The Surface Is Not Safe: 6 Crucial Surface Habits Every Diver Should Master
By Mario Medarevic & the Dive World Team | Inspired by our vast experience
Published on Diveworld.ca
When most divers think about safety, their minds turn to depth-related concerns—decompression stops, nitrogen narcosis, or gear malfunctions underwater. But in reality, many of the most dangerous incidents happen where you least expect them: at the surface.
At Dive World, we’re dedicated to training safer, smarter divers. Let’s talk about why surface awareness should be part of every diver’s core skillset—and what you can do to sharpen yours today.
Why Surface Safety Deserves More Attention
Accidents like drowning, boat strikes, or exhaustion don’t happen 100 feet below. They happen at the beginning or end of a dive—often within sight of the boat.
Divers feel safe at the surface. That false sense of security leads to relaxed behavior, missed steps, and preventable emergencies.
Surface Safety: What You Should Be Doing
At Dive World, we teach our Open Water students and Divemaster candidates to make safety a habit from the very beginning. Here are the essentials we reinforce:
✅ Mask On, Reg In
From entry to exit, keep your mask on your face and regulator in your mouth. Conditions can change fast, especially in current or swell. This simple habit ensures you can always see and breathe.
✅ Positive Buoyancy Is Life-Saving
As soon as you reach the surface, inflate your BCD. If you ever face exhaustion, panic, or a medical emergency, floating keeps you alive and visible.
✅ Boat Ladder Awareness
Boat ladders are heavy, unstable, and potentially dangerous.
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Follow crew instructions
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Don’t rush the ladder
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Never climb beneath another diver
Climbing safely is a team effort.
✅ Do Your Buddy Checks Properly
Every week we see common gear mistakes: tanks turned off, missing weights, forgotten fins. These issues are 100% preventable with a proper BWRAF buddy check. At Dive World, this is non-negotiable.
Drift Diving? Follow These 6 Tips
Our own Mario Medarevic offers these golden rules for staying safe during live boating (drift dive) operations:
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Stay Together
You’re more visible as a group than as individuals. -
Be Visible
Launch two DSMBs instead of one. Redundancy saves lives. -
Make Noise
Whistles, air horns, tank bangers—whatever you’ve got. Use them. -
Stay Alert
Keep your head on a swivel. Boats can approach quickly and silently. -
Dive with Reputable Operators
Choose a team that knows how to run proper drift dives. Like us! 😄 -
Be Ready for Pickup
Grab the tagline, remove your fins efficiently, and don’t delay—boats drift faster than divers do.
💡 Dive World Pro Tip: Plan Before the Splash
Don’t wait until you’re bobbing at the surface to figure out where you’re going.
Plan the dive and communicate it before you enter the water. That means:
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Route
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Max depth and time
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Turn pressure
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Emergency protocols
All of this should be confirmed before your giant stride.
Final Thought: Time at the Surface Should Be Minimal
The best divers enter and exit the water with calm, confidence, and efficiency. They:
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Secure their gear
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Stay aware of surroundings
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Keep their minds in the dive until they’re fully back on deck
🌊 Want to Learn These Skills Firsthand?
Join us for a Dive World Divemaster Internship or our Surface Safety Workshop—designed to make you the kind of diver everyone wants as a buddy.
📍 Visit us in Etobicoke
🌐 Explore courses at Diveworld.ca
📧 Contact us
Dive smart. Dive safe.