Experienced Attorneys

Scuba diving used to be seen as an adventurous, risky sport. While there remain risks associated with scuba diving, the modernization of equipment and training has brought the sport into the mainstream.  Many remaining risks associated with scuba diving may be the fault of dive operators or dive professionals. Tim Monsees is an experienced scuba diver. In over 20 years of diving experience, he has been certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver, a Stress and Rescue Diver, a Dive Master and as an Assistant Instruction. As such, he has both the legal and scuba experience to address any scuba diving-related incident you may suffer.

Tim Monsees Scuba Diving

Common Causes of Scuba Accidents/Types of Scuba Accidents

  • Defective equipment, including scuba product defects
  • Improperly maintained equipment
  • Dive boat errors, including leaving a diver behind
  • Diving in questionable conditions
  • Boat malfunctions or disasters
  • Negligent dive guides
  • Lost divers
  • Decompression sickness
  • Drownings
  • Nitrogen narcosis
  • The “bends”
  • Unsafe water conditions or visibility
  • Entanglement
  • Cave diving
  • Dangerous animal encounters
  • Improperly maintained equipment
  • Out of air experiences
  • Improperly filled or maintained tanks
  • Poor navigation or getting lost
  • Wrongful death

Industry Standards

Properly trained and staffed scuba diving operations usually follow procedures outlined by one of the major scuba diving organizations.

  • Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI);
  • National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI); or
  • Scuba Schools International (SSI).

Internationally there are others, but most certified divers in the United States and the operations with which they dive, associate with one of these three organizations. Each organization conveys similar guidelines and training, but there are slight differences.

Any diver to “rent” air, must present a “c-card” or certification card that he or she is a trained, certified open water diver. There are levels of certification. At the highest levels of recreational diving, are scuba instructors. There are host of “specialties” for which a diver can seek training and certification within the major categories; e.g. “night diving” or “deep diving.”

Nearly all certification processes involve a combination of the following:

  • Class work or online study;
  • Confined water or swimming pool training;
  • Open water training (in the ocean or an inland body of water).

Who can be held responsible for scuba diving accidents?

  • Sellers or manufacturers of equipment
  • Dive shops or retailers
  • Boat operators
  • Scuba diving operators
  • Scuba diving resorts
  • Dive guides or dive masters
  • Instructors
  • Fellow divers

Damages/Compensation

There are many types of injuries that can result from a scuba diving accident. These include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost income or earnings
  • Disability
  • Brain injury
  • Air embolism
  • Lung expansion injury
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of limbs
  • Scarring
  • Death

Free, Confidential Consultation

Our attorneys are here to help. Contact us today.