SCUBA DIVING LESSONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA – TECHNICAL DIVING – PADI SELF RELIANT DIVER – SDI SOLO DIVER

Recreational Scuba Diving traditionally calls for all scuba divers to dive in buddy teams.  This practice has historically been used and has its roots in diver safety.  With the popularity of Technical Diving in the past few years the concept of scuba diving in buddy teams has lessened.   While most scuba divers today still scuba dive in buddy teams, there are times when that is just not practical.   As a result Scuba Diving International or SDI came out with a scuba training course called Solo Diver, and the Professional Association of Scuba Instructors or PADI followed with a course called Self Reliant Diver.

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Northern Virginia, we teach primarily recreational scuba diving.  However, there are a number of scuba divers who want to Learn to Scuba Dive Northern Virginia who also want to learn Technical Diving.  Consequently, we teach both recreational scuba diving and technical scuba diving.

Recreational Scuba Diving – The Buddy System

As we stated earlier, recreational scuba divers always dive with a buddy or in buddy teams.  This is a safety issue.  In the event of something out of the ordinary happening a second or even a third scuba diver is present to assist with what ever problem may occur.  Another reason for the Buddy System in scuba diving you use a lot of scuba equipment and  it is simply easier to get into or out of your scuba diving equipment when another scuba diver is present to assist you.

Technical Diving – Self Reliant Diver and Solo Diver

While most of us prefer to dive with a buddy there are times when it might be impractical to dive with a buddy.  Training to dive without a buddy actually goes a long way to making you a better dive buddy.  You learn how to deal with problems on your own, which adds to your ability to help other scuba divers.   A good examples of this is if a buddy gets separated from his dive buddy being self reliant will allow him or her to safely find the missing buddy or safely terminate the scuba dive.  Another example is underwater photography often requires the scuba diver to be separated from his or her buddy in order to be able to photography the fish without scaring them off.  Wreck Divers also need to be self reliant since they are often separated from each other when exploring narrow passages of a ship wreck.

Technical Scuba Diving Equipment

In order to scuba dive without a buddy you need to have redundant scuba equipment and be self reliant.  To do this you must scuba dive with some Technical Scuba Diving Equipment.  In addition to the primary scuba cylinder the diver would carry a redundant second air supply like a pony bottle and second scuba regulator.   The list of back up scuba equipment is very extensive and we will cover this in a future segment.

What is Technical Diving or Solo Diving Like – Discover Tec

If you think that you might be interested in trying either technical scuba diving or the SDI Solo Diver or PADI Self Reliant Diver courses but are not sure then you might want to try the Discover Tec Course.   The Discover Tec course is a pool experience under the direction of a Technical Diving Instructor who will show you the appropriate technical diving equipment and even allow you to test it in a swimming pool.

Discover Tec, SDI Solo Diver and the PADI Self Reliant Diver courses are interesting and lead you into a whole new realm of underwater adventure.  Whether or not you decide to continue your scuba diving training you will appreciate the things you learn in the courses and they will also make you a better recreational scuba diver.

Scuba Diving Equipment – The Scuba Cylinder

One of the necessary pieces of Scuba Diving Equipment is the scuba cylinder or scuba tank.  The Scuba Cylinder is what holds the air that the scuba diver breaths during the scuba dive.  Most scuba divers do not own their own scuba cylinder since most scuba divers dive while on a scuba diving vacation rather then where they live.  If you are fortunate to be able to scuba dive locally 10-15 dives a year it is well worthwhile to have your own scuba cylinder rather then rent one.  You do not have to live in Florida or the Caribbean to dive locally.  At my Dive Center in Northern Virginia, Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, we do quite a lot of local scuba diving.  We use local lakes and quarries for scuba dive training, and to practice scuba diving.  Consequently, the scuba cylinder is a very common piece of Scuba Dive Equipment in Northern Virginia that the scuba diver may own.

Two Types of Scuba Cylinders: Steel Scuba Tanks and Aluminum Scuba Tanks

The two most common types of scuba cylinder are the steel scuba cylinder and the aluminum scuba cylinder.  The aluminum scuba tank is the most common.  The aluminum scuba tank is less expensive and very durable.  Since most Dive Centers use aluminum scuba cylinders in training most scuba divers are more familiar with them.  In addition most Dive Resorts use aluminum cylinders in their rental line as well.  Consequently, most scuba divers naturally tend toward the aluminum scuba tank.

Steel scuba cylinders, while more expensive and requiring more maintenance are preferred by many scuba divers.  Steel scuba cylinders often hold more air then aluminum scuba cylinders therefore many wreck divers and cave divers prefer the steel scuba cylinder.

Scuba Cylinder Care:

Your cylinder is an important piece of scuba diving equipment.  Like all life support equipment it should be maintained properly to insure maximum efficiency and to extend its life.  The following guidelines will help you maintain your cylinders in proper working order.

SCUBA CYLINDER HANDLING:

While made of strong metal, high-pressure cylinders can easily be damaged.  Dropping a cylinder can damage either the valve or the cylinder itself.  Bumping the scuba cylinder valve can cause it to open, leaking air.  Store all cylinders properly.  When transporting, secure them so that they do not roll or bounce.  Keep cylinders from overheating.

KEEP MOISTURE OUT OF YOUR SCUBA CYLINDER:

During the dive season never let your cylinder become completely dry.  A small amount of compressed air in the cylinder will help keep moisture from entering.  An empty cylinder can allow water to enter around its neck “O” ring of through the regulator attached to it.  Any cylinder that is completely empty should receive a complete Visual Scuba Cylinder Inspection before being used again.

SCUBA VALVE CARE:

Keep your scuba cylinder valve clean.  Avoid bumping the cylinder valve to prevent damage.  Cover with a cap to prevent dents or scratches when not in use.  Inspect and replace the face “O” ring frequently.

CYLINDER ACCESSORIES:

Boots and protective sleeves are excellent for protecting the finish of your cylinder.  They also protect the metal from chipping and dings, which can shorten scuba cylinder life.  However, salt and mineral deposits can be trapped under accessories causing unseen corrosion.  Frequently remove all tank accessories and wash the exterior of the cylinder to remove deposits.  Dry with a towel.

EXTENDED SCUBA CYLINDER STORAGE:

When storing your scuba cylinder for extended periods remove all accessories.  Cylinders should be stored in a secured, standing position.  Keep in a cool dry place away from furnaces and appliances.  Drain air from the cylinder so that there is no more than 20 to 50 P.S.I. in the cylinder.

SCUBA CYLINDER INSPECTIONS:

Scuba Diving Equipment: Underwater Photography & Underwater Camera Mistakes

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a Dive Center in Northern Virginia, one of the most popular PADI Specialty Diver Courses, is Underwater Photography.  Previously we talked about getting started in underwater photography and what to look for in an underwater camera system.  Today we will look at underwater camera mistakes that can spoil your underwater photos and perhaps ruin your entire vacation.

Not Having Good Buoyancy Control: Having good buoyancy control is the first and foremost skill necessary for good photography.  Fast jerky movements through the water scares fish away, makes your camera move causing blurred images, silts the bottom causing backscatter in your photos and is just plain bad diving technique.  An excellent PADI Specialty Diver Course that will help with your buoyancy is the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Course.

Using Your Hands to Guide You (Sculling): Many divers have reasonable good buoyancy control but try to fine tune their position in the water by moving their hands.  This is known as “sculling.” It is not only poor diving technique but the water movement scares the fish and creates water movement that chases away other photographic subjects such as plume worms and Christmas tree worms.

Being Too Far from your Subject: Water absorbs the suns rays very quickly.  Consequently color is lost at depth.  If you take your photos from three to four feet from you subject you will be able to use the internal flash on your camera to bring out the best color of your photographic subject.  Further than four feet and your photos will most likely come out in a monochromatic blue and white.

Opening your Camera Housing on the Boat: You should always seal your camera into its housing, while you are still in your hotel room.  Most hotel rooms are air conditioned, which is low on humidity and puts less moisture in the housing when you seal it.  If you open the housing on the boat there is a lot of humidity in the air and you seal that in the housing when you close it.  Humidity in the housing will cause your camera lens to fog in the water, dulling your photographs.

Not Anticipating the Digital Delay: Most digital cameras have a slight delay in taking the picture from when you press the shutter release, often resulting in a late photo.  You need to realize this and snap that photo a second or two earlier then you normally would so that the fish is not out of position and you will achieve far better results.  Certain underwater cameras like the Sealife underwater cameras have a sea mode that allows you to prefocus your photos to lesson this delay.

Using too Much O Ring Grease: The purpose of silicone or O ring grease is to lubricate the O ring and keep it from drying out.  Too much silicone will actually cause the housing to flood.  It will grab sand and silt and it gets pushed into the O ring causing leaks.  Some underwater camera housing manufacturers do not advocate using any O ring lubricant at all. Read your owners manual to find out what your camera needs.

Not Pretecting Your Camera Housing: When you first buy your new underwater camera you should test the housing seal in a bathtub.  Don’t assume just because it is new that it does not leak. When you get on the dive boat it is also a good idea to put the housing in the camera rinse tank and look for leaks prior to each dive.  If it does leak you will see the bubbles and can remove it immediately.  Also the rinse tank is fresh water, which is far less harmful then salt water.

Jumping into the Water with your Camera: Many divers think it is a macho thing to be able to jump into the water with your camera.  There is nothing macho about it – it is just plain stupid.  Your camera O rings are designed for static pressure.  Jumping causes jarring or dynamic pressure which will cause your camera housing to leak. Always hand your camera down to someone or have them hand it down to you.  Always hand your camera up to someone rather then trying to climb out with it in your hands.  If you do not have someone to help, tie your camera to a line and lower it into the water before you get in.