What should divers do if they lose visibility completely?

Staying calm is crucial in any underwater emergency, especially when visibility is completely lost. By signaling your buddy, you can ensure that both divers are aware of each other’s position and can work together to navigate out of the situation safely. Ascending slowly is essential to avoid decompression sickness; doing so while maintaining control helps to manage buoyancy and minimize risk.

The other options are not advisable practices when faced with a loss of visibility. Swimming towards the surface without caution could lead to rapid ascent, increasing the risk of decompression sickness. Turning off lights and waiting does not contribute to safety and can leave divers disoriented and vulnerable. Ignoring the situation and continuing exploring in zero visibility can lead to dangerous encounters, such as colliding with underwater obstacles or becoming disoriented, which heightens the risk of accidents. Therefore, the approach of staying calm, signaling your buddy, and ascending slowly effectively manages the situation and prioritizes diver safety.