Scuba Certification: Scuba Diving Safety Tips-Part 2

Last week we discussed how Scuba Diving is a fun and easy sport to learn, and is also a very safe sport.   We discussed 5 common sense rules to help you prevent problems when scuba diving.   Today, we will look at a few more common sense precautions that will make your scuba diving safer.

Continue Your Scuba Diving Education:
The best scuba divers are those who do not stop learning at the Open Water Diver Certification.  The best scuba divers want to learn more and to be a better diver.  The Advanced Open Water Course teaches underwater navigation, diving at depth and works on other factors such as better buoyancy control.  The Rescue Diver Course makes divers more aware of potential problems and both how to prevent them and how to deal with them should they occur.  Specialty Diver Courses like Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Multilevel Diver teach divers how to safely dive in deeper depths, around shipwrecks, and how to use dive computers to increase bottom times and safety.  Divers that know everything tend to get careless.  Those divers who want to be the best they can and who seek new scuba learning opportunities are far less likely to encounter problems in the water.

Keep Your Hands To Yourself:
New scuba divers tend to use their hands to swim while diving.  This creates drag and resistance and forces the diver to expend far more energy.  Experienced divers rarely, if ever, use their hands when diving.  In addition, waving your hands or sculling when diving scares the fish.  In some cases the fish thinking the diver is threatening them with their hand movements will bite in self defense.  The best divers keep their hands to their sides or in front of them holding their gauges or camera.  It is much more efficient, creates less drag, expends less energy and just plain looks more professional.

Never Dive Alone:
Scuba Diving has always been a buddy sport.  Divers should always dive in pairs or small groups.  In the event of a problem the dive buddy is present to assist with the problem.  This assures that the problem remains small and is easily handled.  It also has the advantage of allowing one diver to navigate or lead the dive while the second diver double checks to make sure that they are following the proper course or dive plan.

Listen to the Divemaster During The Dive Briefing:
Prior to most scuba dives the Divemaster on the boat will give a pre-dive briefing.  During this briefing he or she will describe the recommended depth and times for the dive.  They will discuss the best entry and exit techniques and anything to be avoided.  They will also point out any interesting things that may be encountered on the dive.  Even the most experienced divers should pay attention to this briefing.  It can add to the enjoyment of the dive and help them avoid anything that might be problematic.

The Best Scuba Divers Own Their Own Equipment:
Scuba equipment can be expensive.  As a result many scuba divers start out renting equipment every time they go scuba diving.  Rental equipment is usually not nearly as high quality as the equipment that scuba diver will purchase for themselves.  In addition, when you own your own equipment you become used to it and its characteristics.  When using rental equipment a diver has to spend the first few dives of a dive trip just acclimating  to the rental gear.  Lastly, many items of scuba equipment like the wetsuit , buoyancy control device or BCD are personally fitted. When renting such gear the diver is often forced to use equipment that just does not quite fit them.  When buying equipment at your local dive center you will have equipment that is properly fitted and adjusted for them.

Scuba Diving is a fun and safe sport.  It offers excitement and an opportunity to observe the undersea world.  Since we were not born with gills it is only basic good sense to take the time to learn the sport properly and to follow certain safety procedures.  If we do that we will be rewarded with years of great scuba diving opportunities.

Scuba Certification: Scuba Diving Safety Tips-Part 1

Scuba Diving is a fun and easy sport to learn, and is also a very safe sport.  Due to this ease and safety the minimum age to become a scuba diver is only 10 years old.  However, like anything else things can go wrong, and when they do it can be very problematic in a hurry.  Today, we will look at a few common sense precautions that will make our scuba diving safer.

Rule #1: Keep Your Skills Current
If  you have not been scuba diving in a while it is important to refresh your skills prior to going scuba diving again.  Most Dive Centers offer a Scuba Review or Refresher Course.  At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Northern Virgina, we offer a Scuba Review Course every month.  This course is designed for certified divers to bring their skill level back up to par prior to a trip or going scuba diving.  Dive Accidents statistics show that the vast majority of serious dive accidents occur on the first dive of a vacation or trip.  This is a clear indication of divers who have not kept their skill level current or up to date.

Rule #2: Have Your Scuba Equipment Properly Serviced
Scuba Diving is an equipment intensive sport.  A very high percentage of problems that occur involve scuba equipment that has not been maintained or serviced properly.  Your Scuba Regulator and Buoyancy Control Device or BCD should be serviced at least annually.   Proper maintenance of your scuba equipment will greatly decrease the chance of equipment failure that could lead to major problems on your scuba diving vacation.

Rule #3: Make Sure That You Are in Good Health
Scuba Diving while not an overly strenuous sport can be exerting at times.  Especially in the presence of strong currents or wavy water conditions.  About 25% of all diving deaths involve either a heart attack or circulatory problems.  The population of scuba divers is older today then it was 20-30 years ago.  It is basic common sense to see your physician annually and to make sure that you are in good shape to scuba dive.  Regular exercise will also go a long way to insuring that your vacation is an enjoyable one.

Rule #4: Make Sure That You Are Trained For the Type of Diving You Plan
Scuba Divers are trained in basic skills and to dive to a depth of 60 feet when they receive their initial Open Water Certification.  Diving to deeper depths, diving on ship wrecks, in caverns or caves requires further training.  A number of divers are lost each year attempting to scuba dive in conditions far beyond what they have been trained for.  It is only common sense to dive within your level of expertise and to obtain additional training and experience prior to diving beyond these limits.

Rule #5: Always Scuba Dive With A Buddy & Do A Buddy Check
Scuba Divers should always dive in buddy teams.  Diving alone may seem safe but you no longer have any margin of error when alone.  Divers are taught from their first class to always dive with a buddy and to conduct a buddy check prior to a dive.  Skipping either of these precautions is inviting additional risks that are unnecessary.  Every year some diver is seriously injured or lost due to skipping these simple precautions.

Scuba Diving is fun and exciting.  It is also a very safe sport if conducted properly.  The simple common sense rules we just discussed will go a long way to keeping your scuba diving safe and preventing you from becoming just another statistic.

Scuba Classes in Northern Virginia: Emergency First Response

First Aid and CPR are good skills for anyone, especially those involved in adventure sports.  The Emergency First Response (EFR) Course is a PADI  affiliate course that specializes in teaching these lifesaving skills – and they’re for anyone, not just divers.

The fun part about Emergency First Response training is learning serious medical emergency response skills in an upbeat, positive environment. You gain the confidence that you are prepared to help in an emergency.

Home Study:
When you register for the Emergency First Response course you will receive your student kit, which includes both an emergency care manual and a DVD that clearly shows the proper way to conduct emergency skills.  You review the manual and DVD at home, at your convenience, prior to the actual course.

Hands On Practice and Training:
During the hands on instruction your Instructors will demonstrate the ever important skills and you will practice these under direct supervision where you will comfortably master the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care in an emergency.

What You Learn in the Emergency First Response Course:

• BLS (Basic Life Support) CPR and rescue breathing at the layperson level
• AED (automated external defibrillator)
• Preventing and care for shock
• Spinal injury management
• Use of barriers to reduce disease transmission risk
• Basic first aid and first aid kit considerations

Once you complete the Emergency First Aid Course you are certified for a period of two years.  The EFR course also satisfies the 1st Aid and CPR requirements for both the PADI Rescue Diver Course, the PADI Divemaster Course and the DAN Dive Emergency Specialist Certification.

Emergency First Response Course at Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy

The Emergency First Response Course is offered at Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Northern Virginia every other month, year round.

Scuba Diving Certification in Northern Virginia: Underwater Navigation

When driving your car you can find your way with a map or if you are really into the modern world a GPS navigation system in your car.  When Scuba Diving, however, the same luxuries are not available.  Finding your way when scuba diving is not a matter of luck but of a good sense of direction, knowing how to use an underwater compass and a knowledge of the environment allowing you to use what is known as natural navigation as well.

Learn to Scuba Dive in Northern Virginia: PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty Course

In the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course, you learn to master the challenge of navigating underwater.  You learn the tools of the trade, including navigation via natural clues and by compass.

You learn

• Navigation patterns
• Natural navigation (without a compass)
• Compass navigation
• How to “mark” or relocate a submerged object or position from the surface
• Underwater map making
• How to follow irregular courses with the Nav-Finder
• Dive site relocation
• How to estimate distance underwater

PADI Dive Training: Prerequisites for the PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty Course

To enroll in the PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty Course a diver must be certified as an Open Water Diver or higher.  The minimum age to take the course is 10 years old.  The course has a student kit which includes an Underwater Navigation Manual and a corresponding DVD.  The course includes both classroom and three open water dives.  Once the materials have been completed the course can easily be completed in one weekend.

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy: PADI Dive Center in Northern Virginia

Scuba diving in the mid Atlantic region is very different from diving in the Caribbean.  Since the water is not as clear locally in Northern Virginia, underwater navigation is used much more often.  Being able to scuba dive in fresh water lakes and the Atlantic Ocean increases your scuba diving skills and makes you a more accomplished scuba diver.

The Importance of Underwater Navigation

Underwater navigation is an important skill no matter what type of scuba diving you’re doing.  It is especially useful when night diving, wreck diving or when you’re searching to recover a lost item underwater.  Being adept at navigating while scuba diving makes your diving more fun, relaxing and needless to say, safer.

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy - Learn to Scuba Dive in Northern Virginia: Dry Suit Diving

When people think of scuba diving they most often think about warm tropical exotic locations.  While this offers great scuba diving many other colder regions have a lot to offer in quality scuba diving.  In addition even more temperate areas are cooler in the winter.  In order to scuba dive in many of these areas, or to scuba dive year round a Dry Suit is very helpful.

Scuba Diving Equipment: Why Scuba Dive with a Dry Suit?

A scuba diving wet suit helps you stay warm by allowing small amounts of water to enter the suit and become trapped.  The trapped water is then heated by body temperature, thus helping to maintain body heat.  A Scuba Diving Dry Suit keeps water out.  Since you loose body heat in water 20-25 times faster in water then air, just being dry helps maintain body temperature.  In addition to keeping you dry, a Dry Suit is often accessorized with special insulated under garments to provide more warmth.  Consequently, a Dry Suit can be warm in much colder climates and conditions.

Learn to Scuba Dive: Diving with a Dry Suit

When you first start scuba diving with a dry suit it is a very good idea to obtain  instruction.  The PADI Dry Suit Specialty course is an excellent way in learning how to scuba dive with a Dry Suit.  This course is designed to safely introduce the scuba diver into the proper way to scuba dive with a Dry Suit.  The main focus is on safety and buoyancy control.  It also covers the different types of Dry Suits and Dry Suit liners and how to properly care for them.   A Dry Suit is a major investment and you definitely want to get the most of your Dry Suit.  In addition, scuba diving with a Dry Suit requires special buoyancy skills, not usually needed with a Wet Suit.  The PADI Dry Suit Diver Course is one of the very best ways of covering all of these bases.

Learn To Scuba Dive: What Skills Does the Dry Suit Specialty Course Cover?

The following skills are covered during the Dry Suit Specialty Diver Course:

• Dry Suit Familiarization
• Safety Checks
• Entry Techniques
• Bubble Check
• Buoyancy Check
• Descent techniques
• Fin Pivot
• Hover
• Excess gas in feet emergency roll drill
• Stuck inflator emergency drill
• Stuck exhaust valve emergency drill
• Ascent procedure·
• Remove and replace scuba unit and weight belt on the surface
• Exit techniques
• Removal of dry suit, storage and maintenance

The Dry Suit Diver Course includes both classroom, a confined water or pool session and two open water dives.  It is a fun course and will not only improve your scuba diving skills but will enable you to dive in more areas and at different times of the year.

Scuba Diving Equipment: The Dive Knife

A Dive Knife is general piece of scuba diving equipment and should be carried by all scuba divers.  It is usually used in prying or digging in the sand.   In the unlikely event of entanglement while scuba diving, it becomes a piece of scuba diving safety equipment, since you can use it to free yourself.  A Dive Knife is not, nor should it ever be used as a weapon.

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy: Dive Center in Northern Virginia

Whether you are scuba diving in Northern Virginia, the Atlantic Ocean of the Caribbean, scuba divers need to be aware of possible problems and take steps to both prevent them and if the occur to solve them.  At Aquatic Adventures we train our scuba students, in Dive Training, that a dive knife is an essential piece of equipment and comes in many forms.

What Makes A Good Dive Knife?

Dive Knife Material:  Stainless Steel or Titanium
Dive Knives need to be durable so they are usually constructed of materials that will hold up to hard use and salt water corrosion.  The most popular material is Stainless Steel.   There are many different grades of stainless steel, and the dive knife is usually made of a material that is durable but not brittle so that the tip or blade does not chip, and the blade holds its sharp edge.  Consequently the Dive Knife Blade can receive some minor corrosion, but this is usually more a cosmetic problem then a functional problem.

A Titanium Dive Knife, however, will not suffer the same cosmetic disturbances that Stainless Steel will.  Titanium will last indefinitely, but is also much more expensive then Stainless Steel.

Type of Dive Knife Blade: Since the Dive Knife is often used for both slicing and sawing it is a good to have both a serrated blade for sawing and a smooth blade for cutting.  A notch or line cutter is also a handy accessory.

Type of Dive Knife Tip: Pointed and Blunt Tip:  Most of us think that a knife has a pointed tip.  In scuba diving we have a choice between a pointed tip and a blunt tip.  The latter is a safety feature, making it less likely that a scuba diver may stick him or herself in case they slip with the dive knife.  The blunt tip is also better for prying and can be used as as screw driver or lever.

Alternatives to a Dive Knife: Some Scuba Divers will carry shears, or a bladed line cutter instead of a dive knife.  Some technical Scuba Divers will carry both types of accessories.  Which ever you choose it should be accessible and easily operated with only one hand.

Scuba Equipment: Dive Knife – Care & Maintenance

Caring for a Dive Knife is not difficult.  Keep your dive knife clean.  If some surface tarnish or rust appears, clean it off with metal polish, Brasso, or Never Dull.  A light coating of a surface protector, like U.V. Tech will put a protective coating on the blade and help prevent rust.

When you transport your Dive Knife, make sure it is in its sheath, and if traveling by air, always pack your Dive Knife in your checked luggage.

Learn to Care for All of Your Scuba Diving Equipment PADI Equipment Specialist Course

PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors has a Specialty Diver Course entitled Equipment Specialist that deals with how to properly care for all of your personal Scuba Diving Equipment.  This is an excellent course for both the beginner and more experienced scuba diver.  In addition, PADI has a book, the PADI Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving that has an entire section on Scuba Diving Equipment and Care.

Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia: The Dive Knife

A Dive Knife is considered an essential tool or safety device when scuba diving.  Since scuba divers are often diving in areas that contain fish, it is not uncommon to find lost fishing line while scuba diving.  A dive knife is useful in cutting lose this line in case you become entangled.

Scuba Dive Equipment in Northern Virginia: Types of Dive Knives:

A Dive Knife is most often a single bladed knife with a fixed handle.  It will also have a protective case or sheath.  Years ago, the diver wore his or her knife on the inside of the lower leg, held in place with leg straps.  Today, the dive knife is more commonly worn on the Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) or the back of the gauge console.

The blade of the Dive Knife is usually made of stainless steel.  This is to minimize rust or discoloration.  Titanium is also very popular.  Titanium is lighter and more durable, but it is also much more expensive.  There is also the choice of a smooth blade or a serrated blade.  Some Dive Knives will both, one on each side.  The smooth blade allows for cutting through fishing line.  The serrated edge is good for sawing through thicker lines.

A second popular option, today is the Dive Shears.  This is a pair of stainless steel shears that are very similar to the EMT Shears.  It will also have a sheath and is worn the same way as the dive knife.  At Aquatic Adventures, a Dive Center in Northern Virginia, both styles are in stock, but the single bladed dive knife is still the most popular of the two pieces of scuba equipment.

Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia: Care of your Dive Knife

Like any other piece of scuba diving equipment, the Dive Knife should be rinsed in fresh water after each scuba dive.  If any surface discoloration or rust appears, it can be removed with very fine steel wool, or metal polish.  A coating of U.V.  Tech on the blade prior to the dive will also help prevent this discoloration.

Books, like the PADI Encyclopedia of Diving and Equipment Care & Maintenance are good sources for care of all of your scuba diving equipment.

Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia: Dive Knife Considerations

Make sure that where ever you secure your dive knife it is accessible.  Before purchasing a Dive Knife, consider what type of scuba diving you will be doing.  This will help you determine the style that is best for your needs.  If you are wreck diving in areas, with lots of line or obstructions, then a second dive knife is not uncommon.

Your Dive Knife should also be secured in a sheath and should be placed with your checked luggage when traveling.  Never place your Dive Knife in your carry on luggage.

Owning a Dive Knife is a good idea.  Proper use of the Dive Knife is very important.  It should be used responsibly and care of the environment is of great importance.

Learn to Scuba Dive: The Scuba Diving Merit Badge

Scuba Diving is an activity that appeals to people of all ages.  For years almost all scuba divers were young adults.  Now as our population ages, and we marry and have children of our own, it is only natural to want to do things as a family.  Since the minimum age to obtain Junior Scuba certification is ten years old, more and more children are enrolling in scuba diving training.

Since the Boy Scouts of America have long promoted outdoor adventures, Sea Base, the Boy Scouts Florida and Bahamas based summer camps have provided opportunities for Boy Scouts and Adventure Scouts to enjoy scuba diving.  It was only a matter of time, but after much research, The Boy Scouts of America instituted a Scuba Diving Merit Badge in December of 2009.

At Aquatic  Adventures, a Dive Center in Northern Virginia, Children and Youth Scuba Diving Lessons are very popular.  With the popularity of Sea Base our programs for Scuba Diving for Scouts is also becoming very popular.

Scuba Diving Merit Badge Requirements

Just becoming a Certified Scuba Diver is not sufficient to earn the Scuba Diving Merit Badge.  In addition the Scout needs to learn about Scuba Diving problems and potential injuries and their prevention and first aid.  The First Aid Merit Badge is also required.  The Scout will also learn about possible careers in scuba diving and the importance of the buddy system and underwater communications or sign language.  Lastly, the Scout learns about the ocean ecosystem and how they might impact us.

The Boy Scouts of America Scuba Diving Merit Badge is a worthwhile endeavor for the young Boy Scout or Adventure Scout.  Scuba Diving is a hobby that youth can partake of with their parents for many years to come.  Beside learning fun skills, it often opens up avenues for future career endeavors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning to Scuba Dive

Learning to Scuba Dive is not difficult and is fast becoming more and more popular.  There is some confusion about the process and that often keeps prospective scuba divers from taking the plunge.  To help avoid this problem today we will discuss some of the more popular questions that prospective scuba divers often ask.

Do I Need To Be A Good Swimmer To Learn To Scuba Dive?
Not at all.  You be able to swim non-stop for 200 yards using any stroke or combination of strokes that you prefer.  You should also be able to tread water or float in place for ten minutes.  It is not necessary to be an Olympic swimmer, just that you not be afraid of the water.

Do I need to have a physical examination before taking scuba lessons?
Once you have enrolled in your scuba course you will be given a student folder with a “Medical History” questionnaire.  If none of the conditions listed pertain to you, then no further action is necessary.  If, however, you answer, “yes” to any of the questions, you will be given a “Medical Release” to take to your physician.  It is required that this release be signed by a physician prior to starting your pool or open water training.  The purpose of the “Medical Release” is for your safety, to ensure that you would not be putting yourself at risk.

How long does my certification last?
Your certification card has no expiration date.  It is, however, recommended that you stay proficient in regards to your scuba skills.  If you have not scuba dived in awhile it would be prudent to take a “Scuba Review Course” to refresh both your scuba knowledge and skills.

What is involved in Learning to Scuba Dive?
In order to learn to scuba dive and obtain your Scuba Certification, you take the Open Water Scuba Course.  This course has two distinct parts.  The first is class & pool where you learn the dive theory necessary to safely scuba dive and the basic skills involved in scuba diving.  Once you complete the class and pool portion you will complete 4 open water dives with your Scuba Instructor.  This is like the road test and you will demonstrate that you have mastered the skills enabling you to scuba dive without an Instructor.

What happens during the Open Water Certification Dives?
The Open Water Certification Dives are not a test.  You can only accomplish so much in the limited space of a swimming pool.  The Open Water Dives are an opportunity for you to experience the vastness of open water and simultaneously perfect your scuba skills.

There are four dives for the Open Water Certification.  While all of the dives are fun, the first dive is strictly a “fun dive.”   You are taken on tour by your Instructor so that you can see what scuba diving really is.  The next three dives will start with a few of the basic skills that you learned in the swimming pool.  You will not be asked to do anything that you have not done before.  After completing the few skills you will again go on a “fun tour” of the dive site, being accompanied by a member of our highly trained professional staff.

Where do I go To Learn To Scuba Dive?
You will want to find a reputable Dive Center in the area that you live or near where you will be traveling.  The Professional Association of Dive Instructors or PADI is the largest scuba certification agency in the world and a PADI Dive Center is a good place to start.  Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center in Alexandria, Virginia offers not only beginner certification but also offers all levels of PADI Scuba Certification from beginner through Instructor Level.

After obtaining my Open Water Certification, what course should I take next?
No question, take the Advanced Open Water Course (AOW) as soon after as you can. The AOW course is not restricted to advanced divers; it is a continuation of the Open Water course and is perfect for the newly certified diver.  It is only one night of classroom and five dives under the supervision of your instructor.  In one short weekend you will not only double your experience, but you will encounter new types of diving.  Underwater navigation, night diving, deep diving and other areas of diving interest, such as photography and wreck diving await you.

Dive Computers – What to look for when buying a Dive Computer

A few years ago most scuba divers thought that at some point in their scuba diving  experiences, if they were lucky, they would scuba dive enough to justify the purchase of a dive computer.   Now it is not a question of if, but more a question of when to buy that dive computer.  Dive computers are a very popular piece of Dive Equipment.

Why Dive With A Dive Computer?

Scuba divers need to know how deep they are diving and how long they can stay at that depth to avoid problems with decompression sickness.  Historically Dive Tables have been used to supply that information.  As scuba diving has progressed Scuba Diving computers simplify that chore and does it much more accurately and definitely faster.  Now most recreational scuba divers have already either purchased a dive computer or are planning to do so.  A dive computer makes diving simpler and due to the accuracy of computers it also makes scuba diving safer.  Aquatic Adventures, a Dive Center in Northern Virginia, offers Scuba Travel and Trips throughout the year.   Almost every diver on these Dive Trips uses a dive computer.

What to Look For in a Dive Computer?

Scuba Diving Computers come in many different configurations.  They can be in a console and can include other items like an underwater compass and air gauge.  They can be a wrist model or even built into a wrist watch.  We will look at these options in a later article.  Today we will just look at routine dive computer functions.

Computer Display Size

Your dive computer will double as a timing device, depth gauge and dive planner.  You will use it both on land and underwater.  It is important that you be able to read the display in all of these environments.  I have a prescription mask but many scuba divers do not.  Make sure that you can see the display and can easily read it.  Various dive computers have smaller or larger displays.

Compatible with Enriched Air Nitrox

Enriched air is becoming more and more popular among scuba divers.  Enriched air allows you to dive longer at given depths.  It does, however, require more calculations then diving with air does.  Today most dive computers are Nitrox Compatible.  This feature is well worth the extra few dollars that it costs.

Computer Downloadable

Scuba Divers routinely log or record their dives in a Diver’s Log Book.  This is a way of keeping track of the number of dives that you do.  It also helps you track what weight you used and what thickness wet suit you used in different water temperatures.  A nice dive computer feature is to be able to download this information to your laptop computer.  This allows you to maintain a digital log book and is a very popular feature today.

Adjustable Conservatism

Many dive computers allow you to adjust the computer to determine what degree of conservatism it has.  A more conservative computer gives a greater degree of safety but offers somewhat shorter dive times.  Some computers allow you to adjust the PO2 or oxygen build up in your body.  A higher PO2 allows for longer dive times but then they offer a lower degree of safety.