Are You Ready to Become a Scuba Diver?

The tremendous opportunities for adventure that a scuba diving experience could offer can be very enticing to us terrestrial beings. But then again, take note that scuba diving is not for the faint of heart nor is this recreational activity as easy as it may seem. For one, you will have to undergo training and qualify for a certification. Another consideration involves the set aside of a budget for logistics, scuba gear and equipment.

Here are a few guidelines to orient diving enthusiasts on the skills, temperament and training required to get into the sport of scuba diving:

1. You need to be in optimum shape to engage in scuba diving. Scuba diving can be as strenuous as any fitness activity like mountain climbing or a marathon. Thus, the upkeep of a healthy lifestyle is a critical requirement that can be achieved through the sustenance of a wholesome diet and regular exercise to guarantee that the diver is in top shape. Prior to the conduct of a dive, what is recommended is a routine, 1 hour jog for a period of at least two weeks. While diving, the body is subjected to the compression and decompression of gases so that getting a medical check-up weeks before the dive becomes necessary.
2. Diving school does the deal. The first step to realizing that desire of becoming a scuba diver involves the uptake of an open water (OW) certification course. From a licensed scuba diving institution, you will be able to learn the theoretical aspects of scuba diving as well as get a feel of diving conditions in simulated settings such as a swimming pool. Of course, you will receive hands-on training on the proper use of various scuba gear and equipment. Advanced trainings that grant diving privileges in terms of depth and level of difficulty are available to certified OW divers. So if you have the money and the passion for it, you could specialize in advanced courses such as night diving, cave diving and drift diving.
3. Practice is the perfect way to learn. Nothing beats the application of theories to actual practice. An Open Water certification usually requires at least four open water dives in your logbook. After obtaining certification, immense opportunities await a diver which could even be pursued as a lifelong career. Nonetheless, for recreational divers who choose to dive every now and then, experts recommend the uptake of a refresher course, particularly if it has been a while since their last dive.
4. Investing on scuba gear and equipment. It is more practical to invest on quality scuba equipment–particularly on a wetsuit and diving regulator set, than rent these out each time you dive. Always keep your equipment in functional shape by storing them properly and servicing them regularly.

For whatever reason entices you to pursue the sport, whether recreational or occupational in nature; scuba diving is an endeavor that requires a lot of perseverance, endurance, responsibility and of course solid diving experience to add notches to your scuba diving logbook.

By Felix Tero