Signal the diver to slow down and verify awareness to keep the ascent safe.

What is the recommended response if a diver is ascending too quickly?

• A. Ascend with them to assist
• B. Ignore them, they will be fine
• C. Signal the diver to slow down and verify their awareness
• D. Call for help immediately

Answer: (C)

The recommended response if a diver is ascending too quickly is to signal the diver to slow down and verify their awareness. This action is crucial because rapid ascents can lead to serious diving-related injuries, including decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. By signaling the diver, you not only alert them to their speed but also engage them in their ascent process, ensuring they remain aware of their actions and the potential risks involved. This approach promotes safety and encourages adherence to proper ascent protocols, such as making safety stops to allow gases to safely off-gas from the body. Addressing a diver's ascent speed directly fosters a collaborative environment in which both divers can prioritize safety and well-being.

Speedy ascent? Not on my watch.

Underwater moments can be magical, but they also come with real, nerve-wracking risks. Picture this: you’re following your buddy toward the surface, bubbles fizzing up around you, the reef softly guiding your pace. Then you notice something off—the other diver is moving up faster than the scenery is rising. It happens more often than you’d think, especially when excitement or a bit of tunnel vision takes over. The question isn’t “will it happen?” but “what do we do when it does?”

Why speed really matters

Ascents done too quickly aren’t just a numbers game on a chart. They’re a safety issue with serious consequences. When you rise faster than the recommended rate, inert gases that your body has absorbed at depth don’t have enough time to off-gas safely. That can lead to decompression sickness, or in the worst cases, an arterial gas embolism. Neither outcome is something you want to face while in the water, far from help.

What the right move looks like

The instinct to reach the surface fast can be strong, but the correct, responsible move is straightforward: signal the diver to slow down and verify their awareness. It’s a small action with big payoff, and it sets a collaborative tone right away. You’re doing two things at once: you’re slowing the ascent, and you’re bringing the other person back into the present moment—back into the shared plan, with both of you in the loop.

Here’s the practical way to handle it, without turning the moment into a standoff:

• Establish contact and make your signals clear. A quick, calm reach for attention is better than shouting underwater or panicking. Eye contact helps you gauge whether your buddy is with you.

• Use an agreed-upon hand signal to slow down. If you’ve trained together, you’ll know the exact gesture. If not, use a simple, mutually understood cue to reduce speed. The key is clarity, not cleverness.

• Verify awareness. After signaling, check for a response. Ask a simple question or request a confirmation that they’re aware of their ascent pace. If they acknowledge, stay close and continue the ascent at a controlled rate.

• If the response is delayed or absent, pause and reassess. You can repeat the signal and, if needed, switch to a more explicit “stop” or “slow down now” cue. Don’t pry or grab; keep things calm and steady.

What signals to use and how to use them

The exact signals you and your buddy use should be something you’ve drilled in a relaxed setting, so they’re second nature when it counts. A few practical approaches:

• Slow-down cue: Use a clear, simple hand gesture that both of you understand as “reduce pace.” Pair it with a brief eye contact check to confirm you’re on the same page.

• Verify awareness: A motion that invites a direct reply, like a thumbs-up or a nod, helps you know they’re listening even if you can’t hear them through a regulator.

• Stop if needed: If the ascent is still too fast after the signal, a firm “stop” gesture and a slight pause can buy time to adjust buoyancy and breathe more steadily.

Now, what if the diver doesn’t respond or continues ascending rapidly?

That’s when teamwork matters most. Stay close, adjust your own buoyancy so you’re not sharing unstable air with a panicked buddy, and keep signaling. If the situation doesn’t improve, you may need to switch to a more explicit approach and, depending on the setting, call for help from others in your group. The aim is to bring the ascent under control safely, not to “win” a moment.

The safety stop and why it’s your friend

A key ally in preventing problems during a buoyant ascent is the safety stop. If you’ve slowed the ascent and both of you are converging toward a safe rate, you’ll often reach a depth of around 5 meters (15 feet) and pause for about 3 minutes. That pause isn’t a fluff moment; it gives inert gases time to off-gas in a controlled way. It’s like a gentle drainage of a bottle of soda—let the fizz settle before you pop the closing cap.

In practice, the stop is simple: breathe slowly, stay relaxed, watch the bubbles drift, and let your body do the rest. If you’re with a buddy, keep the two of you together, share a couple of calm signals, and use the moment to recheck air supply, depth, and gas mix. The pause can feel long in the moment, but it’s the difference between a close call and a smooth, safe ascent.

Prevention: turning good habits into a natural rhythm

The best way to avoid the whole moment is to embed safe ascent habits in the flow of your underwater routine. A few friendly reminders that make a big difference:

• Plan your ascent rate before you start, and keep an anchor point in mind. Think of a steady pace—roughly 9–12 meters per minute—with a safety stop tacked on at around 5 meters for several minutes.

• Watch depth and time with your buddy. If one of you starts to drift up faster than the other, you’ve got a signal to re-check both of your rates and air supplies.

• Practice makes confidence. Run quick, controlled ascent drills in shallow water with a trusted buddy. Rehearsing the signals and responses in a calm setting makes them automatic when it matters.

• Stay buoyant, stay together. If you drift apart, it’s easier to miss each other’s cues. Gentle contact and consistent spacing help everyone stay aligned.

A few tangents that matter (and still come back to safety)

You might be thinking, “Okay, signals, stops, the basics—we’ve heard this before.” And you’re right; there’s a reason these elements keep showing up. Underwater, communication becomes half the gear. Your eyes, hands, and breath are your most reliable tools when words aren’t practical. A moment of shared focus can defuse a risky situation long before it escalates.

On many outings, the simplest signs carry the most weight. A quick eye-lock, a single, clear gesture, and a nod can reset the entire pace. You don’t need a long narration; you need action that respects the limits of the environment and your buddy’s state. That’s the essence of responsible teamwork under the surface.

And yes, you’ll find some moments where emotions run high—excitement, awe at a coral bommie, a sudden burst of bubbles from a passing nurse shark—these are perfect times to ground yourselves with your signals and your plan. The point is to keep both divers safe, calm, and connected, even when the scene around you is exciting.

Real-world reminders you can carry into your next underwater outing

• The moment you notice a faster ascent, switch to the neutral zone: slow down, verify, and maintain awareness for both divers.

• If you’re the buddy, your first duty is to your partner’s safety. Don’t ignore the speed cue, don’t pretend nothing’s happening, and don’t chase the surface with a rushed ascent.

• Respect the safety stop as a non-negotiable step in any ascent. It’s one of the strongest safeguards we have.

• Communication beats everything. Practice the signals in low-stress situations so they’re natural when things heat up.

Final takeaway: safety is a team sport

Ascending too quickly isn’t a sign of bravery or efficiency; it’s a prompt to pause, communicate, and adjust. The right response—signal the diver to slow down and verify their awareness—puts you both in the driver’s seat of the ascent. It’s about shared responsibility, steady technique, and the calm confidence that comes from knowing you’ve got each other’s back.

So, next time you’re sharing a surface-slice of blue and green, keep this in mind: a simple hand signal, a moment of eye contact, and a quick check-in can save a lot of trouble. Grow the habit, trust the process, and let safety lead the way—one controlled ascent at a time.