What should divers do if they encounter disorientation underwater?

When divers encounter disorientation underwater, it is crucial to prioritize safety and maintain communication with their dive buddy. Staying with a buddy ensures that divers have support and assistance during what can be a potentially stressful situation. Ascending slowly to the surface, if necessary, allows divers to regain orientation and make use of their safety stop to mitigate the risk of decompression sickness.

Attempting to swim in circles can exacerbate disorientation rather than alleviate it, making the situation more complex and increasing anxiety. Descending deeper to regain clarity is typically not advisable, as it can lead to further disorientation and increase the potential for encountering dangerous conditions. Swimming straight up is extremely hazardous due to the risk of rapid ascent, which can lead to serious injuries such as decompression sickness or lung over-expansion injuries. Therefore, staying with a buddy and ascending slowly is the safest and most effective approach in this situation.