Scuba diving is an amazing life-changing experience. It allows you to mediate in the calmness of the ocean, feel the purest gifts of nature surround you, and experience unexplainable tranquility. In essence, scuba diving is fun, and divers can ensure just that by keeping in mind these five important scuba safety tips to avoid making mistakes.
Plan Your Dive Out Loud
Professional dive centers promote diving with a buddy for safety in case things go wrong. The first thing you need to do while planning a dive is to plan it out loud with your partner. Make sure you and your buddy establish the maximum depth, the maximum bottom time, and at what point of air supply you will end the dive. Also discuss what to do in case you get separated and review hand signals with each other so you can properly communicate underwater. The hand signals of your buddy may be different from what you learned.
Although some people may be qualified to dive solo, it is not recommended. If there is any emergency, you will not have someone there to assist you. The saying is, “If you dive alone, you die alone.” Be safe, dive with a buddy at all times.
Safety Gear Check and Maintenance
If you haven’t already invested in your diving gear, always make sure to check the rental goods thoroughly for any defect or damage. If you have your diving gear, make a habit of regular maintenance and check before every dive to ensure that everything is in working order. Don’t forget to keep a quick maintenance kit with you in case you need to replace an O ring or an extra mask strap in case your breaks. And remember to rinse off your equipment after each dive to keep it in good condition.
Don’t Test Your Limits
While it’s true that scuba diving is a challenging sport that requires you to step out of your comfort zone, it’s supposed to be fun. If you feel physically or mentally stressed before a dive, it’s better to reschedule or change the diving spot, especially if you feel it’s not suitable for you. Once in the water, make sure not to exceed your physical capacity and exit well before you’re drained. Additionally, if you feel overwhelmed at any point, call off the dive.
In the same theme, don’t test the limits of your air supply. Remember the rule of thirds. Plan your air supply for each dive to use one-third of your air supply to get to your planned destination, one third for your return, and one third for your safety stop and for any unplanned or unexpected events that may happen underwater such as your buddy running out of air before you. Frequently check your air gauge and be sure you know the amount of air your buddy has as well.
Scuba Signal for 3 minute safety stop
Drugs and Drinks are No Go
Just like you should not drink and drive, one must not drink and dive. Not only can intoxication dampen your cognitive abilities, but it will also slow down your response times to different situations. Similarly, if you are using prescription drugs for a temporary illness or chronic conditions such as migraine, sinuses, or asthma, check with your physician before diving.
Be Mindful of Marine life
As a scuba diver, you must advocate for the well-being of the coral and marine species. While diving underwater, you need to be cautious of your safety and that of marine life around you. This goes without saying that all divers should strictly implement a no-touch rule to safeguard themselves and the natural habitats of the water.
Dive Safe, Enjoy More
To begin your scuba diving journey, you need to become a certified diver by taking a PADI dive course. If you’re already certified and want to dive with a professional dive center, get in touch with Deep Blue Dive Center in Aqaba. They offer boat diving, shore diving, and PADI courses for all levels of divers.
