Diving – Is it Safe?Scuba Diving can be a dangerous sport if you do not take a ‘be safe always’ approach when entering the water. It has a lot to do with your personality at the end of the day. It will be as safe as you want it to be, even in times of extreme weather or water conditions. it is important to be always stay alert. Just like crossing the road, if you don’t take precautions and follow the simple rules that you have learnt as a child, accidents can happen anytime anywhere!Get certified by a professionally recognised centreMany new divers do not check that the centre they are learning from, particularly when they visit more remote places in Asia, that their dive instruction is received from a professionally organised and run centre. There is often a presumption that all dive centres have gone through proper checks, controls and certification. Unfortunately, there are many who profess to be qualified to instruct, but to save costs, have not received authentication from professional bodies such as PADI or SDI which have strict rules and requirements for all dive operators. Don’t miss this first check when you step in. Always ask to see proof of their certification.Be medically certified to diveSee your doctor before you sign up for dive instruction. No one else should care as much about your safety as you! And no one else will be as sorry as you if there are accidents or problems when you dive. Get physically checked and if necessary, obtain a letter from your doctor authorising you to learn to dive.Be aware of the conditions and your own diving competency levelSometimes, it is best to follow your instinct. If you feel the currents are too strong, or you are not feeling well, stop your dive by informing your buddy straightaway and ascend together. Do not try to attempt a dive if you are uncomfortable. We have seen many experienced divers abandon dives due to strong currents, and that has saved them and their dive group a lot of trouble.Never dive in terrain or environments you are not certified forIn order to dive caves, do night dives or penetrate wrecks, you should have received proper training and certification before you attempt them. There are techniques that you must learn in order to be safe for such specialty dives. Choose from the wide range of the Specialty Courses that krabidivers.com conducts regularly which is of interest to you, and you will find that you will be much more confident whenever you dive the next wreck or cave.Be prepared to say “No” to a diveIf you find yourself uncomfortable or unsure, even after you have started to descend or are in the middle of a dive, it is OK to cancel that dive and come back another day when the conditions are more favourable. It does not mean that you are not a good diver – infact very often, it is the smart diver who knows himself best – and knows when to say “No thanks, I will sit out this one.”Never dive aloneRegardless of experience levels, you should never dive alone. If you lose your buddy during a dive, look around for no more than one to two minutes. If you still cannot find your buddy, you should end your dive and make your way up to the surface. Not only will it be safer for you, it will also give comfort to your buddy that you are watching out for him too.Prepare for a dive wellThe night before a dive trip, you should always rest well, and hydrate yourself by drinking lot of water. And, you should not have a heavy night’s drinking as alcohol causes dehydration. Dehydration contributes to many diving-related illnesses.Always check your dive gear before each dive (especially for rental gear!)Before you go on each dive, always check all your dive gear again. Make sure that your regulator and hoses are working well without leaks, your BCD inflates well and your tank has the right level of air. Do not assume that just because you have returned from one dive safe and sound, using the same set of dive gear will not cause any problems on the next dive. Many shops have rental gear which may not have been serviced well or for a long time. You should check all gear, rental or your own, well before every single dive.Choose a buddy who dives like youWhile choosing a buddy who dives like you may not be an option many of the times, it is always good to get to know your buddy before you start diving together. Ask simple questions such as how many times he has dived, where he has dived, when his last dive was, and how good he is at air usage. This will help you to also anticipate problems your buddy may have during the dive. The most enjoyable dives are sometimes when you have a good buddy, who shares with you the sights he comes across and paces well with you throughout the dive.Drink plenty of waterDiving can be a very dehydrating sport. Make sure that before every dive, you have plenty of water. I always make it a point to drink a cup of water just before I jump into the water. This has always helped me to stay well hydrated throughout the dive for the next 45 to 60 minutes.Pay attention during your pre-dive briefingDive briefings are important to help you understand what to expect when in the water. Your dive guide will explain about the terrain, what you should expect to see as well as how to best navigate yourself around the dive site for a most enjoyable dive. It will also help you to anticipate changes in the terrain so that there are no surprises.Be aware of sympthoms of hypothermia, heat exhaustion and dehydrationWatch out for all the sympthoms as you are your best judge of whether your dive will cause any problems. It is always best to be safe and not sorry, so look out for tingling sensations, nausea, giddiness, numbness and any other sensations that makes you uncomfortable. Inform your dive buddy and/or your dive guide about it, and stop the dive and start your ascend to the surface.Respect marine lifeAll marine life needs to be respected, not just the big stuff. Be very aware of your surroundings and the fish and coral life around you. Do not touch anything as far as possible, especially if you are unsure if it will be poisonous. Remember, the ocean belongs to the marine life and we’re the visitors!

Diving is as safe as any other sport. As divers, we have a responsibility to the environment, to other divers and most of all, to ourselves to ensure safety and preservation. Safe diving is practiced if you choose the right partner to dive with, so make sure you find out about the dive centre, instructors and guides, and feel very comfortable that they practise the prescribed safety standards diligently and conscientiously.

With Help From Seahorse Scuba

Scuba diving is a sport that is becoming increasingly popular with people in the UK and the US. However, many people who take up the sport choose to dive in locations outside their country of residence. Speak to any scuba diving enthusiast and they will tell you that one of the joys of diving is the fact that you can see so much, in so many different places. It really does open up another world. This article lists some of the most popular diving locations in the world, and tells you what’s so great about each place.

The Yongala (Australia)

Many people argue that this is the best dive site in the world. The Yongala is a shipwreck in Queensland Australia and sank in 1911 carrying 122 people. It is located 90km southeast of Townsville and is 109 meters long. It is illegal to enter the ship, however you can expect to see plenty of marine life nearby including sea snakes, octopuses, tiger sharks, bull sharks and manta rays. Although you can dive the Great Barrier Reef all year round, the best time to go is between August and December.

Sipadan (Malaysia)

The Sipadan is a tiny island about an hour’s boat ride from the east coast of Sabah. There are around fourteen amazing dive sites within close reach of the island, and being so isolated you have the chance to escape the throng of tourists. Highlights include Barracuda Point, Turtle Cavern, Fatimah’s Reef and White Tip Alley. The island is now closed to overnight stays but you can expect to have up to three good dives when there on a day trip. The advice is to shop around when looking for a trip, if you do your homework you should get great value for money.

Sharm El-Sheik (Egypt)

Sharm El-Sheik is a resort in Egypt that is growing increasingly popular due to cheaper flights from the UK and guaranteed good weather. It’s also very popular with Scuba Diving enthusiasts due to the range of dives that can be enjoyed in the Red Sea, all within reach of Sharm El-Sheik. With a huge range of fish and corals, you will definitely have a great experience here. Favourite dives in the area include; The Jackson Reef, The Canyon, The Carnatic ship wreck and plenty more reefs in the Straights of Tiran. Being a popular resort, there are also many dive centres to choose from that can organise excursions and equipment hire.

The Medas Islands (Spain)

Within easy reach of the UK, the Medas Islands are popular with divers looking for great dives in the warm inviting water of the Mediterranean. A wide range of marine life can be seen here, all within a three hour flight from London. The diving spots vary from caves, tunnels and reefs a highlight being the Dolphin Cave. Due to being quite broad, it doesn’t take a huge amount of expertise to dive here, and having two entrances divers can go from one end to the other.

There’s nothing quite as mysterious as that which is contained underwater. Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to explore the deep of the sea; to investigate the secrets it holds. The modern equivalent of this exploration is scuba diving – a one-man voyage that can yield enormous adventure. But before you can dive, you must crawl, so to speak.
Deciding whether scuba diving is right for you depends solely on your personality. If you’re someone who enjoys swimming, exploring, and adventurous activities, then chances are you will thoroughly enjoy scuba diving. However, in order to complete the training and scuba dive safely and successfully you must also be in good physical health.
If you have an interest in scuba diving you can get your feet wet through scuba instruction. In order to participate in scuba diving in open water, you must be trained and certified in scuba. You can find a host of training facilities in towns and cities throughout the world – regardless of whether or not you live near the ocean. Scuba diving instruction is given in indoor pools because of the controlled environment. But before water work even begins, students are given extensive classroom instruction to familiarize them with the essentials of scuba diving.
Once in the pool, the instructor will put the classroom instruction into practice, allowing students to practice techniques associated with scuba diving. Scuba diving instruction can take place over many weeks; it is imperative that students receive thorough training in order to ensure their safety. The culmination of training will be your certification in scuba diving. And you’re on your way.
Reputable instructors can certainly point you in the direction of finding scuba gear that will be essential for your dives. Equipment necessary for scuba diving includes a wetsuit, flippers, eye and face mask, and oxygen tank and accessories. You also have the ability to rent equipment prior to any dives; just be sure that you are taken out by scuba professionals who are reputable and experienced.
Scuba diving can be an unbelievable experience that will forever transform you. Take the steps necessary to ensure your safety and the rest is pure enjoyment.