Scuba Skills
Having someone at your side grants you a sense of safety and gives you confidence. Nevertheless, it may happen that you lose sight of each other during the dive. Getting separated from your buddy can be an unpleasant experience evoking anxiety and disorientation. So you should know how to prevent and deal with buddy separation if it does happen to you.
Scuba diving goes hand in hand with a buddy system and we won’t be the first to tell you about its importance; however, with such a crucial topic as this one, repetition is more than necessary. For beginners, having a buddy on a dive is a must. That being said, even if you are a professional diver, a good buddy can literally be a life-saver in some situations. So, let’s look at why the buddy system is so important, how to find a good buddy, and how to become a better buddy yourself.
Some time ago we have talked about different factors that influence your air consumption rate, as well as a few ways to calculate it. Hopefully, you have already had a chance to measure your SCR/DCR and can now move from theory to practice by using this knowledge in real-life diving situations. That being said, you should keep calculating your SCR periodically to measure your progress as you gain experience and become more comfortable in the water.
Scuba diving is a great way to explore the underwater world, but before taking a plunge into the deep blue with a tank behind your back, you need to get certified. Scuba certification is designed to provide aspiring divers with proper training and knowledge required to practice scuba diving safely and responsibly. Moreover, most dive shops will not rent or sell gear without proof of certification.
Even when you surface from your dive, it is not quite over yet. You still need to convey your status to the crew and get to the boat. What's more, you should be prepared and know how to act in case you get separated from the boat or need urgent help. So here are 6 simple but important tips for surface signaling.
The term “muck” diving, coined by a scuba legend Bob Halstead, takes its name from the sediment that lies on the bottom of many dive sites. This sediment can be a mixture of sand, silt and a variety of natural debris such as dead corals or coral rubble. Although typical muck diving sites may appear to be desolate and uninspiring at the first glance, you really need to give this activity a chance.
Every diver learns at least one water entry technique during their Open Water course. However, as they start diving in different conditions, they inevitably discover that there are actually several ways to get into the water. Most of the time the diver can simply choose the method he or she is comfortable with. In some cases though, there is no choice and the strategy needs to be selected based on the situation. So, let us take a look at five of the most common methods of water entry for scuba divers.
As we all know, human eyes are poorly adapted to seeing in water. Therefore, a mask is among the essential parts of a scuba gear set. That being said, almost every diver at one point or another during their time underwater has experienced mask leaks. And while for experienced divers, having to remove a scuba mask underwater is a nuisance, many new divers struggle with mask clearing techniques. A suddenly flooded or removed mask is one of the most common sources of panic. Learning how to prevent it and deal with the situation calmly is a crucial skill, which, though sometimes scary, can be mastered with the correct technique and a lot of repetitive practice.
Shore diving is one of the most underrated diving forms. Contrary to the common misconception, many fantastic dive sites can be found just off the shores. It is also not, as some people think, an activity that only novice divers would enjoy. In fact, shore diving can sometimes be more challenging and require more planning and preparation than a simple backward roll off of a boat. Despite the extra work, shore diving is very rewarding, and if you have never tried it you may be missing out big time.
Scuba vacation is a great way to relax, unwind, meet new people and, of course, enjoy some lovely diving. Beware though, as you can often come across “that guy” - a discourteous diver, who completely ruins the experience for everybody around. Now the tricky part is that if you take a good look around your dive boat and can’t spot that annoying guy (or gal), you are either very lucky, or it might be you! So, here are a few tips on how to avoid the most common scuba faux pas and ensure that you will fit right in on board of every dive boat.
Ear clearing is an essential skill for both scuba and freediving, yet it is also one of the most common issues divers have. An estimated 25% of all divers consistently find themselves struggling to equalize. Contrary to the popular belief, in most cases, it is the technique that causes trouble, not the anatomy or illness. In a very few individuals allergies, chronic infection or nasal polyps may play a role.
When you are about to dive underwater, your scuba gear is your life support, and having it properly setup is key to a safe and comfortable dive. Therefore, your pre-dive preparation and especially the equipment check shouldn’t be taken lightly. In case there are any equipment issues, it is important that you discover them before getting into the water.
“Breathe normally and never hold your breath" - this is probably one of the simplest and, at the same time, most perplexing rules for beginner scuba divers. Many novices discover that as soon as they are instructed to breathe normally, for some reason it becomes increasingly difficult, especially when it comes to breathing underwater. So why does this happen and what does it really mean to breathe normally during a scuba dive? Let's try to answer these questions.
Underwater navigation is a must-have skill for every safe and successful diver. Because it is more complex than land navigation, relying on your sense of direction alone will most likely get you in trouble. Therefore, you need to navigate actively in order not to get lost. But how do you do that?