Lessons for Life illustration for NovDec2012

Michael Morgenstern

Lessons for Life, one of our most popular sections, teaches divers things they should always remember when hitting the water. In case there are any you've missed, take a look at the following links to the life or death Lessons from 2012.

1. The March/April issue's Lessons for Life discusses "Pride and Glory." After experiencing an equipment malfunction at depth, was it bravado that prevented this diver from asking for help? Follow the link to find out: www.scubadiving.com/keywords/scuba-training/lessons-life.

2. The May Lessons for Life asks, "When is it really safe to fly?" In spite of normally adequate time off-gassing, flying after diving worsens decompression symptoms this diver failed to recognize. Read more at: www.scubadiving.com/training/lessons-life/lessons-life.

3. The June issue's Lessons for Life asks, "Is getting a catch worth your life?" Holding onto a speared fish causes this diver to drown. Find out the whole story here: www.scubadiving.com/training/lessons-life/lessons-life-0.

4. The July Lessons for Life warns, "Taking photographs takes a divers life." Forgetting about everything except the picture spells danger. Follow the link to the full story: www.scubadiving.com/keywords/scuba-diving-safety/lessons-life-taking-photos-takes-life.

5. The August Lessons for Life warns, "Relief might not signal clear ear." Understanding the process can help you save an ear drum. Find out more: www.scubadiving.com/training/lessons-life/lessons-life-save-your-eardrum.

6. The Sept/Oct Lessons for Life, "Lack of training, prep spells doom," examines what happens when far exceeding recreational limits leads to death for a new diver. Read the full story here: www.scubadiving.com/training/lessons-life/lessons-life-lack-training-prep-spells-doom.

7. The Nov/Dec issue of Lessons for Life, "Panic at 10 feet, death in the shallows," explores a situation where improperly configured equipment and latent claustrophobia cause fatality. Learn how this can happen: www.scubadiving.com/lessons-life-death-shallows.