Iruka... do you live underwater?!?!
Regarding the question... I have been diving for 13 years... never been "hit"... here is my philosophy about the issue:
1- Be SMART...
2- Do not dive when you don't feel like it, do not get pressured into diving
3- Bad weather? well you don't have to dive!
4- Nice Weather, but when you descend you find a bad current? ABORT your dive... if there is a chance you are at risk... do not take it!
5- Safety first... Fun Last... if you are safe and conditions are favourable, you will have fun!
6- Use your own gear when you can,,, if you are renting, check the gear and then recheck it! be very familiar with it...
7- If your budy is an underwater Commando... you don't have to be one!
8- Remember that YOUR safety and wellbeing comes first!
9- Be a SAFE Diver(Slowly Ascend From Every dive) ... even if you know you are within the limits, 5 minutes for a safety stop will not harm you...
10- Be SMART (again)
The example of the Diver who died in Palau (or whatever) is to me an unfortunate example of what you SHOULD NOT DO!!!!
Why the hell would a diver want to go down KNOWING THERE ARE STRONG CURRENTS by evidence that the Dive Live Aboard gave them BLOODY HOOKS to keep them pinned to the CORALS???!?!??!?! Are they STUPID?!
1- YOU DO NOT HOOK YOURSELF TO ANYTHING WHILE DIVING!!!
2- DO NOT DIVE IN SUCH CONDITIONS... the Live Aboard people should have known about the conditions... is this the first time they go there?!?!
3- Hook yourself next to corals? You know how corals can SCRAPE YOUR SKIN?!??!
4- Should you go down not knowing that there was a current? ABORT the dive... why take a risk??!
Just my 2Cents worth... all the above are IMHO (in my humble opinion) ... it keeps me alive!
Hope this helps!