Ever witnessed a diving incident where a little preparation could have prevented an unsafe or uncomfortable situation for the (certified) divers involved?Many newly certified or rusty divers feel pressured on dive charters to remember all of the skills taught to them during certification. I have seen many certified divers get into trouble simply because they were afraid of looking stupid by asking questions.
In addition, most open water certification classes have neither the time nor the resources to cover every single situation a diver may face when out on the water. Many certified divers decide after a few dives that Scuba just isn't for them, after spending time and big bucks to become certified and equip themselves. All of the stress these divers felt on their first few dive charters stem from fear of the unknown, feeling out of control, or lack of confidence in their equipment.
So, in order to prevent much of the stress that comes along with preparing for your dive vacation, I have compiled a list of the top 5 things to consider when preparing for the trip.
- Inspect Your Equipment
- Refresh Your Skills
- Leave The Heavy Stuff Behind
- Practice Controlled Breathing
- Ask Questions
About a month before you go on vacation, bring out every piece of equipment you're taking with you and lay it out in front of you. Take the time one afternoon or evening to carefully inspect every item before checking it off. Cracked mask straps, booties with no tread, ill-fitting or scratched mask, rotted or broken O-rings, and dead batteries should all be replaced immediately. Setting aside this time prior to your trip will save you headaches, stress, and missed dives once you have departed on your vacation.
Even if it has only been a few months since your certification, consider taking a refresher course at your local dive shop. At the very least, get permission from a local pool to test your gear out. Try everything out in chest-deep water, always with a buddy. Do not wait until you are on the charter to get comfortable with assembling and using Scuba equipment.
Don't take tanks and weights along. Tanks are cumbersome and expensive to travel with (they must be emptied completely for most modes of travel, which allows moisture to penetrate the inside of the tank causing rust). Tanks and weights are available anywhere there is a dive shop, and are usually included in the cost of the dive.
Get into the habit of inhaling slowly and deeply through your mouth only, pushing your stomach (not your chest) out as you inhale. As you breathe out, relax your face, shoulders, arms, hands, stomach, legs and feet one by one. You should be completely relaxed by the end of your exhale. Practice this technique everywhere you go. Controlled breathing is the key to reducing stress and attaining perfect neutral buoyancy.
Never be too shy or intimidated to ask questions about anything that you are unsure of. Your safety and enjoyment are at stake, and being comfortable with your equipment and surroundings is key to a successful dive trip. Diveshop operators, diveboat captains, Scuba instructors and dive masters all understand how apprehensive you may be and know that there is no such thing as a dumb question.
Ever wish you had been better prepared prior to setting sail on a dive charter? Were you afraid to ask questions when surrounded by more experienced divers? Let us know in the comments! And make sure to check out What To Know About Solo Diving.
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1 comments:
"Ask Questions"
Want to freak a Divemaster out?
Before you jump off the boat, hold up your second stage and ask him, "I just need to breathe through this, right?"
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