people are killed each year diving. The details of the incidents always show that most could be avoided if the divers had known better what to do - or not to do. Sub Aqua teaching by the leading training bodies such as BSAC, PADI and many more is of a superlative standard. This includes the superb level of training of instructors who in turn must teach the novices. The trouble is that a few training agencies do not insist on such high levels of safety and even some of the best can occasionally miss the under performance of one or two of their instructors.

The time when a new recruit first starts learning to dive is the best occasion for lecturing the safety ethos. A new and open mind is more ready to soak up the safety culture than a seasoned diver who probably taught himself to dive years ago.

Each lesson will start with an opening talk for a few minutes, irrespective of whether it is a dry practical, in the swimming pool or in the sea. At the start of the briefing are the safety issues relevant to that lesson and to the site being used. When learning to remove a regulator underwater it may seem obvious but a student is warned to hold their breath for a short while until it is replaced! Safety warnings may seem like overkill at times and may be repeated but they do have the desired effect.

Teaching skills are important, especially for new students waiting like sponges to absorb all the new knowledge you have to give them. Skills are best learned when demonstrated in small bits before putting them together for the complete procedure. Each part of the skill must be taught in a way that it is safe to execute. If you commence with little bits and build up this can be achieved much more easily.