| The primary objective of undergoing extensive scuba | | | | plunging into harsh currents. Similarly, divers will have |
| diving training is to systematically develop basic diving | | | | to hone their swimming skills which would come in |
| skills that are required in the conduct of safe and | | | | handy during the return trip to the boat. |
| efficient dives. When trained under the instruction of | | | | Mask Skills |
| a PADI or NAUI affiliated diving school, the neophyte | | | | Water tends to seep deeply into the mask which |
| diver is prepped up to overcome pertinent | | | | could distort the diver's range of vision. Considering |
| underwater forces through the proficient application | | | | that the diver is a a few hundred feet below the |
| of basic diving skills acquired from the open water | | | | surface, while subjected to pertinent decompression |
| diving course. | | | | and air supply limits, swimming to the surface |
| Mastery of these skills often comes with experience | | | | repeatedly just to clear the mask of water is not |
| and is typically fine tuned accordingly, following the | | | | feasible. Therefore, the skill of defogging the lens and |
| conduct of a number of open water diving sessions | | | | purging water from the mask will have to be |
| and an expertise of scuba equipment use. Sad to | | | | mastered. Moreover, diving experts have identified |
| say, there are scuba divers holding an extensive dive | | | | the simple methods of clearing water from both a |
| portfolio in their log who have not even mastered | | | | non-purge or purge mask in the course of the dive. |
| some of the basic diving skills. Think this is not a big | | | | Buoyancy Control Skills |
| deal? Well, you've got it all wrong! In fact, utter | | | | Acquiring neutral buoyancy is one of the skills a |
| disregard of the mastery of these skills has cost the | | | | neophyte scuba diver should learn. Being adept with |
| lives of many seasoned divers. The article will discuss | | | | the use scuba equipment such as the buoyancy |
| the basic diving skills that a novice diver should | | | | compensator, weight belt and diving fins is not |
| pursue to master while on training and during his first | | | | enough since buoyancy control is also governed by |
| few open water dives. | | | | pertinent factors such as the diver's weight and the |
| In-Water and Swimming Skills | | | | efficiency of his breathing. Failure to meet weight |
| Dive sites are unique and the diver shouldn't expect | | | | standards while being inadequate in terms of |
| every drop off point to be profiled only with calm | | | | buoyancy techniques can result to a stressful dive |
| waters. Thus it would take some time and solid diving | | | | and the inefficient use of air supply to considerably |
| experience to learn quick descent methods, whether | | | | reduce bottom times. |
| that involves the roll-off from the back of a boat or | | | | |