After a couple of cave dives, my client and I were chatting about gear . We agreed that we felt safer diving in caves with our double tanks and cave gear designed for complete redundancy than we feel diving in the ocean with a single tank and non-redundant gear. While neither of us denies that cave diving is a risky sport, with cave gear the diver has the ability to solve any possible equipment failure (except for a catastrophic gas loss) himself, whereas with a single tank, a diver must rely on his buddy to help him with an equipment problem. These days I see recreational divers (even my own buddies) straying farther and farther away from their dive partners, to the point that is unlikely that they could render timely assistance in the case of an emergency. Learn 8 Ways to Improve Your Buddy Skills.
Tips for easier diving:
6 Steps to an Easier Descent
How to Relax on the Surface
How Not to Get Lost Underwater
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8 Tips for Being a Better Dive Buddy originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 19:52:49.
As a scuba diving instructor, I have developed an almost preternatural sense of hearing. I notice the pfffffffftttt sound of a diver holding down the power inflate button on his buoyancy compensator (BC) every time he adds air to his BC. When I am diving with new or inexperienced divers, this noise strikes terror into my heart. I worry that the diver has added too much air to his BC, or that he is using the inflate button to ascend. My fear is that he will send himself into an uncontrolled ascent, which is one of the worst things a diver can do underwater. Doing so increases a diver's risk of decompression illness. Scuba diving ascents should always be slow and controlled. What is the maximum safe ascent rate?
More dive safety articles:
What If You Exceed a No-Decompression Limit?
What Is a No-Decompression Limit?
Why Make Safety Stops on Every Dive?
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Ascent Rate Guidelines and Why You Should Follow Them originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at 15:17:58.
Is scuba diving dangerous? As with any adventure sport, some risk is involved. Humans are not built to breathe underwater, which means that every time a diver descends, he is completely dependent upon his equipment, skills, and emergency training to ensure that he surfaces safely. This truth, while it may sound frightening, should not discourage prospective divers. However, it should encourage divers to approach the sport with an appropriate amount of respect. Scuba diving is not dangerous as long as a diver seeks thorough training, follows safe diving guidelines, uses proper gear, and dives within his experience level. Read safety statistics and facts.
Risks of diving (and how to avoid them):
Decompression Sickness (Bends)
Nitrogen Narcosis
Ear Injuries
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Is Scuba Diving Dangerous? Statistics and Safety Information originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 20:34:46.
Have you ever have dreamed of floating weightlessly like an astronaut, investigating unusual species like a field researcher, or looking for lost objects like a treasure hunter? Scuba diving can make these dreams a reality! Scuba diving is relatively easy and only requires a short period of training to get started. Whether your goal in diving is fish watching, ocean conservation, or simply meeting adventurous people, seventy percent of the globe becomes accessible to you the moment you learn to breathe underwater! Here are easy steps to take to start learning to scuba dive. Read more.
Reference articles for new divers:
Can I Scuba Dive? Scuba Prerequisites
Decide on a Scuba Course Format
How to Equalize Your Ears for Diving
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Get Started Scuba Diving - Advice for Newbies originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Monday, January 16th, 2012 at 23:23:36.
In any profession, there are good clients and there are clients that make you want to tear your hair out and cry "Why me?" Diving is no different. While ninety-nine percent of my divers are wonderful human beings who love and respect the underwater world, there are bound to be exceptions. One of my worst experiences as a dive instructor was also one of the most comical. Here is a true story about teaching two (shall we say headstrong) children to dive. Read more
More true tales of dive instruction:
How I Knew I Was Addicted to Diving
The Pranksters
True Tales of the Free Pool Demo
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Instructor Horror Stories - The Boxfish Grabbers originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at 20:49:05.
Scuba diving fins are available in such a wide variety of styles that fin shopping can be overwhelming. This illustrated guide to common styles and features of scuba diving fins will help fin shoppers have an idea of what they want before they begin their search for the perfect fin. Fin Shopping Guide.
Common types of fins:
Split fins               Blade Fins
Free Diving Fins   Snorkeling Fins
Open-Heel Fins     Closed-Heel Fins
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Which Fins Should I Buy? originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at 13:50:03.
Do you know what fish is shown in the photo to the right? Here's a guide to twenty of my favorite Caribbean reef fish. If you have already been diving in the Caribbean, click through this guide to see which fish you recognize and to learn a little bit about each species. If you haven't been diving in the Caribbean yet, use this guide to learn about the fish you will see on your dives. See Guide
Aquatic life:Watch a Stoplight Parrotfish Change Colors
Guide to Angelfish
Nudibranchs!
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Caribbean Reef Fish Identification originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 at 20:24:35.
How dangerous can a gelatinous sac of straggly tentacles be? A jellyfish's soft, transparent body appears vulnerable to all sort of prey, and a diver may be surprised that a jellyfish can survive to grow to maturity without being eaten. Yet, a jellyfish's delicate body is anything but unprotected. The tentacles of a jellyfish contain uncountable numbers of stinging cells, called nematocysts, which effectively protect it from many potential predators and are used to stun small prey. Depending upon the species of jellyfish, contact with the stinging cells can injure, or even kill a human being. But how much of a threat are jellyfish to scuba divers? Read full article.
More aquatic life to avoid:
Sea Urchins - Treat a Sting
Is Diving With Sharks Dangerous?
Fire Coal Identification Guide
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Are Jellyfish Dangerous to Scuba Divers? originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 at 22:31:09.
Hooray! Winter vacations have arrived. For many divers, holiday plans include diving. If you are one of the lucky divers who is planning on spending some time underwater this holiday season, help me out by uploading a quick review of your dive destination. It only takes a few minutes to answer a some simple questions and write a quick blurb (optional) about your favorite dive site. I will feature reviews on this blog, and they will remain on the website indefinitely. You can even help to publicize a dive center that you thought was particularly good by featuring them in the "who to contact to dive this dive site" response field. Check Out the Dive Site Review Form.
Read reviews!
Wreck Diving in Italy - The UJ2216 ex L'Incomprese (KT)
Socorro Islands, Mexico
Russia - Diving the World's Deepest Lake
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Are You Diving Over the Winter Holidays? originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 20:26:35.
I'll admit it -- I pee in my wetsuit! I simply can't resist the urge to urinate while scuba diving. I usually pee after a few minutes of being in the water, and then periodically throughout the dive. Like me, most scuba divers feel the need to urinate in their wetsuits. What's wrong with us? Are we drinking too much water? Do we simply have no self control? No! The need to pee during scuba dives is a normal physiological reaction. Read more.
More dive medicine and safety articles:
Asthma and Scuba Diving
PFO - A Common Undiagnosed Condition That May Be Dangerous For Diving
How to Avoid/Reduce Nitrogen Narcosis
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Why Does Diving Make You Need to Pee in Your Wetsuit? originally appeared on About.com Scuba Diving on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 19:51:34.