The Do’s and Don’ts in the Sport of Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is much more than just learning to use the different scuba diving gear available to you. It’s more than just knowing how to operate a buoyancy control device (BCD), learning to properly use your fins, or flushing a scuba mask underwater. In scuba diving, there are do’s and don’ts that you need to abide by to ensure your safety and that of the people diving with you. These rules are sacrosanct to every decent diver. You should learn them to have a safer and more pleasurable experience.

Choose diving conditions that matches your skill or experience level. Take essential dive courses and programs to develop your skills and to gain more experience in diving in different water environments. Do train only with certified dive instructors. If you are exploring a new environment, make sure to have a dive buddy or a guide who has ample experience diving in those waters. You never know what kind of creatures or hazards lurk beneath a dive spot that is alien to you. In other words, never dive alone.

Always remember to make safety stops, especially if you are diving deep waters. Act accordingly to what your gauges or dive computer tells you. But, before every dive, you have to make sure that your dive computer is working. Do bring at least one backup computer just to make sure. Neglecting to do the safety stops can have a variety of health risks.

Scuba diving is the ultimate exercise. It takes its toll on the body, so you need to make sure that you are in tiptop shape before going on a dive. You should get some rest and a good night’s sleep before a dive, and remember to eat and to hydrate yourself before slipping into your wetsuit. Don’t drink alcohol before a dive. If you are too drunk to walk in a straight line, then you are definitely not fit for scuba diving.

The most common mistake novice divers make is holding their breath while underwater. Never hold your breath, just breathe like you normally would above water. Scuba diving can be a great cardiovascular workout when done properly. Most importantly, do not forget what you have learned in diving school. Never skip any dive procedures. They are designed to keep you safe and secure, so don’t ignore them.

Don’t go diving beyond your limitations. In most sports, your coaches would tell you to go beyond your limits in order to win. In the sport of scuba diving, you go beyond your limits and you endanger yourself and the divers who are with you. Never put yourself or your fellow divers at risk. This is how people get into accidents and avoidable mishaps, thinking they can do more than their skill or experience allows them.