TRAVEL Vessel Incident Survival: Firefighter Principles Every Liveaboard Diver Should Know – by Barry Lipsky, President, Long Island Divers Association Barry is a NAUI Public Safety Diving Instructor & Bayport, NY Fire Department Dive Instructor
For most divers, a liveaboard is the ul- timate way to experience diving – close- knit camaraderie, multiple dives per day, and access to remote waters. But as a firefighter, I’ve learned firsthand that emergencies don’t wait for ideal condi-
Check for fire extinguishers, CO and smoke detectors, and the location of life jackets and rafts. Practice trying on the life jackets several times. Ask the crew about night-watch proce- dures. Knowing who is awake increases your margin of safety during overnight hours. Prepare for an Emergency: Make It Muscle Memory . Firefighters train repeatedly in full darkness because emergen- cies rarely happen in good lighting. You should practice the same concept. During daylight, open your hatch or door several times until the motion becomes automatic. Then practice locating it in
tions. Smoke spreads fast, disorientation happens faster, and the human body reacts instinctively – often in ways that work against survival. That is why preparedness must be part of every diver’s mindset, especially when living onboard. My goal is simple: give divers and group leaders the same self-rescue concepts
the dark – eyes closed, hand sliding along the wall or ceiling. Memorize any obstacles around your sleeping area: furniture, door lips, ceiling beams. In a real emergency, vis- ibility may be zero. Your hands must guide you when your eyes cannot. Visualize the route upright and sideways. In an event in- volving smoke, flooding, or inversion, ori- entation changes instantly. When It’s Time to Exit. If an alarm sounds or you detect smoke, time is your most valuable asset. Know what the alarm sound is and what it means. Raise the alert immediately and head for the exit – no de- lays, no gathering belongings beyond your go bag. As firefighters learn early, hesitation
firefighters use so they know how to re- spond before, during, and after a vessel in- cident. Survivability is built long before the emergency begins. Before the Trip: Build Your Personal Readiness. Every firefighter knows that success in an emergency starts with having the right tools ready at the right moment. Divers should approach liveaboards the same way. Travel with copies of your essential docu- ments sealed in a waterproof pouch. Pack a small waterproof “go bag” containing your passport, medication, phone, ID, wallet, and a personal locator beacon if you have one.
Include a bright, waterproof flashlight and keep it within arm’s reach when you sleep. In darkness or smoke, light be- comes your lifeline. This isn’t over-preparation; it’s discipline. In the fire service, we call it pre-incident planning – thinking ahead so your body already knows what to do. What to Look for Onboard. Once on the vessel, conduct your own personal safety walk-through. Firefighters always orient themselves to exits when entering any structure, and divers should do the same on a liveaboard. Identify both pri- mary and secondary escape routes. Locate stairwells, hatches, and points that lead directly to open air. Count the number of steps, doors, windows, railings, or handholds between your bunk and the nearest exit. Start by making contact with the wall and never let go all the way to the exit point. If thick smoke were present and you had to crawl, those tactile refer- ence points could save your life.
is deadly. Stay low, use a wall or railing to maintain orientation, and move deliberately. Once outside, put on your flotation device and remain clear of hazards such as flames, debris, or falling gear. If you need to abandon ship, use long whistle blasts and stay with others until rescue arrives. Final Thoughts for Retailers and Group Leaders: When retailers lead groups aboard liveaboards, they play the same role firefighters play when teaching fire safety: they empower people with knowledge that can save lives. By sharing these principles with your travelers – before departure and again onboard – you transform them from passengers into prepared, situationally aware divers. Because in any emergency, one truth holds: It’s not liability – it’s survivability.
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