How to Prepare for Your First Scuba Diving Experience
If you are an adventurous person, you have probably thought about scuba diving. Scuba diving is one of the most fulfilling activities where you swim underwater using an assisted self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. For the first-timers, the feeling of excitement coupled with anxiousness is a normal emotion. However, you will get rid of the anxiety and get hooked on the exciting party with adequate preparedness.
This article gives an in-detail description of the gear to buy, safety tips, and your expectations concerning your first scuba dive.
Scuba Diving Gear
Scuba diving involves going into the deep waters of the sea or ocean. Therefore, to ensure you can see, stay and breathe under the water, you will need to have the right gear. Additionally, you should be equipped with theoretical knowledge and physical skills about scuba diving. Below are some of the essential gear that you will need.
● Diving mask and snorkel
Conventionally, it is hard for the human eyes to stay open and see clearly underwater. Fortunately, with the help of a diving mask, you will be able to counter this. The diving mask creates air spaces in front of your eyes, enabling you to have clear vision. Additionally, for an amateur, it is hard to breathe underwater. A snorkel will help draw air from the water surface when you face downwards while swimming. The snorkel also saves some air in the tank if you change your positioning.
● Wetsuit or Drysuit
During scuba diving, it is essential to have thermal insulation and the exclusion of water. Otherwise, you are at the risk of being diagnosed with hypothermia, a low body temperature condition. Therefore, you need to either select a dry suit or a wet suit depending on the water temperature. Wetsuits are preferable for warm water since they would lock a layer of water around the body to keep it warm. Contrarily, drysuits are preferred in cold water hence thermal insulation.
● Scuba tank
A scuba tank is a cylinder for holding large volumes of air that helps with breathing underwater. This is necessary, especially when swimming in positions other than facing downwards.
Other gear that may be needed include:
- Diving regulator. It is used to control the pressure of the air from the tank.
- Depth gauge, Submersible Pressure Gauge (SPG), and Compass. The depth gauge measures how deep you are into the water, SPG determines the remaining air in the tank, and Compass gives your direction.
- Dive computer. It measures how long your dive was.
- Gloves. Helps keep your hands safe and warm.
- Fins. Helps in seamless swimming with little energy.
Helpful Tips
As mentioned earlier, first-time scuba divers need to have theoretical know-how of how to dive. Below are some of the essential tips for scuba diving:
- Breathe normally.
- Regularly check your SPG.
- Stay within your dive computer limits.
- Always ascend slowly when you dive.
● Safety tips
Even though it is a satisfying activity, scuba diving can be dangerous if you do not take precautionary measures. Outlined below are some of the safety measures to ensure you have a successful dive;
- Only dive when you have a diving buddy.
- Seek medical clearance before diving.
- Have diving and travel insurance.
- Carry your policy number, medical information, and emergency contact when you go diving.
● What to Expect
For an amateur, you are completely clueless about what to expect from your first dive. By being aware of what a typical scuba diving experience is like, you will be psychologically prepared. Below are some tips that will put you up to speed on what to expect:
- The underwater environment is noisy.
- The water density restricts movement.
- You might need to use hand signals for communication with your partner.
- There are potential harmful animals or plants, which you should not touch.
Conclusion
Anticipation for your scuba diving is a normal feeling for all amateurs. However, preparation is equally important. Hopefully, this article gave you knowledge on the gear, safety tips, and expectations on your first scuba diving experience.
