What is the primary purpose of practicing rescue drills in diving?

Practicing rescue drills in diving primarily serves to enhance readiness and improve team coordination among divers. When divers regularly engage in these drills, they familiarize themselves with the procedures and roles that need to be executed in a rescue scenario. This repetition builds confidence and proficiency, enabling divers to react more efficiently during an actual emergency. Enhanced team coordination ensures that all members know their responsibilities and can work seamlessly together, reducing response times and increasing the effectiveness of the rescue effort.

While the other options may have merit in different contexts, they do not encompass the main goal of rescue drills. Simply increasing the number of dives performed or teaching new diving techniques may not directly contribute to the preparedness necessary in a rescue situation, and reducing reliance on safety equipment contradicts safety protocols. The focus of rescue drills is squarely on ensuring that divers can respond correctly and cohesively when lives may be at stake.