Dangers of Diving Ignored
p. 137 · Read in the full issue
In Cook Is.
IHE death, as a result of pearl - diving, of a married man with to children, at Manihiki, Cook is., November, should show the ne ssity fot a simple course of instruc ,n and subsequent examination tor I suit-divers and diver’s tenders t r e.
In Manihiki medical instructions r the control of divers, standardised I over the world, are ignored and ually the divers are completely un bare of the insidious dangers m llved in their trade.
The naval diving manual lays jwn that suit-divers operating at ) fathoms must not remain at this »pth for longer than 55 m mutes, ien be brought up in stages. If they ive been down for 30 minutes they iust be brought to 20 ft. and held iere for at least 5 minutes, then rought to 10 ft. and held for a irther 11 minutes. If they have een down longer, the times of as* -nt are further increased. It a iver collapses when brought to the irface, he should immediately be ►nt down again and brought up in lower stages. Had this been done i this case the diver s life might ave been saved. . , At present, any diver in the Cooks /ho is prepared to “have a go in >ne of the licensed suits, may go lown. , Shell diving is a most valuable ndustry in the Cook Islands. Under iresent conditions, it is remarkable hat more accidents have not oc :urred.