[djchris]

Divers say diving around Pulau Hantu and other dive spots have its risks so it is always prudent to take necessary precautions.

31-year-old Jacki Ng, a certified dive instructor, has been to Pulau Hantu many times for dives, and also to train people.

He says the area is popular because the dive sites are sheltered from strong currents.

It also has a large reef that extends out to sea.

While refusing to speculate on the cause of the latest accident which claimed the life of 21-year-old Sue Qing Wen, Jacki, who has been diving for 10 years, says there are risks at dive spots.

He says: "Not just Pulau Hantu but other dive spots in Singapore can have low visibility. When I mean low, I mean about 1 or 2 metres and sometimes even lower than that. When in that kind of condition, it can be dangerous because if you can't see, the boat on the surface can be a danger to you when you are surfacing."

Jacki says strong currents can also sweep a diver away but the key is to ensure necessary precautions are taken before every dive.

He said: "Well I would say that almost all accidents, (many) big accidents are humanly possible to be managed or avoided. Take care of your equipment and do a proper check before you dive, training wise - the competency of the diver to do a dive, or not to do a dive. These factors put together will mean whether you enjoy the dive, or you don't really enjoy the dive."

And Jacki says the accident will not put him and his friends off diving in the area.

This is the fourth diving fatality in Singapore waters in the last 16 years.

The last one was seven years ago, when an undergraduate died while skin-diving - that is diving without an oxygen tank - off Pulau Hantu. - CNA/ch