What is your dream dive destination? Whether it is a tropical sea, a lake polka-dotted with shipwrecks, or the chilly waters of a kelp forest, once you find yourself at the water's edge you may feel the urge to investigate the best or most challenging dive sites immediately. Don't jump in too fast! Here are 4 reasons that you should sign up for an easy warm up dive before exploring your personal limits.
1. Even if you bubble-wrap your dive gear, traveling can still damage your equipment. Depending upon your method of travel, your underwater toys may have been hit, bounced or been exposed to severe temperature and pressure changes. The time to discover that your dive computer went into error mode from the altitude change of the flight or that your electronic transmitter jarred loose is not on your first dive to 130 feet on an unfamiliar shipwreck. Signing up for a shallow warm up dive will allow you to confirm that your gear is working properly in a low-risk environment.
2. Divers gain muscle memory after using a piece of dive gear for many dives. Many people find it takes time and a certain amount of frustration to learn to efficiently use a new piece of equipment. I have seen even experienced divers struggle with locating a rear-deflate valve on a new buoyancy compensator (BCD). New wetsuits, drysuits or BCDs usually require small adjustments to weight. New masks may leak or fog. Any time you are using a new or unfamiliar piece of gear, sign up for a warm up dive to confirm that you are comfortable with the gear before going on more advanced dives.
3. Warm up dives are also wise idea when diving with an unfamiliar buddy. No matter how detailed your pre-dive briefing, miscommunications invariably arise on your first dive with a new partner. A warm up dive will help you and your buddy learn to function together as a team before testing your new partnership on a stressful or advanced dive.
4. Every diver is a little anxious and excited before jumping in the water in a new location or after a break from diving. Warm up dives can help you to review diving protocol and familiarize yourself with techniques specific to the dive environment. You will enjoy deep, technical or challenging dives more when you are have refreshed your diving skills and are comfortable and confident in your abilities.
Have I convinced you to make your first dive a warm up dive? All you need to do now is sign up. When choosing the first dive of your vacation, select a dive that will be easy and comfortable for you. This may vary from diver to diver. Most dive operators offer shallow afternoon dives that are a great opportunity to get back in the swing of things. Take advantage of this and you will be ready challenge yourself with more advanced dives first thing in the morning.
Speak up! Do you start your diving vacations with a warm up dive?
Image copyright istockphoto.com, MichaelStubblefield
Comments
I might not always need a warm up dive at every dive site or every buddy. But many times on a dive trip the first few dives can be a little unnerving and can make me a little more relaxed after doing a few dives.
I’ve never thought of it in terms of a “warm-up dive”, but I totally agree about getting settled back in after a hiatus. Frankly, the thought of doing an “advanced” dive my first time back scares me!
I usually dive every couple of years so I now do a pool dive withing a month before I go to get familiar with breathing under water and one quick shallow dive before heading to the open seas to get rid of the anxiety of being in the ocean.