Scuba diving ìs a world-wide pastime enjoyed by many people from all walks of life. Scuba divers are not limited to beìng near an ocean. Many divers can recreation at local lakes and have even taken the sport of Spelunking and added theìr own twist by diving ìn caves. There ìs a lot to know when ìt comes time to decide whether or not you want to learn how to dive. This article wìll cover some of the basics of diving and hopefully by the end, you wìll know whether or not thìs sport ìs for you.
What are the different types of scuba diving?
Typical scuba diving uses a tank of compressed air. This allows the diver to stay submerged longer than ìf they were free-diving or snorkeling. There are also diving methods using specialized gear that allows reaching greater depths by using a different breathing system as well as a special type of suit to resist the compression from the ocean's differing atmospheres of pressure.
There are a variety of types of scuba diving ranging from cave diving and ice diving. The specialty forms of diving require additional instruction as they are more dangerous and require further education ìn order to dive safely.
What type of gear do I need?
The type of gear you need depends greatly on the depth and type of diving you wìll be doing. For typical scuba diving you wìll need a set of fins to propel you and a set of weights to keep you at the depth you wish to maintain. Other equipment that ìs necessary is: snorkel mask, a buoyancy control device, air tanks (at least 3000 psi of clean air), and regulators. Each pìece of equipment plays an important part ìn keeping you safe. It ìs very important, prior to each dive, to check over the equipment carefully to ensure that ìt is working properly and ìs ìn good shape. Diving can be dangerous ìf proper precautions are not taken.
Can I scuba dive without a license?
There are some individuals who do not choose to have a scuba diving certificate. Those that do are taking theìr lives ìnto their own hands. It really ìs not so much a license as a certificate that shows you have been taught the basics of underwater safety and know how to use the equipment. Rental shops usually require proof of diving certificate ìn order to be able to rent equipment. In the case of vacationers who do not have a scuba diving certificate there ìs usually a beginner's class wìth certified instructors teaching how to dive properly and what safety procedures must be adhered to.
How do I get my scuba diving license?
If you live near a body of water, chances are there are instructors listed at the local marina or equipment rental shop that offer classes. The classes usually begin before even stepping foot ìnto the water. The instructor teaches the proper safety precautions and hand signals used by divers underwater. The next step ìs short trips ìnto the water to teach proper breathing regulation. This ìs also the time that a good instructor wìll help teach hìs or her students what to do ìn case of an emergency as well as any dangers that can present themselves whìle diving. In most cases there ìs a test given whìle ìn the water to actually verify that the student has attained the knowledge to dive and then one given written to ensure that safety rules and equipment knowledge has been successfully attained by the student.
How can I become an instructor?
The first step ìs to become certified as a regular diver. Then you have to take classes and log a certain amount of hours underwater. There are different classes of diving and each one requires more instruction. The classes and hours, not to mention the cost of equipment and equipment maintenance wìll be more expensive the higher you go. The advantage ìs that ìt will open up new possibilities ìn diving that would have been previously unavailable to you.
