Wednesday January 25, 2012
As a scuba diving instructor, I have developed an almost preternatural sense of hearing. I notice the pfffffffftttt sound of a diver holding down the power inflate button on his buoyancy compensator (BC) every time he adds air to his BC. When I am diving with new or inexperienced divers, this noise strikes terror into my heart. I worry that the diver has added too much air to his BC, or that he is using the inflate button to ascend. My fear is that he will send himself into an uncontrolled ascent, which is one of the worst things a diver can do underwater. Doing so increases a diver's risk of decompression illness. Scuba diving ascents should always be slow and controlled. What is the maximum safe ascent rate?
More dive safety articles:
• What If You Exceed a No-Decompression Limit?
• What Is a No-Decompression Limit?
• Why Make Safety Stops on Every Dive?
About.com Scuba on Facebook | My Scuba Diving Newsletter
Image © istockphoto.com, Mark_Doh
Wednesday January 18, 2012
Is scuba diving dangerous? As with any adventure sport, some risk is involved. Humans are not built to breathe underwater, which means that every time a diver descends, he is completely dependent upon his equipment, skills, and emergency training to ensure that he surfaces safely. This truth, while it may sound frightening, should not discourage prospective divers. However, it should encourage divers to approach the sport with an appropriate amount of respect. Scuba diving is not dangerous as long as a diver seeks thorough training, follows safe diving guidelines, uses proper gear, and dives within his experience level. Read safety statistics and facts.
Risks of diving (and how to avoid them):
• Decompression Sickness (Bends)
• Nitrogen Narcosis
• Ear Injuries
About.com Scuba on Facebook | My Scuba Diving Newsletter
Image © istockphoto.com, Rainervonbrandis
Monday January 16, 2012
Have you ever have dreamed of floating weightlessly like an astronaut, investigating unusual species like a field researcher, or looking for lost objects like a treasure hunter? Scuba diving can make these dreams a reality! Scuba diving is relatively easy and only requires a short period of training to get started. Whether your goal in diving is fish watching, ocean conservation, or simply meeting adventurous people, seventy percent of the globe becomes accessible to you the moment you learn to breathe underwater! Here are easy steps to take to start learning to scuba dive. Read more.
Reference articles for new divers:
• Can I Scuba Dive? Scuba Prerequisites
• Decide on a Scuba Course Format
• How to Equalize Your Ears for Diving
About.com Scuba on Facebook | My Scuba Diving Newsletter
Image © istockphoto.com, Meeko
Saturday January 14, 2012
In any profession, there are good clients and there are clients that make you want to tear your hair out and cry "Why me?" Diving is no different. While ninety-nine percent of my divers are wonderful human beings who love and respect the underwater world, there are bound to be exceptions. One of my worst experiences as a dive instructor was also one of the most comical. Here is a true story about teaching two (shall we say headstrong) children to dive. Read more
More true tales of dive instruction:
• How I Knew I Was Addicted to Diving
• The Pranksters
• True Tales of the Free Pool Demo
About.com Scuba on Facebook | My Scuba Diving Newsletter
Image © istockphoto.com, MichaelStubblefiel