Scuba diving is a fun, exciting and exhilarating recreational activity that has been a favorite among outdoor adventure seekers for years. However, before you start getting all excited about scuba, you have to be aware that diving does carry its own set of uncertainties.
Therefore, before entering the world of scuba diving and eventually start preparing for your first scuba dive, it is important to understand and get to know all the basics, practicalities, and risks that are tangled with this activity.
Scuba Diving Schools
Entry into the world of scuba diving begins with extensive basic diving training at the hands of qualified and certified instructors and diving schools. Training can stretch from a few days to few weeks, depending on how well you manage to act on the fundamentals.
Classroom Training
All the theoretical facets of scuba diving are discussed. Classroom training generally covers various topics, including a preview of basic diving skills, dive planning, physiological connotations of a dive, maintenance and selection of equipment, and safety measures which are to be taken for diving.
Pool Sessions
This training phase generally involves hands-on skills training which are performed in a swimming pool. In majority of the cases, two-third time of a session is dedicated to pool training in which you are taught how to perform multiple diving skills previewed in prior classroom sessions. For example, emergency troubleshooting, equipment handling, buoyancy skills, mask removal, and many more.
Preparing for Your First Scuba Dive
So, now that you have your scuba certification, you might be eager to go on your first scuba dive. While the certification process might have reviewed all the basics, there are still a few practicalities you should know in order to make your first underwater experience perfect. Follow the tips below to begin preparing for your first scuba dive:
Choose a Suitable Location
Knowledge and preparation is the key to success. And in order to achieve success with scuba diving, thorough research is required to select the best location for your first underwater experience. While objective research, such as diagrams and charts, prove helpful, there is nothing more useful than professional advice and experience.
Attractions: The location you choose should have underwater sights, including an assortment of plants and animals, caves, shipwrecks, and coral reefs. You can usually find coral reefs in tropical climates.
Visibility: Under the water, visibility can vary from as high as 100 feet to lower than 2 feet. This may depend on weather or sea conditions. Therefore, do consider a location that offers maximum visibility.
Depth: Since you are a beginner, it is advised to not dive below 130 feet. This is mainly because diving below this depth requires advanced equipment and training, which only comes with numerous underwater training sessions.
Get Your Gear Ready!
Congratulations! You are just two steps away from your first scuba dive. Now, that you have determined the location, it’s time you get your gear ready.
Perform a Final Check
Now that you have prepared all your gear, it is imperative to prepare yourself. Ensure that you have hydrated yourself completely and clear your mind of all tensions and problems. Maintain a positive attitude and enjoy swimming past fishes, dolphins and caves, etc.
