Are you thinking of becoming a Scuba Diver? Do you want to get ahead of the game? Here are a few Scuba tips and tricks for you, which will allow you to maximize your first scuba experience, giving you a head start for when you arrive in Pattaya and take the plunge.
Grab Some Socks!
When using fins for the first time, they can sometimes create a little friction on your foot. This can cause blisters and is sometimes slightly painful when kicking. Blisters crop up due to the skin on your feet being soft and not used to constant rubbing which occurs as you swim around.
To prevent this you can buy underwater socks before you travel and create a buffer between your feet and the fin rubber.
If you forget, you can always just wear normal socks if you have remembered to pack them for your travels. In my experience, this affects around 1 in 10 new scuba divers.
Stay Hydrated
You should be drinking plenty of water during any type of scuba diving experience. This is especially so in a hot and humid place like Thailand. Sometimes people tend to forget Scuba diving is an active sport and they don’t drink enough water. You must remember the air you will breathe on scuba is quite dry. This also affects your dehydration. If taking a beginner course in SE Asia you should be looking to drink at least 3L a day.
And no, Coca-Cola or Chang doesn’t count..!!
Top Scuba Tip ::: Use Dive Computers
You should look to choose a dive school that offers you the chance to use dive computers as part of your course. Using dive computers makes dive planning easier and is more accurate. As a result, your dive profile – as long as you follow it – is safer.
Traditional dive tables are an excellent backup tool – as dive computers have been known to fail usually due to an old battery but as the world moves forward with technology, scuba diving is no exception, and dive computers are more and more becoming part of our daily lives as scuba divers.
Dive computers will also incorporate a safety stop when you end the dive. The dive computer is an essential part of your scuba equipment.
This shouldn’t be overlooked when looking for the right dive shop to begin your scuba diving adventures with and this is why we teach the ‘Diving with Computers’ modules of the PADI Open Water course to all students.
Utilize Your Snorkel
When you are on the surface, swimming to/from your decent line/point use your snorkel instead of your regulator. This will enable you to protect your airways from water – if the sea is a little choppy – as well as save air from your cylinder which you will need for your dive.
Using a snorkel at the surface is a good skill to have for these reasons plus as you swim to your decent line you can pop your head into the water and have a look underneath the water easily.
Swim With Your Legs, Not Your Arms
When we swim normally we use both our legs and arms in combination but when scuba diving we wear fins, meaning the most efficient way of traveling is just to simply kick. Using your hands will cause you to expel more energy and use your air supply quickly. Try to tuck your arms away or hold them by your side to create a more streamlined figure. Have a look at how your instructors position themselves during a dive and copy.
And the final most beneficial Scuba Tip Of All
Relax. Scuba Diving is about fun, discovery, and enjoyment. Immerse yourself into the underwater world and you will never look back!
