Beginning Scuba Diving - A Guide

When Scuba diving, it is clearly essential to have the correct equipment for safety reasons. If you attempt to dive without the proper equipment you put yourself and potentially others at risk. You can choose to either rent this equipment or to buy it yourself, or a combination of the two.

Many people choose to rent some of the more expensive items of equipment whilst buying other components that have a direct bearing on comfort. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the mask. A mask is an essential item: it is vital to ensure that you have the best possible visibility underwater. Normal swimming goggles simply will not do. In many cases, scuba diving involves descending to relatively deep locations underwater, with standard goggles being simply unable to cope with or to provide any protection from the associated pressures at these depths. Since the fit of a mask is relatively personal, regular scuba divers will tend to buy their own.

You will also need fins on every single dive. These will help you to navigate the underwater world, providing propulsion and control as you dive. A wetsuit is important for most scuba diving trips, with a common misconception being that wetsuits are only necessary in cold waters. This is far from true: they will also protect you from dangers such as sea urchins, frequently found in warmer waters.

Other specialist equipment includes Regulators, Tanks and Buoyancy Control Devices, the first two of which are relatively costly and thus frequently rented rather than purchased.

By far the most important consideration is that you receive thorough and appropriate training from a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified instructor.

NEVER attempt to go it alone without proper training and supervision.

There are some 135,000 PADI Professionals and nearly 6,000 PADI dive shops and resorts worldwide so you should have little trouble in finding one in or close to your desired location. Following an approved course will ensure that you remain within the guidance of a diving professional until you are experienced enough to go it alone.

There are a number of skills that will help you in becoming a good scuba diver. You must be physically fit and able to swim in order to scuba dive. Many divers build up their swimming skills at the same time as honing their diving abilities.

There are a number of ways in which you can improve your stamina and thus your enjoyment of the time underwater. Cardiovascular exercises will quickly build up your level of stamina, giving your body an all over workout. Interval training in particular, is highly effective. Swimming will also help your leg stamina in the water, enabling you to dive for longer, in comfort.

A good diver, however, is more than just a healthy body. Strong divers must possess excellent communication skills underwater. They must be able to signal effectively to fellow divers to 'discuss' depth, direction and any possible emergencies. Good divers will also tend to be curious about the underwater world and continually strive to improve their level of competence.

The ability to keep calm under pressure is a key attribute that will help in becoming a safe and successful scuba diver. Panicking when underwater can mean your air supply will be more rapidly consumed through hyperventilation and you will be less able to deal with any unforeseen problems that may arise. In all cases, good judgement is essential. You need to know when it's time to go to the surface, when to remain at the same depth and how to dive within your limits.