Beginner's Guide to Scuba tag:beginnersguide.com,2007:/scuba//75 2006-08-07T17:55:10Z Scuba Movable Type 3.35 Four Filipino scuba divers rescued tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.21969 2006-03-23T14:58:24Z 2006-03-23T15:41:34Z Four scuba divers on a Filipino pump-boat were rescued after over 48 hours of being stranded at sea when their craft developed engine trouble between Bohol and Camiguin Islands. Elmer Loreno, boat captain, from Sunrise, Tawala, Panglao told authorities that... phillip Four scuba divers on a Filipino pump-boat were rescued after over 48 hours of being stranded at sea when their craft developed engine trouble between Bohol and Camiguin Islands.

Elmer Loreno, boat captain, from Sunrise, Tawala, Panglao told authorities that they were drifting for more than two days as passing vessels did not respond in spite of the distress signals they made.

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about here, but couldn't the stranded guys just scuba themselves to safety? You know, just swim for a couple of hours to the shore? I guess it doesn't really work that way.

]]> How do I get started scuba diving? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23704 2006-04-12T19:51:27Z 2007-08-07T15:25:45Z John “I want to do that.” The “that” in which you are speaking about is in the show you just watched on Discovery channel. Three people descended down into the ocean about 100 feet to look for buried treasure. Or maybe that didn’t spark your interest. Maybe it was the exotic fish that were scene in and among the Great Barrier Reef located off the shore of Australia. Or maybe it is just the thrill and excitement of being able to mark one more thing off your list of stuff that you want to do before you die. Scuba diving has become a not-so extreme sport in the lives of many people around the world. Whether they do it once, twice, fifteen times or they have to do it as part of their job in life, I have been told that it is contagious. Once you go Scuba diving once you want to go again and again and again. This is what I have been told at least.

There are some basic things that you need to know before you just jump into the pastime of scuba diving. The first is to really look into your own life and see if you are the right kind of person to go scuba diving. Now this is not based on age, sex, height or weight, but on some different things that you need to seriously look at under your own personal microscope. Another question is where to go-to-go scuba diving. There are dive spots all around the world, you just need to know what you want to look at and at experience and then book a trip there. A third question might be what kind of equipment will you need to purchase or have provided for you for your scuba diving experience. And then the final question is probably the second most important, next to the first, is how you can get licensed to scuba dive. Unfortunately, or fortunately in how you look at it, you must be able to complete certain tasks and tests before people will just place you 100 feet below the surface with nothing but a tank of gas to keep you alive.

]]> Am I the right person to go scuba diving? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23706 2006-04-12T19:53:18Z 2006-04-12T19:53:49Z The first thing that you need to consider before going scuba diving is your health. This activity is not passive at all. You are going to be swimming through deep waters with a pair of flippers on and a tank... John The first thing that you need to consider before going scuba diving is your health. This activity is not passive at all. You are going to be swimming through deep waters with a pair of flippers on and a tank strapped to your back. The simple act of descending into the water deeper is going to be taxing on your lungs as the pressures builds up. You don’t need to be a fantastic athlete, but if you have physical problems you may want to talk to your doctor before jumping in too quickly, because you might be disappointed.

The second thing to look at is your fear of certain things. Well, if you are afraid of water or fish, then scuba diving is definitely out for you. But there are other fears that might be realized. You are sometimes trapped underneath the water, not without oxygen, but just because you cannot ascend too quickly to the surface because of the pressure. If you are deathly terrified of that then once again you may not want to do it. Your life is pretty much dependent on the mechanical devices you have. Make sure you flesh out all the scenarios that might possibly happen so that you don’t freak out underwater if one of your gauges says something to make you a little more cautious. Scuba diving is an exciting time, but with most exciting times there comes a little bit of danger. Not extremely dangerous at all, but you should just know of some of the possibilities and how your body will react to them.

]]> How do you find a site to Scuba dive from? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23707 2006-04-12T19:54:02Z 2007-08-07T15:25:45Z John If you already know where you are going on a vacation, and it is around water then simply ask a travel agent and I’m sure that they will give you multiple sites that you will be able to scuba diving. Scuba diving has now become a vacation activity for lots of people. They probably will never go scuba diving in the lake next to their house, but if they are in the Caribbean then they will go. And rightfully so…who really wants to see the large catfish and old buckets at the bottom of Ole Man’s Lake? The Caribbean is one of the top spots if you want to go scuba diving. From Mexico on the West to the Eastern Caribbean Islands, the crystal clear Caribbean Sea invites many vacationers underneath the water to see the exotic fish that live there. One other positive is that the Caribbean Sea is extremely warm.

Another typically, but more expensive location for diving is the ocean around Australia. Australia boasts some of the largest reefs in the world and some extremely unique fish that are only found off the coast of the continent of Australia. Airfare and accommodations in Australia may be quite expensive, but the sights that can be seen here are found nowhere else. Other spots popular for scuba diving are Hawaii, Pacific Islands, and areas off the coast of Africa. There has also been a surge of people wanting to scuba dive in areas off the coast of Alaska and Antarctica. These two locations provide extremely different varieties of fish and animals to see, and have not been extremely commercialized by many travel agencies.

]]> What basic equipment is needed to Scuba dive? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23708 2006-04-12T19:54:47Z 2006-04-12T19:55:15Z There is some basic equipment that you can expect to see provided to you by the travel company. We are just going to give a quick description of a few of these things so that you are not surprised by... John There is some basic equipment that you can expect to see provided to you by the travel company. We are just going to give a quick description of a few of these things so that you are not surprised by anything. The first is flippers that will allow you to swim through the deep waters without tiring out your arms and in a much more fluid manner. The second is the oxygen tank and regulator. These devices will provide you with the right amount of oxygen for your trip down, as well as monitor levels of pressure. Another basic piece of equipment is your mask and snorkel. The mask is to allow you to see underwater and the snorkel is used at the surface before and after the dive. You may also have weight belts to lower you deeper into the water and a wetsuit for colder swims.

There are also some things that you may want to bring yourself in case there are not easily attainable in your location. The first and most important is a bathing suit. You do not get into a wetsuit naked – Don’t laugh, this is not so rare as to not be said in this article. Another thing is an underwater camera. This camera is designed to capture your 30-minute plunge into the water for eternity and you may want to look at a dive camera because these are designed to work at lower levels of water. If you are somewhat dependent on your self for information you may want to purchase a dive watch. A dive watch is made for underwater; deep level dives and gives you a report on pressure and oxygen time that you set when you begin the dive. All three of these items are extremely useful for your first dive.

]]> How do you get licensed to Scuba dive? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23709 2006-04-12T19:55:28Z 2006-04-12T19:55:58Z There are some extremely important and positive information about getting a scuba dive license. First of all, it will keep you alive by the information that you get from it. But we will talk about that information a little later.... John There are some extremely important and positive information about getting a scuba dive license. First of all, it will keep you alive by the information that you get from it. But we will talk about that information a little later. Also it is internationally recognized – this means that if you get it in United States then you should be able to dive in Brazil, Oahu, Jamaica, and New Zealand without paying for another one. Another added benefit of the dive license is that it never expires. So you don’t have to worry about updating it with your passport every ten years, or more so like your fishing license every year. And the final of this short list of benefits is that it allows you to rent and buy diving equipment yourself instead of depending on the agency to do it for you.

The next important thing is finding a place to get a license. There is not a shortage or a famine of dive schools out there at all. They range from backyard schools to professional institutions with reputable staff. This is an extremely important thing for you to look at carefully. My advice is to research these institutions as you would research a college for your little girl: get references, speak with instructors, know all the costs, and feel comfortable with the administration. The dive school can make your time diving much more enjoyable or downright scary if they are not taught correctly.

]]> Scuba Certification Overview tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23710 2006-04-12T19:56:31Z 2006-04-12T19:57:22Z I was on the island of Dominican Republic for my honeymoon and decided that I wanted to do an excursion with my wife. We went to the resort desk and wondered about the different kinds of trips. He quickly pointed... John I was on the island of Dominican Republic for my honeymoon and decided that I wanted to do an excursion with my wife. We went to the resort desk and wondered about the different kinds of trips. He quickly pointed us to a brochure of opportunities we had. We glanced over them and came to rest on a sailboat ride to a private island. But as I was looking over some of the others, I saw scuba diving. This could be my only opportunity to do this. But there was some italic print underneath the description that said scuba license required. We could have gotten the license while at the resort, but we only had two days left in our trip and not enough time to work through the proper courses. Too bad – but the sailboat was amazing. When I returned to the US I wondered about that certification and what it involved.

The first question I had was what kind of person do they turn away from scuba certification. I know that my Aunt had done it and some of my friends, but all that said was someone between the ages of 20 and 35. The second question I came up with was what do I look for in a scuba diving school. What makes one school better and one school worse? And then my cheap mind kicked in and I wondered about the cost of the dive school and how long is it going to take me to complete. The final question I had was if I could use this further in any other aspect of my life. Could a career come out of this and/or would I need additional training for different kinds of dives that I wanted to take.

]]> What are the basic requirements of getting a scuba certification? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23711 2006-04-12T19:57:36Z 2006-04-12T19:58:22Z There are two basic requirements for going to get your scuba certification. The first is the age requirement. Children at the age of ten can get a Junior cortication that will allow them to do certain dives with parental and... John There are two basic requirements for going to get your scuba certification. The first is the age requirement. Children at the age of ten can get a Junior cortication that will allow them to do certain dives with parental and other guidance. At the age of fifteen a child, or anyone else can go get their open water certification. That is the basic level of certification, and besides different kinds of specializations that is the certification that I would get. You might be surprised that is all the age requirements for scuba diving. There are also younger-age level certifications for children under the age of ten, but they are mainly there to prepare a child for scuba diving in the future.

The other requirement for scuba certification is physical health. When you go in to fill out your application for scuba certification you will be given a health questionnaire. This form will ask about certain conditions that might impair or prevent you from being able to scuba dive. If any questions come up on the quiz, the dive school must make you go see a physician to determine whether you will be able to complete the training and dive effectively. This is extremely serious for people with heart or lung conditions, as well as any disorders that may affect the nervous system.
]]> What should I look for in a dive school? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23712 2006-04-12T19:58:36Z 2006-04-12T19:59:12Z There are some important things that you should find out about the dive school and instructors that will be teaching you about certification. The first things that you should get are references from the people that own and operate the... John There are some important things that you should find out about the dive school and instructors that will be teaching you about certification. The first things that you should get are references from the people that own and operate the certification business. This may be the best time to bring in your friends that have dived before, and simply ask where they went if they had a positive experience. Some common questions that you may ask the dive instructors are, “How long they have been certified,” “How long have they been teaching,” and “How many certification courses/people have they taught?” These questions will allow you to make sure that they have not just opened up the business after their first dive. Though they may seem professional, you need assurances that they have had positive experiences before.

Another consideration about a dive school is the equipment that will be used. You may want to make sure that the instructor will be using the same equipment that you are using when training. This is an extremely important point because any lecturing that the instructor gives may be wrong when you put on different equipment. One of the most important considerations that you may also have for a dive school, and one that I have, is whether there will be discounts offered by getting your certification through that business. Many dive schools are connected with suppliers and travel agents and will offer discounts to people that take courses with them. This could save you a lot of money in the long run.

]]> What are the prices and duration of dive schools? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23713 2006-04-12T19:59:25Z 2006-04-12T19:59:59Z John My father’s phrase still echoes in my mind when I think of purchasing anything, “You always get what you paid for.” Cheap prices for a dive school means one of two things. The first thing that it can be is that the instructors and/or equipment are less than adequate. If the instructor has only started teaching, and it shows, then they will be unable to charge the going rate. The other reason that the price can be so down is that there are hidden charges. That initial price gets you through the door and then they tell you about the application fee and the cost of books. So you need to investigate before you sign that dotted line for any cheap rates at dive schools. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should always go for the most expensive dive schools because they are the best. They may just target richer clientele and the place down the street does just as good instruction as they do.

You should always consider the duration of dive schools. Some less reputable dive schools will try to rush you through the formalities to the dive not giving proper time to understand the process and feel comfortable with the equipment. The PADI certification course is supposed to take 4 days. Now, you can take that as slow as you want giving more time to understand it. Try not to allow them to push the days to 3 if you can, and definitely do not accept anything less than that.

]]> What are the different kinds of divers out there and specializations in scuba diving? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.23714 2006-04-12T20:00:16Z 2007-08-07T15:25:45Z There are four different kinds of divers out there. The first and the most popular, and the one that you probably fit into, is recreational dives. These are the people that dive schools and scuba diving on vacations are for.... John There are four different kinds of divers out there. The first and the most popular, and the one that you probably fit into, is recreational dives. These are the people that dive schools and scuba diving on vacations are for. These are the people who have fun diving and that are why they pay the money. Now you can break up these into specializations, but we will look at this later. The next group of divers is commercial divers. These people do it for the money, and possible the thrill and fun of it. They work in underwater jobs that require them to be underwater, but outside of a ship. They may work at oilrigs or be emergency rescuers. The third group of divers is scientific divers. These divers are underwater for research. They may be studying the rock growth on the bottom of the lake, or the rich variety of fish that swim in the corral off the coast of Australia. The fourth variety of divers is military divers. Most people would group the Navy Seals into this bunch. They somewhat are connected to the commercial divers, but they also might be involved in combat and tend to dive in different waters every time.

There are also many different kinds of specializations out there. Some of the different kinds of training are:

• Altitude diving
• Night diving
• Fish identification
• Search and recovery
• Underwater photography or videography
• Equipment specialist
• Cavern diving
• Wreck diving
• Ice diving
• Technical diving specialties
]]> History of Scuba Diving tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.30936 2006-07-30T22:25:33Z 2006-07-30T22:31:27Z Scuba Overview Primitive Scuba Early Scuba Devices Modern-Day Scuba... John cousteau.jpg

Scuba Overview

Primitive Scuba

Early Scuba Devices

Modern-Day Scuba

]]> Scuba Certification tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.30937 2006-07-30T22:34:33Z 2006-07-30T22:36:29Z Scuba Certification Overview What are the basic requirements of getting a scuba certification? What should I look for in a dive school? What are the prices and duration of dive schools? What are the different kinds of divers out... John sucba-certification.jpg

Scuba Certification Overview

What are the basic requirements of getting a scuba certification?

What should I look for in a dive school?

What are the prices and duration of dive schools?

What are the different kinds of divers out there and specializations in scuba diving?

]]> How do I Get Started? tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.30938 2006-07-30T22:36:58Z 2006-07-30T22:38:56Z How do I get started scuba diving? Am I the right person to go scuba diving? How do you find a site to Scuba dive from? What basic equipment is needed to Scuba dive? How do you get licensed... John scuba-start.jpg

How do I get started scuba diving?

Am I the right person to go scuba diving?

How do you find a site to Scuba dive from?

What basic equipment is needed to Scuba dive?

How do you get licensed to Scuba dive?

]]> Scuba Safety tag:beginnersguide.com,2006:/scuba//75.31404 2006-08-07T17:54:44Z 2006-08-07T17:55:10Z Scuba Safety Overview When Not to Dive Risks of Scuba Diving Safety Tips for Divers... phillip scubsafe.jpg

Scuba Safety Overview

When Not to Dive

Risks of Scuba Diving

Safety Tips for Divers

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