Questions you might have about scuba diving

We discuss 12 intriguing scuba diving questions that people may be hesitant to ask.

1. Is scuba diving expensive?

Scuba diving is not a cheap sport, but the costs vary. Mostly it depends on where you are scuba diving and what the costs are in that place or in that country. Scuba diving costs greatly depend on the expenses of the diving center you choose to learn. Included in costs are fees for the instructor, equipment, classroom facilities, boat fees, pool charges, transport, and local taxes in the area where you are going to dive. So this question cannot be simply answered you have to look online to see what the costs are in the area where you will be scuba diving. However, if you know your budget, then you can look at what is available and perhaps find some discounts as well.

2. What is involved in scuba diving training?

Training to scuba dive comprises of three components – theory, practice, application. You’ll begin learning in the classroom followed by questions and exams, thereafter proceed to learn water basics in confined water such as swimming pools. This will be followed by practice dives in the open ocean, sea, or lake. Your instructor will teach you the diving skills you need to know to dive safely, and you’ll repeat them until you know them correctly. Once you know the skills, you’ll go out on the water with your instructor and group in a boat to begin actual diving.

3. Can I dive with a medical condition?

Some medical conditions are not dangerous to diving. However, you cannot dive if you have high blood pressure since this can cause severe problems when you are in-depth. It depends on what your condition is, and if you have asthma, you cannot dive. With diabetes, it depends on whether you have diet-controlled type 2, then you can dive, but with insulin-dependent diabetes, you cannot dive. If you are in doubt if your medical condition will or will not let you dive, you must consult a hyperbaric physician who’ll be able to tell you yes or no.

4. Can I dive with a disability?

This depends on what kind of disability you have and the severity of the disability. If you are physically able to obtain an entry-level certification and meet all the course standards, then, of course, you can dive. A person does not have to have full use of all of their limbs to be able to dive. With mental disabilities, it is a bit different because someone with Down’s syndrome will learn much slower than anyone else, so they’ll require specialized training because they can learn to dive very well. Keep in mind that many people find that what they consider to be a challenge of movement every day on the solid ground becomes of no consequence underwater where they become weightless and have complete freedom of movement.

5. How can I be able to see underwater?

Scuba diving masks tend to cut off the peripheral vision of a diver. Divers must get used to the limited field of vision and not let it scare them. You can see just not as much as before. It does take getting used to, but once you do, it won’t bother you at all. Remember that light reacts differently in water, and the objects you see appear to be about 33% closer than they are. After a while and with continual diving, you won’t even be aware of this magnification anymore. An excellent way to help you adjust quicker is to touch things like the pool floor, wall, or even your diving buddy to get an idea of how close or far they are. Once you underwater, remember never to touch fish, corals, or other creatures of the deep.

6. What scuba diving gear do I need?

In the very beginning, the best thing you can do, especially for training and later for diving, is to purchase a scuba mask. You need a high-quality scuba diving mask that will comfortably fit your face. Having a good mask makes all the difference when you go underwater.

A good pair of fins are worth investing in, and wearing them underwater will make you feel more confident about your dive. Fins like masks are another piece of equipment that are best if adjusted to a size that will fit you best.

When you have your diving certification, you’ll be able to purchase all the other necessary diving equipment.

7. What do I need to know when scuba diving for the first time?

Always ask questions to get scuba diving answers. No matter how silly you might think the question is going to sound. If you’re feeling nervous, let the instructor know so he can help you relax. Before diving, make sure you know all the instructor’s hand signals. Be sure that you are in top physical form before diving since even a cold can throw you off, and you can get injured. It is always best to dive when you are feeling optimistic and positive.

8. What do I need to know about clearing my scuba diving mask?

Once underwater, if you need to clear your scuba diving mask, it is fairly simple to do. With practice, you can learn how to clear your mask, and the best place to start is in confined water like the swimming pool. Stand at the shallow end and put on your mask. Then crouch down into the water and pull your mask away from your face. Let it flood halfway and begin learning how to clear it until you can do it well. After taking your mask off completely underwater, put it back on and then clear it again.

Another way to practice clearing your mask is in the bathroom by filling it with water and focus on breathing while you’re in the shower. This way, you’ll learn how to clear a fully flooded mask in a safe environment and be prepared to do it when you dive underwater.

9. What are the basic scuba skills every diver should master?

One of the skills to master is buoyancy. It requires a calm attitude and actions that are steady. Once you have gained the feel of your body floating in water, you’ll have a better swimming gait, and you won’t be in danger of damaging corals and underwater creatures.

You should be able to control your descents and always do it calmly and slowly. Know how to clear your scuba diving mask so you can always see well underwater. Be prepared for emergency ascents like when you’re tank is running low or if there is unforeseen equipment failure. Know all of the scuba diving hand signals so you can signal to your diving buddy if you need any assistance, or you need to warn them about anything.

10. Do I have to be a really good swimmer?

You don’t have to be a swimmer of professional grade. You need to know how to swim, and you’ll be given a swimming test at the beginning of your scuba diving lessons. You’ll also be required to pass an endurance swim, swimming about 200 yards without stopping to see if you are in good physical form. The instructor will also have to know if you are comfortable submerging your face into the water. Remember that divers who have passed this swimming test range from age eight to eighty.

11. Can I earn an income being a scuba diver?

Once you have earned your certification, you can qualify to be a dive instructor. Instructors are in great demand in all kinds of resorts around the world. You can also choose to looks for jobs in marine construction, on offshore installations, and in boating industries. The best thing is that an outstanding scuba diver can make a decent living anywhere in the world. If you have the money and opportunity, you might even consider opening ups your own scuba training business. Read more about scuba diving income and jobs here.

12. Do I have to be afraid of sharks attacking me?

Among scuba diving questions and myths is that a shark will attack you when you are diving in the deep waters. Seeing divers, most sharks quickly swim away.

Most divers never even see a shark, but if you prefer, you can have encounters with sharks. In Australia, you can try cage diving with great white sharks and get up close with hand-feeding reef sharks in the Bahamas. Don’t worry and enjoy your diving adventures. Because there is an extremely low chance to have a close encounter with a shark.

Thanks for reading! If you have more questions or answers about scuba diving leave a comment bellow.