All diving enthusiasts come to this sport in different ways. Some are attracted by the breathtaking nature of the underwater kingdom, while others want to challenge themselves, overcome fears, and get the adrenaline rush. But there are some important things you need to know before starting out for your first underwater adventure. Therefore, take into account 7 essential scuba diving tips for beginners.
Consider health and general fitness conditioning
Before going on a diving trip with a loved one, it is quite logical to think about whether you have some serious health problems or at least chronic sniffle (rhinitis), sinusitis, otitis media, or other nasopharyngeal diseases. Please note that the listed diseases are practically disparate with scuba diving.
Choose a place
If you plan to devote all your vacation with a loved one exclusively to diving, it is worth considering the three most important factors for underwater swimming: currents, water visibility, and temperature. Choosing a place with suitable conditions, you can enjoy the acquaintance with this sport to the fullest.
Another significant factor to consider when choosing a place for diving is what you would like to see underwater. After all, diverse species of animals live in different parts of the world, so if you want to see turtles, be sure to choose a place where they inhabit. If you are dating your friend, it will be even easier for you to choose a good place for diving, as your interests are similar.
Do not buy any diving equipment
For “amateur” diving, it is not necessary to have your own equipment: diving suit, SCUBA (Self-contained breathing apparatus), depthometer, manometer, etc. – all this stuff can be rented at any diving center. Of course, a mask and paddles would not be out of place, but do not buy any devices until you have made at least a couple of dives! It takes some time to decide what exactly you need. Diving equipment costs a lot of money. If you are going to dive one week a year, it is better to think about renting equipment.
Get through an instruction
Diving is a very pleasant and fascinating pastime. One of the international scuba diving schools once even had the slogan “Diving is fun”. But any fun bears a certain risk, and scuba diving is no exception. Therefore, the first instruction is very important for newcomer divers: it will not only let you know whether you want to go diving afterward (after all, you should learn a lot of things that you need to do by your own before/during/after the dive) but also save your life if necessary. This is one of the most important scuba diving tips for beginners!
Dive with a certified instructor
It is not in vain that scuba diving is considered a team sport, so diving always takes place at least in tandem with a partner. Beginners are advised to dive into the depths of the sea with a certified instructor. The matter is that some abnormal situations can occur underwater. Moreover, panic attacks are not uncommon among the beginners of scuba diving. And perhaps panic is the worst thing that can happen to a novice diver underwater because, in such a state, human behavior is unpredictable. The assistance of the certified instructor during the first dives significantly reduces the possibility of panic attacks.
Do not drink alcohol
A drunken diver underwater is almost a potential drowned man. Of course, the instinct for self-preservation tells most novice divers that alcohol and scuba diving are incompatible, but still, there are some people who need additional instructions on this issue. Also, you should not dive the day after drinking alcohol.
Do not perform undesirable actions underwater
Experienced divers are well aware of what injudicious actions underwater can result in. But you should not gain such an experience first-hand. You should remember that it is undesirable to touch anything without special need when diving. Underwater fauna is of particular danger – the aggressiveness of some sea animals can lead to death. And flora itself has a need for protection, so it should not be disturbed either. That is why at popular resorts, divers are required to wear fingerless gloves. Also, it is dangerous to touch unfamiliar submerged objects, as silt can suddenly rise and significantly complicate the underwater visibility.
