How should divers react to an emergency ascent situation?

In an emergency ascent situation, remaining calm and prioritizing safety is crucial. Panic can lead to poor decision-making and exacerbate the situation, potentially leading to accidents or injury. By staying calm, divers can assess their circumstances more clearly and execute their ascent with greater control.

Prioritizing safety involves recognizing the potential risks of a rapid ascent, such as decompression sickness or lung over-expansion injuries. Divers should be aware that while the need to ascend may be immediate, the manner in which they do so is significantly important for their health and safety. This typically entails executing a controlled, gradual ascent while utilizing a safety stop if time and conditions permit.

Signaling for immediate assistance can indeed be necessary in certain situations, but it should be a part of the overall strategy after ensuring personal safety and calmness. Quick surface actions without proper control can lead to critical issues, which is why the emphasis is on handling the situation with a calm demeanor first, ensuring the diver can think and react appropriately.