Would You Like to Have 100% Emergency Oxygen on the Boat While You Are Diving?
100% Emergency Oxygen on the Boat
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Would You Like to Have 100% Emergency Oxygen on the Boat While You Are Diving? |
When you go diving, you probably think about turtles, coral reefs, and maybe that one special fish you hope to see on your next dive. What most divers don’t think about is emergency oxygen, first aid procedures, and who will actually help them if something goes wrong.
And that is completely understandable — as a guest, you should be able to relax and enjoy your dives.
But here is the honest question:
Are you sure that every dive boat you step on has 100% emergency oxygen on board, and people who are trained to use it correctly?
Most of the time, divers simply assume that this is the case. They trust that the dive shop has everything organized, that staff members know what to do, and that safety systems are in place. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, this is not always guaranteed.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we do not believe in assumptions when it comes to safety. That is why we refresh and retrain our staff every year in first aid, CPR, and emergency oxygen administration, not only for instructors and divemasters, but also for boat captains, boat crew, and office staff.
Because accidents don’t only happen underwater — they can happen anywhere.
Accidents Are Rare, But Preparation Is Everything
Scuba diving is a very safe activity when it is done correctly and within established training standards. Serious accidents are rare, especially in controlled environments like the Gili Islands where dive sites are close to shore and conditions are generally calm.
But rare does not mean impossible.
Medical situations can occur:
On the boat after a dive
At the dive center
In the swimming pool
In the resort
Even in the office
It could be a diving-related issue, but it could also be something completely unrelated to diving, such as:
A heart problem
Heat exhaustion
Dehydration
Slipping and falling
Allergic reactions
In all these cases, the first few minutes are critical. Knowing how to react, how to assess the situation, and how to provide oxygen or first aid until professional medical help arrives can make a huge difference.
That is why safety training should never be limited to only one or two people in the team.
Why Emergency Oxygen Is So Important
Emergency oxygen is one of the most effective first responses for many diving-related injuries, including suspected decompression illness and lung overexpansion injuries. But oxygen is also extremely useful for many non-diving medical situations.
Providing 100% oxygen can:
Improve oxygen supply to vital organs
Reduce the effects of shock
Help stabilize a patient until evacuation
Buy valuable time in emergency situations
However, having oxygen on board is only part of the solution.
The equipment is useless if:
No one knows how to assemble it
No one knows how to choose the correct mask
No one monitors the patient properly
No one knows when and how to continue oxygen delivery
This is exactly why Oceans 5 does not only focus on equipment, but on people and procedures.
Training More Than Just Instructors
In many dive centers around the world, safety training is mainly focused on instructors and divemasters. While that is obviously important, it also creates a weak point in the system.
What happens if:
All instructors are out diving?
The divemaster is in the water with students?
A problem occurs at the dive shop or on the boat?
That is when other staff members become the first responders.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we believe that:
Boat captains
Boat crew
Office staff
Dive guides
Divemasters
Instructors
…should all be capable of starting emergency procedures.
That is why, over the coming months, 12–15 staff members will take part in refreshed React Right training, including first aid, CPR, and emergency oxygen administration.
This means that no matter where you are — on the boat, at the dive center, or in the pool — someone nearby knows what to do.
React Right Refresher Under Guidance of Irene and Esmee
This year’s React Right refresher sessions at Oceans 5 are guided by our instructors Irene and Esmee, who are leading both theory and practical training sessions with our team.
The focus of the refresher is not only on:
Remembering the steps
Knowing the theory
But on being confident to act.
During the sessions, staff members practice:
Scene assessment
Calling for help
Providing CPR
Managing unconscious patients
Using emergency oxygen systems correctly
Working as a team during an emergency
Because in real situations, stress levels are high, and people don’t perform based on what they read in a manual — they perform based on what they practiced.
By refreshing these skills regularly, reactions become faster, clearer, and more effective.
Why Annual Refreshers Are Necessary
First aid and CPR skills fade over time if they are not practiced. That is not a personal failure — it is simply how the human brain works.
Procedures that are not used often:
Become slower
Become less accurate
Are more easily forgotten under stress
That is why Oceans 5 does not treat safety training as a “one-time certificate”, but as an ongoing responsibility.
Every year, we refresh:
Emergency procedures
Oxygen administration
Communication protocols
Team coordination
This keeps safety culture alive within the team and makes it part of daily operations, not just something written in the emergency action plan folder.
Safety Is Not Cheap — But Accidents Are More Expensive
Training 12–15 staff members, providing equipment, paying instructors, and scheduling sessions takes time and money. Some might say this is a big investment.
At Oceans 5, we look at it differently.
We believe that:
Preventing accidents is cheaper than dealing with them
Proper response reduces the severity of incidents
Well-trained staff protect guests, colleagues, and the business
But more importantly:
People’s health and safety are not an area where you try to save money.
We are a dive center that has built its reputation on:
Quality over quantity
Small groups
Proper training
Strict standards
Safety training fits naturally into that philosophy.
Covering the Gaps When Instructors Are Not Around
There are moments when:
Instructors are underwater
Divemasters are guiding groups
Boats are at different locations
During those moments, emergencies can still happen.
By training:
Office staff
Boat captains
Boat crew
We make sure that:
Oxygen can be started immediately
Emergency procedures are activated without delay
Communication with emergency services is handled properly
This creates multiple safety layers instead of relying on a single person.
In professional risk management, this is called redundancy — and it is one of the most effective ways to improve safety.
Safety Culture Is Something You Build Every Day
Safety is not only about emergency response. It is about:
How carefully equipment is prepared
How briefings are done
How staff communicate with guests
How problems are reported and discussed
By involving all departments in safety training, Oceans 5 strengthens the overall safety culture of the dive center.
Everyone becomes more aware of:
Potential risks
Early warning signs
Proper procedures
This does not only protect guests — it also protects staff members themselves.
Peace of Mind for Our Guests
Most guests will never see our emergency procedures in action. And that is exactly how it should be.
But knowing that:
Oxygen is on every boat
Multiple people are trained to use it
Staff refresh their skills regularly
…creates an environment where guests can truly relax and enjoy their dives.
Safety should not be something you only notice when something goes wrong. It should be something that quietly supports every dive in the background.
Oceans 5 Is Taking Care of You
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we do not believe that safety is only the responsibility of instructors. We believe it is the responsibility of the entire team.
That is why:
Divemasters
Boat captains
Boat crew
Office staff
Instructors
…are all included in our annual React Right refreshers.
Under the guidance of Irene and Esmee, our staff are rebuilding confidence, refreshing procedures, and strengthening teamwork — so that in the unlikely event of an emergency, help is immediate, professional, and effective.
Because when you are on holiday, discovering the underwater world, the last thing you should worry about is whether someone knows what to do if something happens.
At Oceans 5, we take care of that — so you can focus on enjoying your dives, your holiday, and the beautiful island of Gili Air.
Oceans 5 Gili Air — diving with care, training with purpose, and safety always first.
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