What strategy can divers use to regain composure when feeling stressed?

Employing controlled breathing and focusing on dive training is an effective strategy for divers to regain composure when feeling stressed. Controlled breathing techniques help to calm the body's physiological stress response, reducing the heart rate and promoting a sense of tranquility. This is crucial underwater, where panic can lead to poor decision-making and increased safety risks.

Additionally, focusing on dive training allows divers to reconnect with their skills and knowledge, providing a mental anchor that can help to alleviate anxiety. By recalling training methods and procedures, divers can remind themselves of their capabilities and the steps to follow in order to safely handle any underwater situation. This combination of focused breathing and situational awareness cultivates a more positive mindset, enabling divers to manage stress effectively.

In contrast, high adrenaline movements can exacerbate feelings of stress and lead to heightened anxiety or potential accidents underwater. Calling for help from other divers might be necessary in certain situations, but it may not directly address the individual’s immediate stress response. Similarly, ascending quickly to the surface poses significant risks, including decompression sickness, and does not address the underlying stress.