SCUBA DIVING UNIVERSITY / SAFETY
Emergencies & recovery
Recognise trouble early, summon appropriate help and support the handover to emergency professionals.
10 lessons in this section
YouDive educational guide · References checked 30 September 2026 · Independent instructor and medical review pending. This library does not provide certification, individual medical clearance or a dive plan.
Make an emergency action plan
An emergency plan should work at the actual site with the people and equipment present.
Read the guide →02When to call 000 after diving
In Australia, call 000 for a life-threatening emergency and ask for an ambulance.
Read the guide →03Emergency oxygen first aid
First-aid oxygen can support an injured diver while professional care is arranged.
Read the guide →04Drowning and resuscitation awareness
Rescue and resuscitation require immediate action without creating another casualty.
Read the guide →05Immersion pulmonary oedema
Breathing difficulty in the water can be a medical emergency even when the gas supply is working.
Read the guide →06Buddy separation and missing divers
Separation procedures must be agreed before the dive, when everyone can communicate clearly.
Read the guide →07Assisting a distressed diver
Helping effectively begins with recognising your limits and protecting the rescuer.
Read the guide →08Recording an incident and medical handover
Clear observations help responders more than confident guesses about the diagnosis.
Read the guide →09Emergency planning for remote diving
Remoteness changes how long the team may need to support an injured diver.
Read the guide →10Returning after a diving incident
Returning safely requires understanding what happened and addressing the reasons it could happen again.
Read the guide →