Top Scuba Diving Safety Rules Scuba diving is an amazing pastime. There is something about being underwater that transports you into a whole new world. A fairly young sport, recreational scuba diving took off in the 1980s and continues advancing in safety and quality. Nevertheless, scuba diving is a dangerous sport, and even experienced divers should not dive carelessly. Here are some safety tips to consider when diving. Before the Dive: Be Certified and in Good Shape Classified as an extreme sport, scuba diving should not be taken lightly. Being trained is vital to enjoying your experience while staying safe. There are many scuba diving certification courses available, with PADI and NAUI being the two main certification agencies. While certification is an expensive and somewhat lengthy process, once you receive your card, you are certified for life. Checkout dives or refresher courses are also often available for certified divers who haven’t dived for a while (generally 6 months to a year). No matter if you are a beginner or veteran, always dive in good physical condition and know your limits. If you’re tired, sick, or just not feeling well, don’t dive. This hurts your performance underwater and increases your risk of DCS (decompression sickness). Have Proper Eye Wear and Equipment Being properly equipped is critical to diving safely. Make sure you have all needed equipment, such as a depth gauge, and know how to use and maintain your gear. Proper eye wear is also important as bad decisions can occur if you can’t see well underwater. For divers who need glasses, investing in a prescription diving mask not only provides 20/20 vision underwater, but allows you to more fully enjoy your dive. Know What You’re Doing For any level diver, know what you’re getting into. Practice and review primary diving skills such as: swimming, equipment handling, mask and buoyancy abilities, and emergency procedure. There are also many types of diving, including deep diving, cave diving, and wreck diving. While new dives can be exciting, don’t dive beyond your ability and generally make conservative decisions to stay safe. During the Dive: Don’t Hold Your Breath Breathe continuously while underwater. Be relaxed, breathe slowly, and exhale fully. Holding your breath or taking short, shallow breaths can throw off your rhythm and make you rise too quickly to the surface, which can lead to lung damage, aneurysms, and even death. Always Dive with a Buddy Never dive alone. Keep close to your diving buddy (usually within ten feet) and stay in visual contact. Frequently check in with each other using the “okay” hand signal, where you use your index finger and thumb to make a circle. Diving with a partner can be the deciding factor in life or death situations. Make a Safety Stop At the end of your dive, pause before your final ascent. Stay at around 15 feet for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes to allow yourself to decompress and to adjust your buoyancy. Depending on the situation, some experts recommend stopping for 10 to 15 minutes, as longer and deeper dives require longer safety stops. scuba-diver gear
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 07:29:43 +0000
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