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Diving related accidents reduced by 40 percent

May 17, 2018 1:35 am

Diving related accidents were reduced by forty percent since the enactment of diving regulation in 2006.

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Jone Usamate says the lack of dive training and awareness is one of the three major causes of diving related accidents in Fiji.

Usamate says the motivation of quick money has driven a number of unqualified divers to take on the occupation and injure themselves in the process.

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Poor maintenance of diving equipment is also a major contributing factor for the previous statistics.

In an effort to address the issue, Usamate says inspectors now go out to inspect equipment used by divers.

“The main intent is that when you are diving first you have to make sure that you are certified because at the moment, people just willingly put it on and they believe without fully understanding the dangers that are involved, they start getting into it.”

Usamate says the third cause of diving related accidents is the unsafe dive practices, the lack of supervision and the absence of emergency treatment equipment.

He adds the ministry closely collaborates with the Fisheries Ministry, the Fiji Navy, the Health ministry and other relevant agencies to raise awareness to help address diving issues.