How to get started in scuba diving

The feeling we get when diving may be the closest we can come to the feeling of self propelled flight. If you have had repeated desires to learn then it is something I recommend. But the learning process is important and should be taken seriously.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Local Dive shop teaching classes
• Descent physical fitness
• Mask
• Fins
• Snorkel
• BCD
• Regulator
• Tank
• Wet suit

1. First be sure that you do want to learn how to dive. Between taking the classes and buying the equipment you will be making a significant financial investment to the hobby. Some dive shops will let you rent the tank, regulator, BCD, and wet suit but they will usually want you to have your own mask, fins, and snorkel.
2. Diving is rewarding and fun, but there are obvious dangers involved. Try to avoid taking lessons from Uncle Joe who just learned how to dive himself last Summer. Also, even though it is more expensive, you should buy new for the regulator, tank, and BCD. When you are down more than 15 feet below the surface you don't want to take a chance on a used piece of equipment. Do a search on the Internet or look in your local phone book for local dive shops or colleges offering dive classes. They will be more than happy to explain how you can get started.
3. The dive shop\institution will want you to get a doctors note verifying you are in good enough physical health to begin diving.
4. The first couple of sessions of your class will probably be instruction only in a classroom. The majority of your sessions will have one part classroom instruction and one part in the water. Do your best to ace any written tests or quizzes in the classroom. Don't be shy. Ask your instructors all the questions you need. When you do start diving in water deeper than 10 feet you will want to know the instructions by heart. You can't look up the answer on the Internet once you are down there.
5. Unless you are taking your classes in the Caribbean, you will most likely start the "fins on" portion of your classes in a pool. This is a great way to get over any fears you have of breathing underwater. The instructors will teach you all of the basics you need to be a safe and competent beginning diver. They will teach you things like mask recovery, controlled ascent and descent, and regulator recovery. Practice, practice, practice in the pool. If you don't get it at first, have confidence that you will get it in time. But you want to be comfortable with everything in the pool before you go out into ocean.
6. Another thing to note in the pool lessons is how your equipment feels. This isn't like renting bowling shoes. Before you go into the ocean you want your equipment to feel comfortable. It may not feel totally naturally at first, we weren't born with fins. But nothing should feel like it is so tight it is suffocating, or so loose that it will fall off. Different equipment is made for different sized and shaped people. The first mask I used was a little too loose for my face and I choked several times trying to get the water out of it during mask recovery exercises.
7. This may sound like a no brainer, but I need to say it anyway. Get a good nights sleep before and don't have a cold the day of your certification test. If you have a cold then you can reschedule. But most of he tests will be over a weekend so avoid partying the Friday night before. Trust me!

Tips & Warnings

• If you were looking for an article on "how to dive" then you may have been disappointed by this one. But that's why I called this one "How to get started..." Safe diving itself is not something that can be completely learned from a "How to". The instructor-led practice is paramount.