| So you've been thinking about going scuba diving, but | | | | during the day. some fish like to roam at night. You |
| you don't know anything about scuba diving. Fear not | | | | should definitely take a course before attempting a |
| because I’ll help you out with some great basic | | | | night dive. You should also dive during the day where |
| information on scuba diving. The first question we | | | | you will be diving at night to get a familiarity with |
| have to ask ourselves is; what is scuba diving. | | | | that area and terrain. During a night dive you should |
| According to Websters Dictionary scuba diving is | | | | always have an light torch or flashlight. (plus a back |
| defined as one who swims underwater with the aid | | | | up) |
| of scuba gear. The word scuba is actually an | | | | Cave diving is nothing like open water diving. albeit |
| acronym for Self Contained underwater Breathing | | | | the simple fact that your not in the open. Open |
| Apparatus. So basically if you don’t have an alien | | | | water scuba divers are accustomed to not being |
| device giving you air you aren’t scuba diving. | | | | completely surrounded and with the freedom to |
| Now that you have a vague idea of what scuba | | | | move and swim wherever they choose. Cave diving |
| diving is and your ready to take your first plunge, | | | | is different; you will often be following a predefined |
| maybe we should discuss the different types of | | | | course through narrow crevasses into great |
| dives there are. There is snorkeling, free-dives and | | | | "rooms". Due to the being in a cave there is no |
| deep dives. Free-dives technically isn’t a form of | | | | natural light source so while cave diving you would |
| scuba diving it is recommended to do before actually | | | | extra scuba diving equipment. You will need an |
| scuba diving. A free dive is any of various aquatic | | | | underwater torch or underwater light. Once you are |
| activities that share the practice of breath-hold under | | | | past the entrance you will not be able to see without |
| water. Free diving is great practice for breathing | | | | it. The darkness is absolute. The only light you will get |
| exercises and fin practice. Snorkeling is the practice | | | | is the light you bring with you. As part of your |
| of swimming through a body of water with the use | | | | training, you should know how to secure the strap to |
| of a snorkel. A snorkel is basically a breathing tube | | | | your wrist or Buoyancy compensating device (BCD) |
| that goes from your mouth and sticks out of the | | | | to ensure that it will not be lost if it is dropped. As |
| water so you can intake air. Snorkeling is the best | | | | exhilarating as it is to be diving in a cave there are |
| practice for scuba diving. You get to observe | | | | few things more frightening than being disoriented |
| underwater life in a natural setting but because of | | | | deep within a cave, with no light. Scuba divers always |
| the restrictions with the length of the tube your not | | | | dive with a buddy, but in cave diving a buddy with a |
| going to get very deep. | | | | light can save your life if your light burns out, gets |
| That brings us to deep dives or basically scuba | | | | broken or is inadvertently dropped and lost. |
| diving. Scuba diving itself is composed of six types of | | | | Wreck diving has the same concept as in cave |
| dives. Those are: open water diving, night diving, | | | | diving with its penetrative movements, however |
| rescue diving, cave diving, wreck and finally drift | | | | cave diving is something totally different upon itself. |
| diving. Open water diving being the most basic and | | | | Special training is needed to be a wreck diver. All |
| most common of dives types. Its called open water | | | | enclosed underwater spaces have potential danger, |
| diving because if a problem were to arise one could | | | | but wrecks especially so, since the structures can |
| reach the atmosphere with obstacle to breathe air. | | | | often be brittle, imbalanced or unstable, with poor |
| Unlike cave and wreck diving. Your not a scuba diver | | | | visibility. |
| until you get your first level of certification which | | | | This brings us to drift diving. Drift diving is a great |
| states that that you are certified to dive in open | | | | way to relax, it is also an great way to preserve |
| water (in contrast to the controlled environment of a | | | | your tank and stay submerged for longer periods of |
| swimming pool). | | | | time. In drift diving the diver descends into water |
| Rescue diving is exactly what it is, rescue diving. | | | | with a known current and after obtaining neutral |
| Not anyone can just be a rescue diver, rescue diving | | | | buoyancy lets the current carry him along. When drift |
| qualifications are extremely hard to get. as a rescue | | | | diving it is required that you have a boat to drop you |
| diver you must learn : | | | | off, but to also follow you because once you begin |
| Transports - including “piggyback swimming” | | | | drifting you will be carried quickly away from your |
| and surface transport | | | | drop-off point - often much more quickly than you |
| Surface Rescues - including first aid while floating in | | | | realize or expect. It is important to consider the |
| open water | | | | direction of tidal streams as well as their strength to |
| Depth rescues - helping and retrieving a victim from | | | | avoid divers being swept into dangerous areas such |
| depth | | | | as shipping lanes. It is also important to plan for the |
| Strategies for boat and shore diving emergency | | | | danger of separation, either underwater or at the |
| situations | | | | surface. Each diver should carry an appropriate |
| Standard First Aid - like CPR, wound dressing, | | | | signaling device and compass. |
| immobility techniques | | | | Now that you know the basics on the types of |
| Aquatic First Aid - similar to lifeguard skills | | | | dives and scuba dives you can get ready to strap on |
| For those who want to take their diving skills to | | | | your scuba diving gear and scuba diving equipment. |
| higher levels and work as a scuba instructor, dive | | | | Remember scuba diving can be fun and exhilarating |
| master or guide, the rescue diving certification is | | | | however it is also dangerous. When diving you should |
| recommended. | | | | always have a buddy. Also you should check your |
| Night dives are for those who want to see an even | | | | scuba diving gear and scuba diving equipment before |
| more variety of sea creatures. As with any habitat | | | | jumping in. Have fun. |
| above or under the sea not all animals are awake | | | | |