There’s a completely different world underwater! What we see on the water’s surface is a far cry from what scuba divers get to explore in traverse depths. But unfounded fears of scuba diving brought about by myths, hearsay and lack of knowledge get in the way of experiencing the exciting sport.

It’s natural to fear something you haven’t tried or do not have first hand knowledge of. The term SCUBA is derived from Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Scuba divers need special gears to be able to stay below the water’s surface for extensive lengths of time. The discovery of teeming aquatic life, breathtaking drop-offs and even mysterious shipwrecks are only a few perks of scuba diving. So read on to overcome your fears and enjoy the other wonders of scuba diving!

Myth #1

Sharks will attack me when I go scuba diving

Myth buster

Whatever Hollywood taught you is definitely an exaggeration. Majority of divers have never even laid eyes on large sharks. When they do, the shark species which they often encounter during scuba dives are typically timid and unwilling to approach, such as sand tigers, nurses, greys, bulls, and rarely, hammerheads. Most species of sharks are not to be feared. The kind that poses some danger is the Great White shark, but they are rare species which usually reside in selected areas in Northern California or off the south coast of Australia. Most will actually leave you alone if you will do the same for them.

As for the shark’s smaller “dangerous” counterparts that are believed to be a threat are actually great subjects for underwater photographers. Stinging marine creatures like sting rays, lionfish and jellyfish can be easily avoided and are not aggressive. An encounter with a moray eel is even a rare treat since they rarely go out of their caves and holes.

Myth #2

Scuba diving will give me “the bends”

Myth buster

Getting a diving certification requires each diver to take the corresponding course for each desired level. Among the many things that you’ll learn is how to prevent getting “bent. ” Decompression sickness, better known among divers as “the bends, ” is a diving disorder which can almost entirely be prevented. It is brought on by going too deep and coming up too fast, resulting in bubbles of inert gases (like nitrogen or helium) getting trapped in the organs, blood vessels and tissues.

Staying above 60 feet poses no serious risk. But once beyond that depth, a good preventive measure to off-gas nitrogen even further is to follow a dive profile which requires a safety stop of three minutes at 15 feet. Always remember to ascend at a slow pace, while continuously breathing. Keeping within the limits of your dive chart and following what your dive instructor taught you are the best tips to avoid “the bend. ”

Myth #3

Scuba diving will cost me an arm an a leg

Myth buster

The rich are not the only people who can enjoy scuba diving. There are ways to go about money issues if you’re really interested in the sport. The most practical thing to do for beginners is to rent the equipment they will need for the actual dive. Professional dive centers have all sorts of gears for rent, catering to the diver’s basic or advanced needs, while varying qualities and different brands come in different prices. Renting will incur a minimal additional cost to the original fee of your diving course but will save you time and money than buying your own equipment. After several dives, you will be able to tell if you’re ready to commit to the sport and invest in your own gear.

Myth #4

Scuba diving is a life-threatening sport

Myth buster

With the growing popularity of scuba diving, divers now have more options to choose from. Today’s contemporary diving programs, development of diving vehicles and resorts, and technologically-advanced equipment are consistently making scuba diving a safer outdoor activity. The chance of acquiring injury is lower for diving that for any other adventure-oriented activities like snow skiing and snowmobiling.

If you do things correctly, scuba diving can be an activity you have almost complete control of. Start right — review your choices, select a reputable diving school, choose an instructor you feel comfortable with, assess what program suits you, and complete the required training before an actual dive. Be a smart diver at all times — check your gear before going into the water, use your instincts combined with wise judgment, never dive alone, and remember the cardinal rules of diving taught by your instructor.

Click here for more information

Scuba Diving: Necessary Gear
]]> http://www.scubadivingunderwaterblog.com/scuba-diving/debunking-myths-overcoming-scuba-diving-fears/feed/ 0 http://www.scubadivingunderwaterblog.com/scuba-diving/your-questions-about-underwater-breathing/ http://www.scubadivingunderwaterblog.com/scuba-diving/your-questions-about-underwater-breathing/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 21:16:54 +0000 admin http://www.scubadivingunderwaterblog.com/?p=1384 Continue reading →]]>

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Recently the wetsuit wearhouse opened a section that caters specifically to scuba divers on their website. For more information click here, and you’ll find two areas filled with wetsuits and accessories, one area for the women, and one for the men.

Feature are wetsuit designs from Henderson, O’Neil, Xcel, and NEOSport.

7mm Henderson Men's Thermoprene

When I first started my diving adventures I bought a 7mm wetsuit. At the time I had no real idea why I wanted one that thick. But I dive often in Midwest rock quarries, and that water gets cold once you drop below 20-feet or so.

In my logbook I read back over dives with water temperature records of 38-degrees. Don’t know that I ever found colder water than that. And that seven mil suit always kept me comfortable during those cold water dives.

Times changed for me. These days I feel the cold a good bit more than I did when I started diving. And a 7mm wetsuit still keeps me comfortable

Henderson Women's 8/7mil Thermoprene Semi Dry Suit

while I’m diving. Although the cold often hits me hard when I come out of the water if I dive below 20′ – 30′ in a quarry.

A blazing fire is always welcome when I do that.

At the wetsuit wearhouse you’ll find seven mil suits. You’ll find some eight mil options too. Nothing like a nice thick layer of protection to keep you warm on cold water dives.

And you’ll find other thicknesses for those times when you dive shallow, or if you’re diving many times on a given day. If you don’t know already you’ll learn that a day of repetitive diving, even in warm water, gets to your bones, and you begin to chill after a while.

Men's 3/2 Camouflage Full Wetsuit

The wearhouse has rash guard suits for dive times when you just want to protect yourself from those sneaky attacks from stuff like fire coral. Hey, sometimes it reaches out and sets your skin on fire from out of nowhere. You don’t even know it’s there.

Trust me. I know that from experience.

On one dive in the Bahamas some fire coral sneaked under my arm, jumped inside my buoyancy control device, and rushed all the way down my side and leg. I didn’t even have a shirt on, and that coral got me good. I had a burning red rash for a few hours after that encounter.

Xcell's 3/2mm Infiniti For Men

I learned a little too. Nothing like suffering a fire coral contact to remind you that you’re an alien when you’re underwater. And you gotta treat that foreign world with respect.

Anyway, when you’re looking for a wetsuit, or accessories like a hooded vest, water boots, hoods, or gloves give the Wetsuit Wearhouse scuba area a look see. Maybe you’ll find what you want there.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Andalusia – the place where two seas meet – invites you to explore a new, exciting, and beautiful world: The Underwater World. Imagine being part of a world of peace, quietness, and beauty. Imagine scuba diving, exploring a mix of rocky underwater landscapes, reefs, and wrecks.

Tarifa is the most southern point of the European continent with breathtaking views on Africa and known as a water-sport destination. The rocky coast provides great conditions for spectacular dives, as the Atlantic Ocean washes diverse marine life into the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar is especially known for its interesting wrecks, that can be reached through shore and boat dives. The wrecks lie in depths between 12m and 36m, and therefore make them accessible for beginners and advanced divers. The varied marine life in the waters around Gibraltar include congers, groupers, seahorses, spider crabs, squid, lobsters, trigger fish, sunfish and dolphins plentifully.

La Herradura is a wonderful place where you will find three big rocks rising up to the surface from 14 meters below.

Diving around these rocks will allow you to experience natural marine life within caves.

Marine del Este is the dive site that can be accessed all year around for all levels of diving, and therefore is also known as the most important dive site throughout Spain. Within this area there are 10 dive sites that are used, ranging from depths between 6m and 30m. The sites are significant through wall, reef and cavern dives, which all are easily accessible from the beach. The beautifully clear waters of this area are teaming with marine life and are part of the Cerro Gordo national park.

So why not try something new, something exciting, something amazingly beautiful? Why not be one of those exploring beautiful and magical places? Why not make your first diving experience, or refine your diving skills?

There are many diving schools along the coast offering a full range of PADI courses, the most popular diving courses in the world.

The Discover Scuba Diving course is the perfect solution if you want to try breathing under water or want to surprise friends and family with a special gift. During a few hours you will learn the most important and basic aspects of scuba diving, and go diving at one of the dive sites mentioned above.

The PADI Open Water Diver courses are always given by a qualified instructor and is divided into three different sections: the Classroom, where you will learn the theory, the Pool, where you will learn the needed skills in order to be ready to have your first real dive in the open water, which is the last step. After successfully completing the course you will receive an international recognized PADI Open Water Diver certificate, with which you will be able to dive without direct supervision of an instructor.

For more information about diving in Andalusia please contact info@abysub.com and visit our website http://www.abysub.com.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

The real thrill of the ocean is when you go deeper, and discover what the underwater world of the scuba diver has to offer. There’s more to going to the beach than just building sand sculptures, and splashing in the waves.

A lot of reasons could be listed for becoming a scuba diver, and you might think the things I mention beyond your ability to accomplish.

But to truly experience the wonders of the sub-aquatic world can only be realized through personal involvement.

How about the fun of swimming plus the fun of scuba diving, all in one activity? Who doesn’t love swimming any way. We were born to be swimmers, and we love to exercise that gift don’t we?

Scuba is not just about floating underwater. It’s more about the pleasure you get on your way to where you do that floating.

Scuba gives you an element of exercise. Scuba does require energy, and the use of your muscles just to propel yourself through the water. Most especially if you fin against a current. You’ll burn a bunch of calories as you move about underwater. You’ll get plenty of exercise while you’re diving.

Scuba also needs discipline. That makes it largely beneficial to the younger generations. Scuba safety requires knowledge and practiced skills. If you don’t accept the discipline to get good at performing your diving skills, you’ll hurt yourself.

You also need discipline to make the amount of air you have in your tank go further. Practiced breathing techniques help you save scuba air to make your dive last longer, and let you enjoy your underwater sport more.

Perhaps you’re thinking of trying scuba as a lifetime career. You may find it fulfilling, and fun to earn your living underwater. The scuba professions aren’t necessarily high paying gigs, but you sure get to see some amazing sights.

Some scuba jobs pay pretty good though. Professionals in underwater construction and welding for instance do rather well. Or you might search for shipwrecks that hide valuable treasure.

Are you into photography? Why not try it underwater? The colors on the reef will amaze you, and if you’re good enough you can earn a nice income by selling your pictures. You’ll only need scuba gear, and your dive camera.

The sport of scuba diving is very fulfilling for the underwater enthusiast. Whether you dive for pleasure, or for a living, your desire for an underwater visit will burn after just a few days of living on dry land.

Go have a dive then. For us old divers scuba diving is the best sport the world offers.

Visit us at LED dive lights for the latest scuba diving apparel.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Scuba diving is one of those interests that grow to be exceptionally special every time our children, or grandchildren,  join us.

Being parents we experience a undeniable awareness of pleasure when our kids follow in our footsteps, and opt for professions that replicate the occupations we selected  in life. Or for those of us who are near retirement that proud event comes from our grandkids when they choose to become just like us.

Any time our children or grandkids become engrossed in the same interests as us, we attach a touch of joy to that pride. Because instantly we possess adventures to share with the children or grandkids that we like doing way beyond what we do for our job.

My grandson expressed an attraction for diving about the age of six or seven. He really tried breathing out of a regulator at the age of five. That was on a trip to Florida. I gave him an introduction in water that was waist deep to him.

Certainly he was much too little at that time to start scuba diving. However throughout the years he held on to his desire of becoming an open water scuba diver.

Once he turned 16 he came to me and said he wanted to acquire his training. I talked over the process with him to be certain that he understood what the training course required.

Then we talked about the price tag. I required him to pay his way to training. Experience indicates to me that if I paid for his certification course he would lose attraction for the hobby, and possibly never dive again.

That is the same in all factions of life, not just scuba diving.

No individual appreciates something they don’t buy themselves. When it comes at no cost they believe it has no value, or at minimum dreadfully small worth. I imagine it’s a unconscious incident that transpires when you don’t shell out for stuff yourself.

My grandson worked and saved sufficient cash to come to Indianapolis for a summer. He lives in Kentucky, but desired to certify with the dive shop near me.

That was particularly special since it let me witness his certification efforts as he went through his class. I strapped on my diving gear, and lingered off to the side, watching him complete his swimming pool and open water proficiency as he qualified for his C-card.

And after his ending check out dive we went on our number one underwater visit together. I led him on a tour of the quarry where he became a certified open water scuba diver.

My grandson collected knives throughout his teenage years. So once he his open water program I presented him with his first dive knife as a graduation reward. Judging from the glow on his face at the moment I gifted him the greatest present possible.

Even though we dwell some hundred miles away from each other, we get together in the summers, and go scuba diving.

And you know that’s some of the happiest bubble blowing I do these days.