Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what scuba diving really is?Today, scuba diving is one of the fastest growing water sports around the world. Each year, millions of individuals indulge in this activity for fun or a cause. Whatever your reason for wanting to take part in this fun activity, it is best that you first learn as much as you can about it.
What is Scuba Diving?
The word SCUBA is an abbreviation for Self Controlled under Water Breathing Apparatus. Scuba diving is simply an activity where humans use special breathing equipment to remain underwater for long. This is an activity done to explore the undersea world. Special scuba diving gear is used to allow humans to stay under water for long.
Exploring the undersea is a pleasurable experience with destinations like the red sea, Asia as well as the great barrier rift being named as some of the best places to scuba dive. However, this activity can be enjoyed in almost any place with deep waters.
How to Start Scuba Diving
For you to be able to scuba dive, you need some form of certification. For this to happen, you must complete a diving course taken from an existing and licensed certification agency. Once certified, you must find the right gear and the right location for scuba diving.
Finding the right location
You need to do thorough research when selecting the ideal location for your dive. While you can use diagrams and charts for your search, it’s far much easier to talk to an expert. Scuba diving experts can be found in dive shops in any place known to have wonderful undersea attractions. It is also important to consider the local weather of the place you plan to go diving. Find out more about undersea visibility, depths, tides and hazards. Ensure that you find the right kind of dive for your level of experience.
Prepare your gear
Once you have found your perfect location, you need to find the appropriate gear for your dive. The type of gear you pick depends on the location you plan to dive.
The wet suit – the thickness of your wet suit should depend on water temperatures. You can find thickness ranging from 3mm to 7mm. The colder the waters, the thicker the suit should be. The same goes for the hoodies, booties and gloves. This wet suit not only shields you from the cold temperatures, but it also protects you from abrasions or stings from undersea creatures. Go for a suit that fits your body well and offers flexibility.
For the swim fins and fins, go for those with wide channels. These help you in overcoming water resistance and thus enable you to move more efficiently.
You will also need a BCD (buoyancy compensator device) which allows you to reach neutral buoyancy. It also helps in descending or ascending. Ensure that the BCD is in good working condition before taking the dive.
The weight belt is also important as it counteracts the buoyancy of the diving equipment. Go for a weight belt depending on the equipment buoyancy and your buoyancy.
Your diving cylinders or scuba tanks should be tailored to your diving plan. If you plan on diving in warm waters with good visibility, a tank with 80 cubic feet of air will do. Your guide should provide you with guidance on tank suitability. Ensure that the regulator to your tank has been serviced to ensure it works as it should.
The snorkels and masks should be pressure tempered and should come with a nose enclosure. Also, ensure that it is the perfect fit and is watertight.
It is always safe to carry shears and knifes when scuba diving. These can come in handy in case you’re caught between fishing nets or you need to pry rocks.
Do your research
Before you get out to scuba dive, you need to learn as much as you can about the destination. You also need to determine your reason for scuba diving to be able to find the best location in a destination.
If you are still not sure about the best place to scuba dive the fine folks at Living Ocean Scuba can make it easier for you to make a choice.
