Learn to Scuba Dive in Virginia: Boat Diving Tips

Scuba Diving from a boat is very popular.  A boat will put the scuba diver right on top of the reef or ship wreck making diving far easier.  It also enables the scuba diver to get to areas that that are located beyond swimming or shore scuba diving distance.  Scuba diving from a boat is fun and very easy to accomplish.  Today, we will list a few common sense suggestions or tips that I am sure you will find helpful when diving from a boat.

Purchase a Good Dive Bag. Boats most often have very limited deck space.  By packing your scuba diving equipment in a good Dive Bag it will not only make it easy to transport but will help you keep your equipment contained into a very small area.  Another nice thing about a Dive Bag is that even though it might be quite roomy, its space is limited.  That means unless you are sure that you will need an item, then leave it ashore.

Select a Dive Set Up Area. A typical dive boat has space for several divers.  Once on board, select a spot.  I personally prefer a spot under any awning to minimize my exposure to the sun.  Others prefer to sit in the sun.  Many often like to be away from the boat motors to minimize noise or diesel fumes.  Which ever you select, put your scuba equipment in that area and then stay there to minimize any confusion or loss of equipment.

Listen to the Boat & Dive Briefing. Coast Guard regulations require that a boat briefing be given prior to a boat dive.  In addition a dive briefing is usually given prior to the dive.  The boat briefing will include important information the location and use of life jackets, first aid and oxygen equipment.  The Dive Briefing will include information on the dive, which includes depth, length of the dive and other important parameters.  Pay attention to the briefings and be sure to follow the instructions of the Divemaster.

Know Your Boat. Instructions on how to get into the water and how to exit the water when getting back into the boat are usually given as part of the Dive Boat or Dive Briefing.  Pay attention and follow the instructions carefully.  This is important to avoid injury or confusion.  In addition, make sure that you know what your boat looks like, particularly underwater.  At the end of the dive there may be more then one Dive Boat tied to a mooring.  You should be able to identify your dive boat from the bottom during your dive.  Details, like the number of engines, the type of ladder, etc will enable you to easily recognize your dive boat.

Boat Diving is fun.  It will allow you to dive in areas that you would not be able to reach otherwise.  Make sure that you keep it fun and safe by following these simple common sense rules.

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: Surface Signal Devices

Scuba divers can be hard to spot in the water, even a relatively short distance from a boat or shore if conditions are rough.  Signaling devices are important piece of safety equipment that is used to help scuba divers be seen and heard if they need assistance.  There is a fairly large assortment of the devices and today we will look at a few of the more common ones.

Audible Signal Devices and Visual Signal Devices

Audible surface signal devices can broadcast sound a far greater distance then yelling can.  These devices  include the air horn and the whistle.

A dive whistle attaches to the divers Buoyancy Control Device or BCD and is blown into by the scuba diver to alert others to his/her position or that he/she may need assistance.

The air horn type, is more expensive, and connects to the BCD through the low pressure air hose that inflates the Buoyancy Control Device.  By pressing a button on the unit it emits a very loud shrieking sound that can be heard from a long distance away.  The air horn is louder then the whistle but depends on the diver still having air in his or her scuba cylinder.  Some scuba divers will carry a whistle as well as an air horn, in case they are out of air.

Radio Frequency Beacon - the Nautilus Lifeline is a radio transmitter that sends out a radio wave.  It is carried by divers who dive in the ocean or areas with stiff currents.  It can signal a passing boat that the diver needs assistance and even gives GPS positioning.  This is the most expensive option but can easily pay for itself the first time it is used.

Visual Signal Devices

Visual signal devices are used to cast a beam or to allow others to spot a scuba diver on the surface.  Sun angles and waves often obscure the scuba diver on the surface, and a visual signal device  makes it much easier to spot the diver.   These include the inflatable signal tube, the signal mirror, dive lights and flashing marker lights.

Inflatable Signal Tubes are among the more commonly used signal devices.  The signal tube is either attached to the scuba divers BCD or placed in the pocket of the BCD.  If the diver needs to deploy the device, it can be inflated either orally, or by using air from the scuba diver’s regulator.  The tube is anywhere from 3 feet to 8 feet in length and brightly colored, usually a bright orange or yellow.  These can be seen from a great distance and makes it much easier for the dive boat to spot divers on the surface.

Signal Mirrors are often carried by scuba divers in a Buoyancy Control Device or BCD pocket.  The mirror can reflect sunlight and the glare can be seen at a distance.  The signal mirror does not work at night or if the sun is behind the diver rather then in front of the diver.

Flashing strobes are worn by the scuba diver at night.  They are attached to the regulator behind the head of the scuba diver.  The flashing strobe while diving makes the diver readily visible to his or her dive buddy.  On the surface the flashing light can be seen at night at a distance making it easier to see the diver on the surface.

Dive Lights are most commonly carried and used by scuba divers at night.  Many scuba divers will carry a dive light to look into nooks and crannies during the day in order to find hiding lobster and moray eels.  At night the dive light makes an excellent surface signal device and can be seen at a distance.

Scuba Diving Signal Devices are carried in the case of an emergency.  Scuba divers do not plan to have emergencies but should one occur and you not have a signal device the situation can easily become worse.  Buying and carrying a signal device is just plain common sense.

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy – Scuba Diving Equipment: The Exposure Suit

Because water is so much denser then air your body loses heat 20-25 times faster in water then it does on land.  In addition when scuba diving it is possible to scrape up against an old ship wreck or a coral head, which can cause cuts and scrapes.  Exposure suits help you maintain your body heat underwater and also provide a layer of protection against the possibility of cuts and scrapes.  Consequently, experienced scuba divers will wear exposure protection when scuba diving.

Types of Exposure Suits: Scuba Lycra Body Suit –  Scuba Wetsuit – Scuba Drysuit

There are essentially three types of Scuba Diving Exposure Suits, the Scuba Lycra Body Suit, The Wetsuit or Wet Suit and the Dry Suit.  Lets briefly compare the three.

The Scuba or Snorkeling Lycra Body Suit

A body suit protects scuba divers against incidental scrapes and stings, and reduces sun exposure.  Body suits have little or no insulation, so they’re primarily for warm water.  Many divers also find they help them slide into wetsuits more easily, so you may want one for temperate water diving.  A lycra body suit comes in bright colors and usually fits skin tight.  The body suit is also an excellent choice for snorkelers to avoid sunburn when snorkeling in warm water.

The Scuba Wetsuit

Wetsuits provide insulation as well as skin protection, and can keep you comfortable in water as cool as 50-60ºF to as warm as 85-90ºF . Wetsuits get their name because even though they keep you warm, you get wet – they trap a small amount of water between the suit and your skin that your body quickly heats.  To work properly the wetsuit must fit snugly in order for it to trap and hold the water so your body heat can warm it up.  Wetsuits for wind surfing or kayaking should not be used when scuba diving.  Surfing and kayaking suits are designed to allow water to drain out when you get out of the water and consequently do not allow a scuba diver to properly trap the water long enough to warm it sufficiently.

Scuba Wetsuit Styles

The most popular scuba wetsuit is the jumpsuit or full body suit.  It is a one piece suit that covers the scuba diver from ankle to neck.  It is available in different thicknesses: 3mm, 5mm and 7mm.  The thicker the suit the warmer it will be.  Two piece scuba wetsuits are also available.  These consist of a section that covers the legs and chest and are knows as the Farmer John or Farmer Jane  depending on if it is cut for a man or women.  A shorty is worn on top of that and offers a double layer of warm over the chest cavity.

Occasionally, the diver will wear the shorty alone or over a lycra body suit in warmer waters.

Always try on a scuba wetsuit before purchasing it.  Always try it on with the same type of bathing suit you plan to use under it to double check proper fit.   It must fit comfortably and yet be snug enough to trap water.  Features such as deluxe linings make it easier to get into and out of.

The Scuba Wetsuit will lose its warmth with age and can also shrink in size if left out in the sun.  Always rinse your wetsuit in fresh water after diving with it and never leave it to hang in direct sunlight.

The Scuba Drysuit

Dry suits provide maximum thermal protection.  Although primarily used in cooler water, in temperate water they let you make more dives and longer dives even if you could use a wetsuit.  Dry suits get their name because they keep you dry, except for (typically) your head and hands, over which you wear neoprene wetsuit hoods and gloves.  Drysuits provide the most warmth when scuba diving and the drysuit is also the most expensive of the three types of exposure protection.

Drysuits come in two basic styles: Neoprene Drysuit or the  Cloth, rubber or Laminate Drysuit.  The later is used with special insulating underwear to provide the right amount of exposure protection for the temperature of the water in which you are diving.

When scuba diving with a drysuit, your suit becomes part of your buoyancy system.  It is therefore prudent to learn how to properly dive with a drysuit.  The PADI Dry Suit Specialty course is an excellent way of doing this.

Which ever type of exposure protection that you choose, make sure that it fits properly, that you know how to properly use it and that it is appropriate for the climate in which you are scuba diving.

Scuba Diving Equipment: Maintaining Your Dry Suit

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy is a Dive Center in Northern Virginia that sells and services Scuba Diving Equipment.  Scuba Diving in Northern Virginia is often done in cold water so Dry Suit Scuba Diving is fairly popular in this area.  Scuba Diving with a Dry Suit allows scuba divers to dive in areas that are often too cold to dive with a wet suit.  It also allows scuba divers to scuba dive earlier or later in the dive season when the weather has turned cold.  Like any other piece of scuba diving equipment, the Dry Suit needs periodic care and some routine maintenance.

Clean Your Drysuit After the Dive

After diving with your drysuit you should make a point of giving it a thorough cleaning before storing it away.  Start by rinsing the outside of the drysuit with fresh water.  Try not to use any cleaners or detergents if possible on your drysuit.  Wipe the inside out with a moist sponge to remove perspiration.  If the dry suit leaked during the dive you might need to hose out the inside of the dry suit as well.  Gently brush the zipper with a soft brush to get grit and sound out of the zipper.  Wash the wrist and neck seals to remove suntan lotion, body oil and any dirt or grime.  Once it is rinsed and wiped clean hang the drysuit upside down to drain and to dry.

Storing Your Drysuit

When you are ready to store your drysuit away, lightly lubricate the zipper with bees wax or zipper lubricant.  Lightly dust your wrist and neck seals with pure talcum powder or corn starch.  Do not use baby powder or other scented powders as they may have petroleum based scents in them that could cause the seals to break down or degrade.  If you store your dry suit on a hanger make sure the zipper is open and let the suit breath to control odors.  If you fold your suit and store it in a bag close the zipper and make sure that you do not fold the suit over the zipper when folding or rolling the suit.  Always keep the zipper flat if possible.

Special Notes Regarding Drysuits

Get special scuba diving training before scuba diving with a Drysuit.  Courses like the PADI Dry Suit Specialist Course will teach you the basics of safely diving with a dry suit.

When diving with a drysuit it is important to use appropriate insulated underwear.  Regular underwear, even if warm enough, is not advisable.  You need underwear that will wick away moisture and perspiration to keep the surface of your body dry and warm.

When you are ready to scuba dive with your dry suit again, make sure to lubricate the zipper and dust the seals with powder to ease getting into the suit without damaging it.

Following these simple suggestions will help you enjoy your scuba diving dry suit for years to come.

Diving with a Drysuit is fun and can open up a whole new world of Aquatic Adventures.

Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia – The Buoyancy Control Device or BCD

One of the most important pieces of SCUBA Diving Equipment is the Buoyancy Control Device or BCD.  The purpose of the BCD is to hold your SCUBA cylinder in place.  In addition the BCD provides positive buoyancy on the surface enabling the scuba diver to float with less effort.  At depth by adding air into its bladder it helps the scuba diver achieve and maintain neutral buoyancy, enabling the scuba diver to float effortlessly at depth.  This in turn helps keep the scuba diver at a given depth to maximize enjoyment and minimizes bumping into the coral or wrecks that the diver may be exploring.

The Buoyancy Control Device: A Personally Fitted Piece of Scuba Diving Equipment

Many Scuba Divers ask “What piece of scuba diving equipment should they buy first?”  My response is usually the BCD since it is a personally fitted item.  When ever you go scuba diving it is very important that your BCD fits properly.  If it is too big the BCD will move when you put air in it the BCD, the BCD will move but you will not since it will slip around.  This is not only frustrating but can cause you to over exert, in turn creating other problems.  If it is too small it will squeeze the scuba diver.  This is not only uncomfortable but can prevent the scuba diver from breathing properly.  This can lead to shortness of breath which can be dangerous under water.

Types of Buoyancy Control Devices – Jacket Style & Rear Inflation:

There are two main types of BCDs available today.  The jacket style BCD and the rear inflation BCD.  The jacket style is very popular and is the one most commonly used in Dive Centers for training.  They come in sizes from extra small to extra large.  Proper fit is very important.  Because the jacket fits around the scuba diver, it does increase bulk creating a little more drag and resistance in the water.  You can also feel the air as it goes into the jacket style BCD letting you know how much air you are putting in.  Some of the more popular manufacturers of jacket style BCD’s are Sherwood Diving Equipment, Mares Diving Equipment and Scuba Pro Diving Equipment.

The Rear Inflation BCD is the other main type.  It is becoming increasingly more popular.  Because the rear inflation BCD has its bladder behind you it is much more streamlined then the jacket style and has less drag and resistance in the water.  In addition, since the bladder is behind you and not around you like in the jacket style BCD you do not feel the air going into it.  This takes a little getting used to but in the long run is much more comfortable.  The rear inflation BCD also floats you more horizontally when scuba diving creating much less drag and resistance.  While many scuba equipment manufacturers now make rear inflation BCD’s, like Sherwood and Scuba Pro,  Zeagle Diving Equipment is probably he most well known.

While scuba diving in Northern Virginia is very different then scuba diving in the Caribbean.  Therefore SCUBA Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia, and specifically your Buoyancy Control Device will need more lift in climates then southern climates to offset the thicker wetsuits used in Northern Virginia Scuba Diving.

What features to look for in a Buoyancy Control Device?

There are many worthwhile features that are available for your new Buoyancy Control Device.   Your SCUBA Instructor is someone who may be able to advise you on what to look for.  Weight Integration is a very nice asset.  A scuba diver must wear a weight belt and weights when scuba diving to offset the natural tendency to float.  Some Buoyancy Control Devices are weight integrated and the weight belt is actually built into the BCD.  This is much more comfortable then the old style weight belt and weights.  Another worthwhile option is Trim Weight Pockets in the back of the BCD.  Trim weights allow the scuba diver to adjust the placement of weights to effect his or her trim in the water.  This in turn makes is easier to scuba dive and saves energy.

A third option is really part of the scuba diving regulator: an inline alternate air source.  This replaces the octopus or extra second stage on a scuba regulator.  Many scuba divers like this option since it removes a hose from your scuba regulator making it more streamlined.  Some of the more popular in line alternate air sources are the Air 2 from Scuba Pro Diving Equipment and the Octo Z from Zeagle Diving Equipment.

Where to purchase your Buoyancy Control Device?

Since proper fit of a BCD is so critical, you will want to try it on before buying one.  It is an item that comes in many different styles and sizes, thus you will want to try several different styles on before deciding which one is right for you.  The best place by far to purchase scuba equipment is in the local dive center.  Thus if you live or scuba dive in Northern Virginia you will want to go to a Dive Center in Northern Virginia.  They will have the widest selection on hand for you to try on.  They can often customize and properly fit you with the appropriate piece of scuba diving equipment and instruct you on the proper use and care of the scuba equipment.  At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center in Alexandria Northern Virginia we pride ourselves on our extensive scuba diving equipment inventory, and our ability to not only find the best equipment for each scuba diver but to make sure that they know how to use it properly.

The Best Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia – Buying a Buoyancy Control Device or BCD

Why Should I purchase a BCD and not rent one?

Deciding to purchase Scuba diving equipment rather then renting it is a big decision and on of the best ones that you as a Scuba Diver will ever make.  And of all of the major pieces of Scuba Equipment in Northern Virginia the first to purchase is your Buoyancy Control Device or BCD.   Why is the BCD even more important to purchase then a regulator?  The answer is that your BCD comes in sizes and regulators do not.  Since we are all built differently and no two of us are exactly alike finding a good buoyancy control device that fits properly is hard to do and almost all of us would be better off with our own.  One that fits us properly rather then just wearing a rental BCD that probably does not fit exactly as it should.  Another reason is that men and women are obviously built differently.  Most resorts have generic BCD’s available for rent.  When on vacation you use what they have on hand whether it fits perfectly or not.  Consequently, rental BCD’s do not give you the control that your own Buoyancy Control Device would.

Selecting Scuba Diving Equipment Northern Virginia – What Buoyancy Control Device should I purchase?

This is an important question because Scuba Diving Northern Virginia is different then scuba diving elsewhere.  Why?  For one thing the water locally in Northern Virginia is colder then elsewhere so Scuba Diving Northern Virginia requires a heavier wetsuit then elsewhere.  A heavier wetsuit means that the Scuba Diver needs more weight to counter the thicker wetsuit.  Consequently, since the diver is using more weight the Buoyancy Control Device in Northern Virginia needs more lift then a BCD used in warmer waters like the Caribbean.

The trained staff at a Northern Virginia Dive Center like Aquatic Adventures will know this and help you select a BCD that can be used locally as well as on a Scuba diving vacation or trip to places like the Caribbean.

What Type of Buoyancy Control Device Should I Purchase?

There are several types of Buoyancy Control Devices and selecting the proper one for yourself is not overly difficult.  Start by selecting a local dive center that has a good assortment of quality brands of Scuba Equipment.  Scuba Pro Dive Equipment and Zeagle Diving Equipment are two of the finer lines of Buoyancy Control Devices available.  Zeagle Diving Equipment specializes in rear inflation BCD”s while SCUBA PRO has both jacket style BCD’s and rear inflation BCD’s.

Jacket Style BCD’s are the most popular and part of the reason for that is they have been around longer.  Another reason is that most dive centers and resorts use less expensive jacket style BCD’s in their rental line and people very often tend to purchase what they are most familiar with.

Jacket style BCD’s tend to be less expensive then the rear inflation BCD’s.  Since the jacket style BCD has a bladder that wraps completely around the diver it sometimes squeezes the diver when inflated and creates more drag when diving.  The rear inflation BCD has a bladder behind the diver so it is more comfortable and has less drag and resistance in the water.

Both styles are acceptable.  If you want a more traditional BCD, are not concerned with drag and resistance, and like feeling the squeeze so you know how much air you are putting into the BCD and want something a little less expensive then the jacket style BCD is perfect for you.  If you want less drag and resistance, to be more horizontal at depth and desire a more streamlined BCD for both diving and for packing then the rear inflation BCD is the way to go.

What is the Most Important Feature of a Buoyancy Control Device?

The single most important feature is how well it fits followed closely by does it have enough lift?  You will spend a considerable amount of time in your BCD so it should fit very comfortably.  Women especially have problems with fit and unless they are close in size to a man they should look for a BCD specifically built for a women.  If the BCD is uncomfortable it will effect your diving.  If you are concentrating on the discomfort  you will not be concentrating on diving (time, depth, etc) and you will also not be enjoying yourself as much.  The issue of lift we spoke about earlier.  Since most of us scuba dive in many different areas we often have different exposure protection for different areas and that changes the amount of weight that we might wear on a dive.  Our Buoyancy Control Device must be able to accommodate all of these.  It is far better to have more lift then you need rather then too little.

What Are Some of the Best Buoyancy Control Devices Available Today?

In the jacket style BCD the Pro Glide BCD by Scuba Pro Dive Equipment is perhaps the finest on the market.  The Avid BCD by Sherwood Diving Equipment is also an excellent jacket style BCD.  In the rear inflation Buoyancy Control Devices the Knight Hawk is an excellent BCD designed for men.  The Lady Hawk is the women’s version and both are made by Scuba Pro Dive Equipment.  Zeagle Diving Equipment makes the Stiletto for men and the Zena for women.  Both of these are excellent BCD’s and are modular so they can be custom fitted by the Dive Center.

A Final Word About Buoyancy Control Devices:

Which ever Buoyancy Control Device that you select make sure that you have seen it, held it and tried it on before purchasing it.  Always buy from a Dive Center and not on-line, that way you know the people who are helping you are divers and know dive equipment and not telephone order takers, who probably are not.  Be sure that the Dive Center is an authorized dealer for the brand Buoyancy Control Device that you are buying, like Aquatic Adventures in No Va.  Last, but not least, make sure that the Dive Center fits and adjusts the BCD before you leave the Dive Center.

Now, go out and enjoy that next great Aquatic Adventure!

The Best SCUBA Equipment in No Va – Selecting your SCUBA Regulator in Northern Virginia

Your Scuba Regulator is one of the most important pieces of Scuba diving equipment that you will purchase.   Start by selecting a Scuba Dive Center in Northern Virginia, Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, that you trust and that has a good inventory of quality Scuba Diving Equipment in stock.   The exact type of Scuba Regulator or exact model will vary according to the type of Scuba diving you will do.  The following are some questions that you can ask to help you select that perfect Scuba Regulator.

Balanced or Non Balanced Scuba Regulator in Northern Virginia ?

The first decision that you need to make is whether or not your Scuba Regulator is balanced or non-balanced.  A non-balanced Scuba Regulator breaths harder the deeper you dive and as your Scuba Cylinder or Tank gets lower in pressure.   Most rental regulators that are used by Dive Centers and Dive Resorts are non-balanced.  They are less expensive and easier to maintain.  Most Scuba Divers, however, will prefer to use a balanced Scuba Regulator because it is easier to breath and is better preforming.

Environmentally Sealed Scuba Regulator in Northern Virginia or non environmentally sealed?

Another question regarding your Scuba Regulator that needs to be addressed is whether or not your Scuba Regulator is environmentally sealed or not?  Your Scuba Regulator needs to know how deep you are diving so it knows exactly how much air to pump.  The easiest way to have a hole in the first stage so that the water that you are diving in will push against the spring in the Scuba Regulator telling it how deep you are.  This works well but by having sea air enter the Regulator salt and grit can also enter. A very good Scuba Regulator that is not environmentally sealed is the Mares Diving Equipment Abyss Regulator.

In very cold environments this can lead to the regulator free flowing or pumping air out of control.  Divers who dive in colder climates, like Northern Virginia, will want an Environmentally Sealed Scuba Regulator.  This seal keeps the water out of the first stage but allows the water to press against a piston or diaphragm that will transmit the depth information.   Good examples of this is the Sherwood Diving Equipment SR-1 Scuba Regulator or the Zeagle Diving Equipment DS-V Regulator.  Another option for Scuba Regulators that are used in colder climates is to purchase a Scuba Regulator that has heat sinks built into it.   The Scuba Pro Diving Equipment Mk25 Scuba Regulator is one of the highest rated Scuba Regulators on the market and it is not environmentally sealed but does have heat sinks.  The SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment MK 25 regulator is used world wide including Canada and other cold water areas without problems.  The SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment MK 17 regulator is environmentally sealed for those who prefer that option, and is rated as an exceptional Scuba Regulator.

Nitrox Compatible Scuba Regulator in Northern Virginia?

The question about whether or not to dive with Nitrox or Enriched Air is an on going one.  Many divers prefer to use Enriched Air to obtain longer dives and to feel less tired when Scuba Diving.  Not all regulators can be used with Enriched Air.  Since the Northern Virginia area is reasonably close to a lot of good wreck dives it is very popular in this area.  When purchasing a Scuba Regulator in No Va it is worthwhile making sure that the Scuba Regulator is compatible with Enriched Air.

The Zeagle Diving Equipment DS-V Scuba Regulator is compatible with Enriched Air.  The Sherwood Diving Equipment SR-1 Scuba Regulator is also compatible with Enriched Air as are all of the SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment Scuba Regulators such as the MK25, MK 17 and the MK11.

How much can you expect to pay for a Scuba Regulator in Northern Virginia?

Scuba Regulators in Northern Virginia,  are available in a variety of different prices.  The non-balanced Scuba Regulator, that we discussed above, runs less then $300.00.  Good examples are the Sub Gear Diving Equipment Aruba Scuba Regulator that retails for only $230.00 and the SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment MK2 Plus Scuba Regulator that retails for $293.00.  Balanced Scuba Regulators can be broken down price wise into moderate price and high performance.  Perhaps the best moderate priced Scuba Regulator is the Sub Gear Diving Equipment Bonaire Scuba Regulator.  It retails for only $362.00 and is rated as a “Brest Buy” Scuba Regulator by Scuba Gear Reports.  High Performance Scuba Regulators tend to be more expensive.  The Sherwood Diving Equipment SR-1 Scuba Regulator sells for $650.00 at Aquatic Adventures while the “Best of the Best Rated”  SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment Mk25 Scuba Regulator sells for $695.00.  The environmentally sealed SCUBA PRO Diving Equipment Mk17 Scuba Regulator sells for $725.00.

Deciding on what is the Best Scuba Equipment in Northern Virgina and what Scuba Regulator to purchase?

Now that you have all of the facts at your disposal you should weigh the respective information as it relates to you and the Scuba Diving you will do.  Take into consideration the amount and type of Scuba Diving, the type of Scuba Regulator that meets your Scuba Diving needs, and the cost of the Scuba Regulator.  Now you should be able to select the Best SCUBA Equipment in No Va and be able to start by selecting what you feel is the Best SCUBA Regulator in Northern Virginia.

Selecting the Best SCUBA Dive Equipment – Northern Virginia

Most SCUBA Divers initially learn to scuba dive with rental equipment.  Once they start to become more experienced and more proficient the majority of them make the decision to invest in better quality SCUBA Equipment for themselves.   At this point they really become a SCUBA Diver and should be congratulated and welcomed to the SCUBA diving community.

The Best Scuba Dive Equipment – is found at the Best Dive Center

Since there are so many quality brands of SCUBA Equipment deciding what to choose can be a daunting task.  One of the best ways to start is to select a Dive Center that has quality SCUBA Diving Equipment and whose advice you can trust.  You can search for Dive Centers on line and you can ask your friends who dive, what Dive Center they recommend.  A Google search for Dive Center in Northern Virginia would be one such way.  When you located a few local Dive Centers look to see if they are highly rated.  One of the highest Dive Center ratings is the PADI 5 Star Instructor Development  Dive Center rating.  This signifies a Dive Center that not only teaches SCUBA diving but trains divers to be SCUBA Instructors as well putting them well ahead of the most dive centers.  The Instructor Training is done by a PADI Course Director, the highest rated SCUBA Instructor there is.  Ask if the Course Director on staff works there full time or part time.  A full time Course Director indicates that they are serious about Instructor Training and is very desirable.  Last ask your friends and look for reviews to see if the Northern Virginia Dive Center is highly rated.  Testimonials on their webpage can be an indication of the best Scuba Dive Center in Northern Virginia.

What Brands of Scuba Dive Equipment should you select?

There are a lot of very good brands of Scuba Dive Equipment available.  Which is the best one for you?  This is another area that the Dive Center that you select can be of great assistance.  They probably carry a few highly rated brands and can help you select which is best for you individually.  Scuba Pro Dive Equipment is the highest rated line available.  They make several different Scuba Regulators so which Scuba Regulator is the best one for you?  A knowledgeable sales person at the local Scuba Dive Center can assist you in making that decision based upon the type of diving you do and how often you will Scuba Dive.

Besides Scuba Pro Diving Equipment, some of the other better brands of Scuba Diving Equipment are Sherwood Diving Equipment and Zeagle Diving Equipment.

Most important is that quality Scuba Diving Equipment requires annual servicing and you want to make sure that they Dive Center that you selected is able to accommodate this for you.  Make sure that you have your Scuba Diving Equipment serviced annually.  At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy-Northern Virginia, we even send out reminders to our customers when it is time to have their Scuba Diving Equipment serviced.  In addition we routinely teach our customers  Scuba Diving Equipment Care that they purchased from us.

Now that we have looked at how to get started the next step is selecting what items to purchase.  Scuba Diving Regulator, Scuba Buoyancy Control Device or BCD and Scuba Diving Gauge Console or Scuba Diving Computer are the three items that most divers will  start with.  We will look at how to select these in our next discussion.