What is the primary concern when performing an underwater approach to an entangled survivor?

The primary concern when performing an underwater approach to an entangled survivor is the rescue swimmer's safety. In such a high-stakes situation, the rescuing swimmer needs to be acutely aware of their own ability to navigate and perform effectively while also managing the risks posed by the environment and the situation at hand.

When approaching an entangled survivor, the rescuer may face various hazards, such as strong currents, potential entanglement themselves, and limited visibility. Prioritizing the rescue swimmer's safety ensures that they can carry out the rescue effectively without becoming a victim themselves, which would complicate the rescue effort and potentially endanger the survivor as well.

Other considerations like visibility underwater, the survivor's mental state, and environmental conditions are certainly important factors to assess, but they become secondary when the rescuer's own safety is at stake. Only when the swimmer feels secure in their approach can they proceed to safely assist the survivor.