Malta is an island nation located in Southern Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea, consists of seven islands. Among these islands, Gozo is one of the more popular in the archipelago because the surrounding bodies of water is considers as one of the best diving spots in the whole world. There are several diving areas in Malta and Gozo and can cater to both novice and experienced divers. Because of its location and climate, the underwater environment of the Mediterranean Sea is perfect for coral growth. The archipelago of Malta has a climate that consists practically of two seasons: mild winters, which is more like tropical rainy season and hot and dry summers. The most recommended months to visit Malta and Gozo for scuba diving are the ones that are in between the rainy season and summer ? June or July. The last quarter of the year is also a good time to pay the Maltese archipelago a visit. Scuba diving is one of the greatest pleasures in life, especially if you visit the various diving areas in Malta and Gozo. The crystal-clear water allows you to see nature?s beauty underwater to the fullest. The nutrient-rich waters in Malta and Gozo also give life to different species of aquatic flora and fauna; the sight of colourful coral reefs with fishes in different colours, shapes and sizes is something you would expect from a pretty postcard. These are some of the reasons why expert divers keep coming back to Malta and Gozo. Of course, expert divers are not the only one that can enjoy the pristine waters of Malta and Gozo. Many diving areas are suitable for beginners to enjoy. As one would expect, there are many scuba diving instructors that provides tutorials and safety tips on novice divers. You may look online; there are various websites that offer scuba diving lessons and courses that can be finished for just a day or two. The lessons can consist of classroom training and practice dives. During classroom training, students will be taught the basics of scuba diving and snorkelling through simulations in a controlled environment, like an indoor pool, and lectures. Once you have learned all you need in classroom training, you will now be sent to experience a taste of the real thing. This part of scuba training usually eats up the whole day, but it is well worth it. During the day, you will be allowed to dive at the depth of around 3 meters or so followed by a deeper dive later. The second dive will have you go underwater around eight meters deep. After you have graduated the course, you will be given a certificate: proof that you have the basic knowledge needed to go scuba diving in the waters of Malta and Gozo. Some of the diving areas in Malta and Gozo are perfect for novice divers. These diving spots are not physically demanding and are not too deep for beginners, so you should try these out first before heading to deeper areas.

Air is a mixture of primarily two gases, approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Nitrogen is the culprit in causing decompression sickness, more commonly know as the “bends”. This fact will be important as we discuss enriched air advantages. Enriched air is the result of adding oxygen to air, raising the level of oxygen in the mixture to between 22% and 99%. However, for recreational purposes enriched air blends range from 22% to 40% oxygen. Nitrox is often referred to as “enriched air”; however there is a difference between the two. Nitrox refers to any nitrogen-oxygen mixture, while enriched air is air that has some oxygen added. Therefore by definition enriched air can only contain greater than 21% oxygen. The two most common blends are 32% oxygen (EANx32) and 36% (EANx36). The abbreviation EAN stands for Enriched Air Nitrox.The primary advantage of enriched air is to extend the no stop limits beyond the normal no stop limits associated with air. Since enriched air has a lower level of nitrogen than air, you absorb less nitrogen while your body is able to metabolize the extra oxygen, assuming you are diving within recreational enriched air limits. This results in longer no decompression limits while diving on enriched air. The primary disadvantage of diving with enriched air is potential exposure to oxygen toxicity. Oxygen can be toxic based on depth and duration under water, and by increasing the level of oxygen in the gas you breathe, you are constrained by your depth and duration. This is why you must calculate both your no decompression limit due to nitrogen, and your oxygen exposure limit called partial pressure. For most non-repetitive dives under 100 feet, you will be limited by the amount of gas as opposed to either the no decompression limit or the partial pressure limits. Enriched air is particularly effective in enhancing the frequency and duration of repetitive dives, since nitrogen buildup is lessened.Enriched air diving within the recreational limit of under 40% oxygen requires some special equipment, but for the most part you can use the equipment you purchased for diving air. The only new piece of equipment that you will definitely need is a tank. One reason for this is the special markings that must go on an enriched air tank; the other is that the tank must be cleaned and lubricated for oxygen exposure to facilitate partial pressure blending which involves adding pure oxygen to air. A common scuba community guideline is that regulators, BCDs, SPGs and alternate air sources may be used with enriched air blends up to 40% oxygen without modification. However, you should verify that the manufacturer of each piece of equipment has certified that equipment for use with enriched air. For gas mixes with more then 40% oxygen, special equipment is required. As with any scuba equipment, regular servicing is highly recommended, including O-rings and other critical components. During your enriched air training, you will learn how to properly fill and verify the blend of gas in your tank. The verification step is extremely important and must be done by you the diver; you shouldn’t rely on anyone else to verify your gas blend.Remember, you should never dive with enriched air unless you have been certified by a reputable certification organization. While the benefits of diving enriched air are significant, so are the risks.

Travelers from across the world visiting Australia not only enjoy great sightseeing attractions and places but also varied adventurous activities. People who have come for tours in Australia do indulge in scuba diving, one of the most coveted activities in the country. There are numerous diving sites across the coastline of the country. If you too love adventure diving and are heading to Australia for a fun trip, keep these diving tips in mind so that your experience turns out to be the best. Following the safety tips during the diving tours to Australia is important as there are a lot of risks that come tagged along with diving.The first thing to do is to be properly trained so that you can dive more comfortably. If you are diving after a short resort course, you will have to take care not to go too deep. Diving in caves, wrecks and caverns is difficult and you should go to these places for diving if you have proper training. Secondly, it is important to breathe and not hold your breathe. What you need to do is to take relaxed breaths and fully exhale. If you do not do this and take shallow breaths, it can even lead to lung injuries and something even worse than this.A person, who is taking up scuba diving, needs to be fit. This does not mean that only the athlete type people can take up the sport. The person should at least be able to swim and able to cope up with diving stress. If you have some circulatory or heart problems, do not take up this sport.The most important safety tip for people who go on diving tours in Australia is that they should never go for diving alone. You should take another person, may it be your friend, the trainer or a family member along and while you explore the sea, make sure that both of you keep an eye on each other. This can even prevent fatalities. Before you dive, check your equipments to see if they are working properly.The weather conditions need to be perfect when you go for a dive. It is possible that the currents in the sea make you uncomfortable and you find yourself trapped in a big problem. It is ok to say no to your dive master if you do not feel like diving. Adventure diving is not an easy task and you have to make sure that you do not ascend too fast as it increases the risk of decompression sickness.Remember not to down too long. Follow the dive master rules if on a dive trip. Do not dive too deep. Keep in mind that deeper you dive the smaller a period of time you can stay there. Shallower dives allow you to stay underwater for longer periods of time, and that is a good thing! The generally accepted depth limit for recreational divers is 130 feet. Always be sure an authorized technician services your equipment regularly. Properly functioning equipment is crucial in scuba diving. Scuba equipment must be in good working order and respected. Remember, it is life support equipment.Check with local diving clubs and shops for specific information about diving areas. Learn from the experience of others. Heed their recommendations and warnings.Add zing to your tours in Australia by taking up adventure diving but keep these safety instructions in mind if you want to make your trip a memorable one.