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Article #193: Hard Earned Scuba Diving Tips for New Divers

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Learning to scuba dive was one of the might just get pushed out of your mouth?
best decisions I have ever made. Even If you don't own an octopus with built in
these days, every time I go diving, the swivel at the regulator, or don't have a
thrill is just like the first dive. first stage swivel, you might experience
Along the way, many experienced divers this discomfort. One way to fix this is
have shared their own diving tips with to buy and fit in a regulator 2nd stage
me. Some other tips are gained from my ball swivel. Another way I found quite
own experiences - usually after a bad useful to me, is to turn the air tank
one. Here are some of the tips to share slightly in the clockwise direction. As
with you. you assemble the Buoyancy Control Device
When choosing a mask, it is best for you (BCD) to the compressed air tank, with
to try on the mask before buying. Put on the BCD facing away from you, instead of
the mask, and inhale through your nose. having the K-valve face directly away
Make sure you don't have any hair stuck from you, turn the tank clockwise by
at the skirt of the mask. Hold your about 30° so that the K-valve is
breath and see if the mask stays on and pointing slightly to the right before
not fall off. Check to see if air is securing the BCD to the tank. You should
leaking into the mask. If the mask falls be able to feel the difference.
off, it usually means the shape of the If you regularly do boat and shore dives,
mask skirt isn't suitable for your face I recommend that you get a pair of
shape. Try as many brands and models as booties and open heel diving fins. Having
possible. booties on as you enter the sea from the
Most new masks have a protective film on shore will protect your feet from sharp
the window. This can cause fogging corals and stones from cutting your feet.
problems during your dives if the You can walk comfortably to a certain
protective film isn't cleaned away. depth before putting your fins and begin
Before diving with a new mask, clean the your dive. On the boat, you will at least
window with a recommended cleaner liquid minimize your chances of slipping on the
or defogging liquid. If you can't get wet floor.
hold of one, try rubbing some clothing For open heel fins with those removable
powder detergent onto the window and buckles, the best way to put on your fins
soaking your mask in water mixed with is to slip the strap over your heels.
clothing powder detergent and leave it While to take them off, by slipping the
overnight. I've had great experiences strap under your heels and removing the
using this method. Cleaning your mask fins. I know this advise seems to make
before the first dive is very important. the buckle useless, but from my
I should know. I've dived at great dive experiences and many other diver's
sites but was so busy doing the "flood experiences, the time we most often lose
and clear the mask" manoeuvre to clear a fin strap or buckle is at the end of a
the fog that I didn't see very much, or boat dive when we take off our fins by
just saw lots of blurry things at best. unbuckling while in the water before
On my dive trips, I've also found it getting on the boat. And finding a
useful to bring along some clothing replacement strap or buckle while on an
powder detergent packed in a small pill island dive trip can be somewhat
container. I just clean my mask with frustratingly difficult.
detergent at the end of the day ready for At the end of your boat dive, when you
the next day's diving. Great way to keep take off your gear before climbing on to
my mask crystal clear all throughout my the boat, always take off your weight
dive vacation. belt first, then your BCD and lastly,
Have you ever felt the regulator in your your fins.
mouth seeming to be pushing your mouth to I hope you find some of these tips as
the left during your dives? You know, the useful to you as it has been for me.
feeling that if you don't bite hard Here's to wishing you a great diving
enough on the mouthpiece, the regulator experience on your next diving vacation.






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