Hard Earned Scuba Diving Tips for New Divers

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