Scuba Skills

As a diver, you probably already have some understanding of tides and tidal movements, since these natural phenomena can influence your dives greatly. However, by far not all divers know how to read tide tables and put the obtained information to good use. In this article, we’ll try to go over all the essential things you need to remember about tides and tide tables.

Diving in currents can potentially be one of the most interesting and exciting experiences. Because currents carry plankton, a lot of fish and marine animals that feed on it are drawn to the area, making it a lively dive site to explore. However, currents can also be dangerous, if you are not prepared and trained. Whether you are on a planned drift dive or get caught in a current unexpectedly, there are a few things you need to remember to deal with the situation properly.

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?

When it comes to your scuba equipment assembly, there are many little details that need to be taken care of. Sometimes, tasks that seem simple at first, such as mounting your BC on a tank, may present a real challenge, especially if done for the first time.

Don’t we all want our dives to last as long as possible? Well, the key to achieving this is understanding and improving various factors that determine the duration of each particular dive. While there are many aspects to consider, today we are going to talk about one of the most crucial influences - your air consumption rate.

Whether you are diving shallow or deep, from a boat or shore, and following any type of the profile, most of your dives will end with a vertical ascent to the surface. Therefore, safe ascent control is one of the most crucial scuba skills every diver should master. Unless performed correctly, ascent is often the part of the dive that carries the greatest risk of injury.

Deep diving is one of the most fascinating forms of scuba. It offers you a unique chance to observe some rare species of marine life and explore various special environments. However, these exciting new experiences come with a few risks, such as DCS or running low on air. Luckily, all of these potential dangers are avoidable, if you have proper training, right equipment, and enough experience. So let us briefly discuss a few essential tips that will help you to stay safe and enjoy your deep dive.

Planning to dive into the deep blue waters and explore the world below? Probably you have already learned the importance of having a properly functioning gear set and double-checking all of your equipment before each dive. But have you devoted enough attention to your most essential instrument - your body? Staying physically fit is equally important if you want to enjoy every moment of being down there and love the thrill that you feel. If your body is unhealthy, the experience will be tiring and may even cause you to get hurt. So let’s take a look at a few basic, but effective ways to get in shape and improve your diving performance.

Regardless of what sport or situation is being referred to, safety comes first. A scuba diver should always be safe while they are underwater because the sea is full of unidentified creatures that are poisonous, harmful or scary. Of course, the only way to be safe underwater, when you practically have no one to protect you but yourself, is by obtaining and strengthening your sense of situational awareness.

It is human nature to crave thrill and excitement. This is the reason why many people go to certain extents just to acquire the adrenaline rush they crave for. They do so by doing something recreational and fun like scuba diving. One of the most thrilling, yet safe sports in the world is scuba diving, which is now one of the most sought after sports as well. In fact, it is also quickly becoming the initial career choice of many people all around the world.

Do you want to become a professional diver? It takes time, effort, and patience to become a good diver. You have to take responsibility for charting your own course and learning about how to dive like a pro. There is a natural progression to diving and the following six tips will go a long way in achieving your goal of becoming a professional diver.

It is impossible to generalize what kicking style is the best to use in the water because different conditions, goals, and diver abilities play a role. However, whichever you choose to apply personally, it is best to remember a few do’s and don’ts that can be applied to all kicking styles.

If you do find yourself in an emergency while diving, your life could depend on your ability to handle your weighting system. I sincerely hope you never have to face such a situation, but in diving, as in life, it is better to be prepared. Here’s the problem: most divers rely on weights for only one thing - to submerge. While most diving training courses teach divers how to remove weights in an emergency, it can be hard for a diver in trouble to recall one lesson dimly remembered from some long-ago classroom.

The other day I realized that I've been writing these blogs talking about what divers can do after they are certified but never wrote one on the actual certification process. This is actually starting to really puzzle me as the open water course is one of my favorites to teach. Certification starts first by signing up for a course, a list can be found here.