Do you own a reef tank and want to take the next leap in learning? Are you traveling to a coral reef destination on vacation? Windsor Adams answers our frequently asked questions on Learning To Dive.
Do you need to be a good swimmer to learn to dive?
Not necessarily! But comfort in the water is incredibly important. A basic swim test is administered before any pool work is started on SCUBA. So being able to swim is recommended.
Where should I learn to dive? In a pool, in a quarry, or on vacation?
That’s entirely up to you. My recommendation is to seek out a dive shop in your area so you can begin to foster a relationship with your local diving community. After all, scuba diving is a buddy sport! Your training takes place in a pool/open water (i.e. quarry, lake, ocean) combo. It’s possible to complete your pool sessions locally and then finish your open water session on vacation somewhere warmer and with clear water!
Where’s a good (convenient,) place in the world to dive and see lots of coral and fish?
This depends on your place of residence. If that’s the US, I’d recommend Florida, the Caribbean, and Hawaii (convenience debatable!). Otherwise, Indonesia or somewhere in the coral triangle (but that may not be convenient for most).
Do I need to buy my own diving gear? What will I need?
When you sign up for a diving certification course you will need your own mask, fins, and snorkel. All other equipment will be provided to you. But if you decide you want to scuba dive a lot I’d absolutely get your own set of gear. You want to be as comfortable as possible and nothing beats your own stuff! Having your own BCD (the jacket you wear that you inflate and deflate), regulators, and wetsuit is nice because familiarity and comfort = safety when diving. Being uncomfortable or unfamiliar with your gear can lead to trouble quickly. Keep this in mind when choosing your “kit”.
How deep can I dive?
This depends on your depth, tank size, and training level. There are many factors that need to be considered when deciding how deep your dive is going to be. Keep in mind you can descend as quickly as you can equalize your ears but you can’t ascend rapidly. So going deep is a commitment you have to be ready for.
How long do I get to stay underwater?
Much like depth, how long you can stay under depends on a few things. Mostly, your air consumption rate, tank size, your tolerance to temperature (exposure suit choice is important), and comfort.
Will I get the bends?
If you follow your training and dive safely and conservatively it is highly unlikely you will get bent. However, some people are more susceptible than others because of their physiology. Mostly the presence of a PFO (patent foramen ovale) which is a birth defect.
What’s the most dangerous thing about diving?
Becoming too overconfident and diving above your training level or ignoring signs of danger. Scuba diving is a very safe sport when given the respect it deserves.
How many dives will I need to have to be considered experienced?
There isn’t really a “golden” number per se. Some people become comfortable in the water way before others. So it is a matter of getting those dives in and experiencing lots of different conditions and situations so you know how to react to them. When you are considering becoming a professional instructor you must have a minimum dive number to be able to move on to the next trainer level.
Are some masks better than others?
Just like any hobby quality matters but when it comes to masks, fit is the main concern!
Do I need to dive with a qualified dive instructor?
After you are certified you are able to dive with other certified divers. But until you are certified you must dive alongside a professional instructor. But even if you are certified it is advised to dive with a pro if you feel you need that extra level of comfort nearby.
Can I touch corals?
Don’t touch anything when you are diving, even the sand. Remember you are entering their home so take all the pictures but don’t touch! Of course, there are times when you need to stop yourself from bumping into something. In that case, try and use one finger to gently push off. This is where training comes in. Work on your buoyancy and try to maintain a neutral swim position at all times.
Is there still a place for snorkeling if I learn to dive?
Absolutely! Snorkeling over shallow reefs is one of the most relaxing experiences!
Can my kids learn to dive?
Yes, they can! Several diving agencies accept children as young as 8 to begin experiencing SCUBA.
Is diving expensive?
Just like the reef-keeping hobby, diving can be as expensive as you want it to be. Do you want all the top-of-the-line gear? Then yes, it can be very expensive. But it is possible to scuba dive on a budget especially if you live close to dive sites and rent your gear.
Any other advice for my first dive?
Any diver can cancel a dive at any time for any reason no questions asked. And never hold your breath!
How did you get into diving?
I got open water certified in 2014 after promising myself I’d do it after my first-ever dive experience on a family trip to the Cayman Islands when I was probably 12 years old. It took well over a decade to finally make it happen but better late than never is how I saw it! I haven’t looked back since.
I worked as a zookeeper for mammals for over 10 years at Riverbanks Zoo in SC but I switched fields and moved over to the dive team in 2016 after falling in love with diving. Soon after I began training to become a professional assistant instructor in scuba diving. This provided me with many amazing dive opportunities both within the zoo’s aquariums and aquatic exhibits but also in local lakes, and many dive sites all over Florida.
In 2019 I moved to Colorado to be with Jake and was fortunate enough to accept a position on the dive team at the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. Diving in aquarium exhibits is so different from open water dives and I had the pleasure to experience several habitats while I was there including diving with the massive living fossils, the sturgeon fish in their freezing exhibit, and assisting feeding the endangered sawfish. However, covid had other plans and I was only able to be in that role for 6 weeks before our world changed.
Ever since meeting Jake way back in 2013 my ultimate diving goal was to get underwater with him. Finally after travel restrictions lifted Jake and I got our opportunity to dive together during our long-awaited honeymoon to New Caledonia. Both of us have never seen anything like it. I am so grateful that Jake and I were able to share those dives together. Jake and I agreed our favorite dive was the one where he forgot to take his lens cover off his camera before installing it inside its waterproof housing.
He actually didn’t notice until he was trying to take a photo of the first and only naturally “grafted” acropora we saw. Go figure. But he was able to be so present and we were able to really enjoy the dive together. I am just so thankful that my first experience diving in the Pacific Ocean was with my coral guy, Jake. What an honor. In the future, I look forward to getting our son Reef certified so we can experience the beauty of our world’s oceans together.
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