| This question may sound amusing to some, but there | | | | yourself with knowledge of the risks and how they |
| are many out there who will never take scuba diving | | | | are to be avoided. For starters, you may have heard |
| classes despite a desire to try it, because they have | | | | of decompression sickness, or what is known as "the |
| been convinced by friends, or maybe Hollywood, that | | | | bends." This is caused by nitrogen accumulating in the |
| the activity is dangerous. This article should help put | | | | joints, and is easily avoided by following proper |
| things in perspective and convince you that although | | | | decompression procedure. Inner ear damage can also |
| there are risks just like almost any sport, they are | | | | lead to hearing loss, and is caused by the high |
| avoidable if you follow the rules and common sense. | | | | pressures experienced by divers under water. Again, |
| The movie Jaws may have something to do with it, | | | | there are simple techniques to prevent this, and in |
| but many people who are perfectly suited to scuba | | | | fact this is one of the first things students learn in |
| diving will never try it for fear of getting eaten by | | | | scuba diving class. Other risks include contact with |
| sharks or some other imagined danger out in the | | | | dangerous marine life, running out of air, diving too |
| water. Yes, there is some danger, and some have | | | | deep without proper equipment or preparation, and |
| pegged scuba diving as being more dangerous than | | | | many others, and all quite preventable with common |
| baseball but less dangerous than downhill biking or | | | | sense and training. |
| mountain climbing. As with all these sports, modern | | | | This is one of the most enjoyable, exciting, and |
| equipment, proper technique and training, and | | | | rewarding sports there are, and the perceived |
| responsible practice make the risks virtually nil, | | | | dangers have been greatly exaggerated by |
| especially if you are in it for the leisurely sight-seeing | | | | sensational movies and the media. Pay attention |
| dives in clear tropical waters and established dive | | | | during your scuba diving classes and learn everything |
| sites. | | | | you can about the activity, and you should have |
| That said, being responsible should include arming | | | | nothing but safe, memorable dives in your future! |