PADI Divemaster Certification Practice Exam

What should a diver do if a lift bag starts to runaway while ascending?

1. Hold onto it tightly

2. Let it go

3. Retrieve it carefully

4. Signal for assistance

The correct answer is: Let it go

If a lift bag starts to runaway during ascent, the best action for a diver is to let it go. The primary concern in this situation is safety. Holding onto a runaway lift bag can lead to rapid ascents, which may cause decompression sickness or other serious issues related to the expanding gas in the diver's body due to decreased pressure underwater. When a lift bag ascends uncontrollably, it can also pull a diver upward at an unsafe rate, potentially compromising their buoyancy control and overall safety. By releasing the lift bag, the diver can focus on maintaining a controlled ascent, ensuring they are adhering to safe diving practices, such as performing safety stops, monitoring their ascent rate, and managing their buoyancy. Retrieving the bag carefully is generally advisable but not in this scenario, as it can lead to dangerous conditions. Signaling for assistance might be useful in some situations, but again, it does not address the immediate issue of safely managing an uncontrolled ascent. Thus, the appropriate response in this context is to let the lift bag ascend freely.