Scuba diving is among the fastest-growing sports around the world, and many people love it for the fun and thrill. More and more people are going into scuba diving every year either for recreation, sports, learning, and lots more. It is important to be focused on safe diving principles and be a licensed scuba diver. Scuba diving gives people the opportunity to explore the underwater for a limited period of time. It’s fascinating, especially when you scuba dive in one of the world’s best scuba diving locations such as in the Great Barrier Reef, Asia, or the Red sea. You get the opportunity to see a lot of marine life and the color in the underwater. However, it is important not to be carried away; instead, you should take the necessary steps for safety before going on a scuba dive. Here are important safety tips to note.
Obtain Scuba diving certification
The most important safety tip in scuba diving is to acquire certification. Certification is proof of competence, and most dive operators would ask you for it. You must ensure to get your certification from a reputable and licensed operator before going on a scuba dive. Scuba diving is a dangerous sport, and understanding the Nitty-gritty of it through certification is paramount for your safety.
Be healthy and physically fit
You should access your medical conditions before going on a scuba dive. Scuba diving is physically demanding, which might require you to swim through strong water current and also expose you to extreme weather conditions. If you are not healthy and physically fit, you may not be able to overcome the challenges associated with scuba diving. Scuba diving can be relaxing, but it is still a strenuous activity, and remaining fit is one of the keys to safe diving. You must ensure you have the necessary energy. Don’t be obsess, or under the influence of alcohol. Moreover, you shouldn’t have any form of an underlying illness that can lead to overexertion, panic or anxiety. And lastly, it is important to undergo a medical examination in cases where you aren’t sure of yourself.
Practice the basic Diving skills
Basic skills are learned during the entry-level course, but over time, scuba divers forget about those skills. It is important to regularly practice all the basic skills you were taught in scuba diving and apply them when necessary. Some divers are also not fortunate to learn some of the basic skills due to poor instructors, and this is one of the reasons why you should engage a reputable and licensed scuba diving instructor for learning. The necessary skills in scuba diving are essential for your safety, especially when you apply them in times of emergency. You should know how to use your buddy alternate air source properly, you should practice safe ascension, how to effectively conduct CESA, how to disconnect your pressure inflator hose, and many more.
Be bold to abort your dive.
You should never second guess with your life because your safety is paramount. When you feel something isn’t right you should be courageous enough to abort your dive.
Do not hold your breath
One of the earliest safety tips you would be thought during your entry-level is never to hold your breath while scuba diving. Holding your breath while on a dive is dangerous because it can lead to an air embolism or burst your lungs, which can lead to death.
Be with your medical information and emergency contact number
Sometimes it is inevitable for things to go wrong in life, and this is also the case with scuba diving. Ensure you carry along with your medical record and also someone to contact in the event that something goes wrong. Scuba divers can sometimes get injured or ill just like in every other sport, therefore, having your emergency contact, and your medical records handy would do you good.
Scuba Diving Fins
Scuba diving Fin is one of the essential items that would help keep you safe and give you a flawless diving experience. It enables you to navigate your way through water currents by helping you generate forward thrust and propulsion. Water currents would resist anything that moves through it, which means divers must generate forward thrust to overcome water resistance, and without a right fin, you would struggle a lot.
Take note of your Air Gauge
Your air gauge would determine the length of time you stay underwater therefore you must put an eye on it and ensure you never run out of air. Your guide would probably ask you how much air you have left, but whether they ask or not, you shouldn’t leave your safety in the hands of another person. You should know when it’s half full, quarter full, and also when to return to land.
Know Your Limits
Know your limits and always dive within the limits of your computer. You should put on your limit computer and check it regularly to see how far you have gone. You should also follow your guide’s instructions and ensure you don’t go below their depth.
Ascend back to ground slowly
Ascending back to the ground slowly is as important as never holding your breath. This is because ascending very fast has the potential to cause decompression sickness as it forces nitrogen into your bloodstream. But when you ascend slowly, the Nitrogen in your body would dissipate and cause you no harm.
Access your gear
If your equipment are not functional, then the chances of surviving underwater become very small. You must conduct a thorough buddy check before going on a scuba dive. If any of your buddy equipment malfunctions, then you could be faced with a life-threatening situation. Endeavor to learn how to use your gear, and you shouldn’t be uncertain about how it works.
Final notes
Scuba diving is fun and recreational sports but can be dangerous without adopting correct measures to stay safe. You should ensure you get certified by a licensed school and also learn how to use your tools properly. Divers who fail to practice the basics and generally have a careless attitude are the once that are most susceptible to the dangers associated with scuba diving. It is also important never to embark on a dive that is beyond the parameter of your training level.
