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Risks related to open water diving and their prevention
OBORNÁ, Veronika
This bachelor's thesis focuses on the risks associated with open water diving and their prevention. Three objectives were determined to elaborate this thesis. The first objective was to find out what kind of knowledge professional and recreational divers have about the risks related to open water diving. The second objective was to examine what knowledge divers have about preventive measures related to open water diving. Last but not least, the third objective was to determine what barriers regarding the open water diving are perceived by divers. The bachelor's thesis consists of a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part is divided into chapters and subchapters describing the history of diving, fundamental diving equipment, basics of physics for divers and physiology related to diving. The heoretical part also describes the most common injuries and diseases occurring during diving, proper first aid as a reaction to them as well as their treatment. Finally, a part of the theory is devoted to the prevention of undesirable situations during open water diving. In the practical part of this thesis a qualitative research was applied. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews. The research sample consisted of ten divers of different ages and different lengths of experience. Five informants were professional divers and five informants were recreational divers. The data obtained from the interviews were processed into four categories, which were further subdivided into subcategories. Using the qualitative research, it was found out that both professional and recreational divers have the necessary knowledge regarding the risks associated with open water diving. Despite essential knowledge and efforts to follow preventive measures, all but one informant experienced a crisis situation during a practice dive, which always turned out well due to proper theoretical preparation for these risk situations. All informants are aware that the biggest risk is the diver himself and overestimation of his own abilities. Regarding the knowledge of preventive measures related to the open water diving, there were differences between the knowledge of professional and recreational divers. All informants had the necessary awareness of the discussed topic, however it was clear that professional divers were more familiar with this issue. All informants were knowledgeable about the necessity of diving training, proper diving equipment, preventive measures and first aid procedures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in case of an emergency situation. Moreover, it has been found out that divers perceive certain obstacles when diving in open water. In addition to poor health or psychological conditions being a barrier to diving, informants also determined low quality natural conditions as a barrier too. Deteriorated natural conditions were seen as a barrier mostly by recreational divers, whereas professional divers dive all year round and in all kinds of conditions. From the results of the research, it was ascertained that divers have sufficient knowledge of the risks associated with open water diving. Furthermore, informants have sufficient knowledge of preventive measures, which enables them to correctly assess certain situations. The fact that the informants consider the deteriorated natural conditions as a barrier to open water diving indicates that they are concerned about the prevention of risks associated with open water diving. This thesis highlights the importance of knowledge of the risks associated with open water diving and their prevention. The results of this bachelor's thesis can be used to supplement the knowledge of some divers, as a teaching material for novice divers or for health professionals who want to be aware of diving-related diseases and acute conditions related to diving itself.
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