If you’re aware of the danger of scuba diving, you’re more likely to be prepared and in turn, enjoy scuba diving trips a lot more. Here are some of the things you need to consider before your next dive.

Roughly 100 people die each year in scuba diving accidents. The biggest cause of death in scuba diving is ultimately a lack of proper training. Either inexperienced divers go beyond their capabilities or else they panic in a sticky situation, making it worse.

The bends is one the most common dangers of scuba diving which occurs because of inexperience or panic. The bends occur when a diver ascends too quickly, essentially disrupting the pressure inside the body. The bends are not only extremely painful, they can lead to paralysis and death. If you experience the bends, you must seek medical treatment immediately. Some time in a decompression chamber may be just what you need to right what has gone wrong.

Other, less serious dangers associated with scuba diving include ear pain from a lack adjusting to the pressure change as well as surface wounds from equipment or the underwater environment.

Although a violent encounter with a shark tops many people’s list of dangers of scuba diving, in reality there’s a very small chance that you will actually come face to face with a shark; and an even smaller chance that shark will attack you. Generally most scuba diving shark attacks that occur take place either because of spear fishing or shark feeding (in which case, you kind of had to see that coming).

There are things you can do to avoid the dangers of scuba diving. Don’t fly 12 hours before or after flying. Never hold your breath while ascending. Never drink while diving and always dive with somebody. If you have any sort of trouble during or after a dive and don’t feel well, get immediate medical help. You may not realize that you’re in trouble until it’s too late.