So, You Wanna Be a Diver?
One of my life/bucket-list goals has always been to become a certified SCUBA diver. So, this summer I decided to finally take that plunge. Literally.
It was pretty amazing, and also an incredible learning experience. I learned new things about myself, and more about science in that 7 days than I recall learning in the entirety of my educational career. (I guess that's partially because I've always been a bit more of a hands on learner though.)
So, here are a couple of things I learned while getting dive certified:
Math actually has real life applications. This is one fact that I came to grudgingly accept over my week-long PADI Open Water Diver Certification Course. I've been a long time math hater, and staunch believer that unless your life goal is to work in a directly math related field (read: math teacher), beyond basic arithmetic, math was a pretty useless subject mostly devised and employed as a torture devise for adolescents.
Yet, when presented with real world scenarios and their consequences I learned to crunch those number a lot faster than I ever imagined possible. If only high school algebra problems had been more practically applicable, I might have had a completely different outlook.
Using a dive chart (like the one pictured below) to safely determine and plan the depths and lengths of your recreational dives is crucial in preventing a dive accident. Conversely, being reckless and neglecting to plan for your dives or ignoring safety recommendations, such as safety stops or surface intervals, can mean intentionally putting yourself at risk. If you plan on being a diver, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to use this tool beforehand, and get in the habit of using it for every dive.
While it's true that dive computers pretty much negate the use for a dive chart, learning how to accurately calculate times and depths manually is not only a nifty tool, but it is one that can save your life. Technology can sometimes be unreliable, or fail in the most crucial moments. Best to have a back up plan, rather than let faulty tech equipment ruin a otherwise perfect dive day!
Dive computers are also very expensive, even to rent. If you are capable of planning your dives using the relatively inexpensive dive chart, you can save a ton and still accomplish the same safety goal.
SCUBA diving is a ton of fun. However, it can also be terrifying, and massively dangerous if you aren't cautious. In addition to planning your dives out, there are ways to ensure your personal safety when diving. A lot of these are relatively simple steps, and many may seem like common sense, yet they can make all the difference between a good day and a disaster.
When you get underwater, sometimes the reality of the situation can set in and cause you to have a bit of a freak out. I've experienced this first hand, and so have other a lot divers that I know. This is nothing to be ashamed of; and while you may not be able to predict when or if a freak out will occur, you can take steps in advance to be ready in the event it does happen to you. The key, like almost every other potentially life threatening situation, is not to panic.
Some things I did at home that allowed me to feel more comfortable underwater include practicing clearing my mask and mouth breathing. Both techniques can be practiced in a pool or even in the shower, but the important thing is to master the coordination of breathing (only out through your nose, and in only ever through your mouth via snorkel or respirator) so that you don't slip up and swallow more water than necessary when you're down. It can also be helpful to get used to the feeling of having a little water in your nose, and responding appropriately instead of immediately panicking.
Another important safety measure is the buddy system. Having a reliable buddy can make or break your dive experience. In addition to being someone with dive knowledge and a cert, your buddy should be someone you can trust. It is important to be able to communicate clearly with your buddy, and to have a level of trust with this person and their abilities as a diver. Your dive buddy should be aware of, and respect your limitations as a diver, and you should do the same for them. You should feel comfortable asking for, as well as providing, assistance on anything from routine gear checks to buddy rescue with this person, and it's best to practice these methods together before going out in case the way they learned is different than the way you did. You'll want to make sure you're on the same page prior to getting into a tight situation and finding out the hard way.
If you are a new diver, it may be a good idea to go with a dive guide
the first couple of times, until your skill and comfort levels are up to
par and you are able to be reliable buddy yourself. The goal is to be a buddy, not a burden.
I got my certification through PADI. They are an internationally recognized dive school, which means that is is more likely that my certification will be recognized and honored world wide. Getting certified through PADI also allows me the be a part of an international dive community. Their online social network, SCUBAEarth, allows me to connect to other divers near me with similar experience and levels of certification, as well as quickly find a reputable dive shop wherever I go.
It was pretty amazing, and also an incredible learning experience. I learned new things about myself, and more about science in that 7 days than I recall learning in the entirety of my educational career. (I guess that's partially because I've always been a bit more of a hands on learner though.)
So, here are a couple of things I learned while getting dive certified:
Math actually has real life applications. This is one fact that I came to grudgingly accept over my week-long PADI Open Water Diver Certification Course. I've been a long time math hater, and staunch believer that unless your life goal is to work in a directly math related field (read: math teacher), beyond basic arithmetic, math was a pretty useless subject mostly devised and employed as a torture devise for adolescents. Yet, when presented with real world scenarios and their consequences I learned to crunch those number a lot faster than I ever imagined possible. If only high school algebra problems had been more practically applicable, I might have had a completely different outlook.
Using a dive chart (like the one pictured below) to safely determine and plan the depths and lengths of your recreational dives is crucial in preventing a dive accident. Conversely, being reckless and neglecting to plan for your dives or ignoring safety recommendations, such as safety stops or surface intervals, can mean intentionally putting yourself at risk. If you plan on being a diver, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to use this tool beforehand, and get in the habit of using it for every dive.
While it's true that dive computers pretty much negate the use for a dive chart, learning how to accurately calculate times and depths manually is not only a nifty tool, but it is one that can save your life. Technology can sometimes be unreliable, or fail in the most crucial moments. Best to have a back up plan, rather than let faulty tech equipment ruin a otherwise perfect dive day!Dive computers are also very expensive, even to rent. If you are capable of planning your dives using the relatively inexpensive dive chart, you can save a ton and still accomplish the same safety goal.
SCUBA diving is a ton of fun. However, it can also be terrifying, and massively dangerous if you aren't cautious. In addition to planning your dives out, there are ways to ensure your personal safety when diving. A lot of these are relatively simple steps, and many may seem like common sense, yet they can make all the difference between a good day and a disaster.
When you get underwater, sometimes the reality of the situation can set in and cause you to have a bit of a freak out. I've experienced this first hand, and so have other a lot divers that I know. This is nothing to be ashamed of; and while you may not be able to predict when or if a freak out will occur, you can take steps in advance to be ready in the event it does happen to you. The key, like almost every other potentially life threatening situation, is not to panic.
Some things I did at home that allowed me to feel more comfortable underwater include practicing clearing my mask and mouth breathing. Both techniques can be practiced in a pool or even in the shower, but the important thing is to master the coordination of breathing (only out through your nose, and in only ever through your mouth via snorkel or respirator) so that you don't slip up and swallow more water than necessary when you're down. It can also be helpful to get used to the feeling of having a little water in your nose, and responding appropriately instead of immediately panicking.
Being a reliable buddy means you have to be ready to ACT!
I got my certification through PADI. They are an internationally recognized dive school, which means that is is more likely that my certification will be recognized and honored world wide. Getting certified through PADI also allows me the be a part of an international dive community. Their online social network, SCUBAEarth, allows me to connect to other divers near me with similar experience and levels of certification, as well as quickly find a reputable dive shop wherever I go.
#GetWet #GoDeep but also #StaySafe and life to dive another day!
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