| Scuba diving is a sport that many people indulge in, | | | | drastically the deeper you go, and divers can |
| and it is a fun experience for almost anyone, except | | | | sometimes suffer dizziness, shortness of breath, |
| perhaps those who can't swim and are terrified of | | | | nausea, and muscle cramps from descending too |
| water. It isn't without it's risks, however, and like any | | | | quickly. On the opposite note, even with a good, |
| outdoor hobby or sport, injuries can be sustained, | | | | controlled descent, a rapid ascent can also lead to |
| sometimes even fatal ones, by undertrained or | | | | system shock and trauma if the diver just suddenly |
| poorly equipped divers. For the newbies out there, | | | | dumps his diving weights and rockets to the surface. |
| here are a few preparatory steps that you must | | | | The body won't be able to adjust to the sudden lack |
| take and some information you need to make sure | | | | of pressure, especially once the diver leaves the |
| that you can enjoy your first dive in safety. | | | | water. |
| Certification and Training - take up a course that | | | | Buddy Diving - never dive alone if you're a newbie. |
| actually gives you certification to scuba dive. If you're | | | | Always have a more experienced and trained diver |
| just doing scuba for kicks however, like maybe just | | | | with you. Keep your buddy in sight at all times, and |
| renting gear out at a beach resort while on vacation, | | | | be sure to follow his or her lead once the dive begins. |
| then make sure you are accompanied by one a | | | | Do NOT go off on your own, no matter how safe |
| professional instructor when you do your dive. Also, | | | | the surrounding waters seem to you. Tempting as it |
| keep in mind that scuba divers must have skills in | | | | may sound for the adventurous, even if you and a |
| swimming and snorkelling as prerequisites for scuba | | | | friend take the same scuba course at the same time, |
| diving. If you're not proficient in both of these areas, | | | | remember that he or she does NOT count as a |
| it's best to try them out first before doing something | | | | diving buddy if you're both newbies. There's nothing |
| as serious and complex as scuba. | | | | more dangerous in any outdoor exploratory sport |
| Equipment Checks - make sure that your equipment | | | | than a pair of people blundering around in a |
| is in proper working order. As stated earlier, get | | | | dangerous environment. |
| proper training before doing a dive. Part of any good | | | | Communication - learn the hand signals used |
| scuba instructional course includes the care and | | | | underwater by divers to communicate. Even with a |
| maintenance of equipment, as well as spotting | | | | high tech open face scuba mask that has an integral |
| potential weaknesses in equipment that can lead to | | | | comm radio, these hand signals are a must for any |
| it's failure underwater. Many divers have suffered | | | | diver. For one, your radio may break down and run |
| accidents during dives due to faulty air lines, but aside | | | | out of batteries. For another, you might run into a |
| from that be sure to check the rest of your | | | | cute girl on your dive who's not wearing a comm |
| equipment just as thoroughly, down to your compass | | | | system... |
| and first aid kit. | | | | Navigation - know how to navigate underwater. The |
| First Aid - you'll need special training in treating | | | | training course that you take should include the |
| underwater injuries, as well as the ability to recognize | | | | recognition and use of simple tools like an underwater |
| the signs and symptoms of common maladies | | | | compass, as well as more advanced things like using |
| incurred by divers, which include hypothermia, | | | | underwater floater buoys and line markers that will |
| decompression sickness, and in hot weather, heat | | | | allow you to backtrack to your starting point once |
| stoke and dehydration. Make sure your first aid kit is | | | | you're done with your dive. Losing sight of your |
| well stocked before the dive. | | | | buddy and getting lost underwater is scary, take my |
| Know Ascents and Descents - part of diving | | | | word for it, and having the capability to backtrack |
| successfully is to keep a pressure gauge and depth | | | | and meet up at a predetermined rendezvous point |
| gauge that monitors water pressure around you and | | | | takes a load off your mind if this happens. |
| the depth you're at. Water pressure increases | | | | |