incident/accident analysis

Since the beginning of cave diving, there have been numerous accidents and fatalities in the area. The following cases are related to cave and cavern diving accidents and incidents. Non-fatal accidents are considered minor or are called incidents since they can be corrected or handled on site by divers.  

Cave diving rules and procedures are largely founded on lessons learned from accident analysis. Over the past twenty years, there have been substantial changes and great advancements, especially in the fields of equipment technology and understanding of decompression theory, which have also resulted in the evolution of diving education and the advancement of diver skills.

However, the 5 basic principles governing accidents remain consistent and unchanged since the early days of cave diving.

1. Lack of adequate training or diving beyond the limits of training and/or experience.
2. Failure or improper use of the guideline.
3. Failure to reserve at least 2/3 of starting gas for the exit.
4. Exceeding the maximum depth limits corresponding to the level of training or experience.
5. Have a minimum of 3 light sources.

There are, however, many other factors that can contribute to an accident such as, to name a few, solo diving, photo or videography, diving with unfamiliar equipment or buddies, equipment failures, improper emergency procedure, inadequate or poor communication, task overload, ego, buddy separation, etc.

The best way to avoid an unfortunate accident, incident or misunderstanding that results in major problems is to adhere to the standards and protocols, as well as to make sure that none of the basic rules of accident analysis are being violated.