Archive for December, 2009

Finding Reputable Scuba Diving Classes

Scuba diving, like any other skilled activity, must be learned before it can be mastered. So, for those who have a desire to take to the ocean in scuba gear, choosing from among scuba diving classes is an inevitable part of the process. Finding reputable scuba diving classes will ensure that you receive the skills you need to begin your journey in scuba.

The beauty of scuba diving classes is that they can be found anywhere – from small towns to big cities – and do not require proximity to the ocean. As a matter of fact, most scuba diving classes are taught in a pool facility, giving instructors the benefit of a controlled environment in which to teach the basics of scuba. And for a scuba novice, a pool environment is much less intimidating than the ocean, especially when you are just learning how to operate with the variety of scuba gear you must don to dive.

First and foremost in your quest to find scuba diving classes is to ascertain the reputation of classes offered closest to you. It is imperative that you receive lessons from certified instructors who have experience with training – not just participating in – scuba diving. Ask around to find people who have taken scuba diving classes from particular instructors and facilities to narrow down your search. There are actual scuba schools that exist but be sure to check public pool facilities where instructors periodically visit to give scuba diving classes.

In most cases, you can visit the facility, and actually participate in a trial class – at no charge – to determine if it’s the appropriate environment for your particular needs. More often than not, you will begin with comprehensive classroom instruction before even entering the pool.

Additionally, most reputable scuba diving classes will offer equipment for use during lessons. This can be helpful if you have not yet fully committed yourself enough to scuba diving to purchase the expensive equipment.

The most important thing you should receive from scuba diving classes is confidence. It should be a comfortable, well-paced learning environment where you feel that all of your questions are thoroughly answered and where safety is of the utmost concern. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to exploring the many mysteries beneath the ocean.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/finding-reputable-scuba-diving-classes-91994.html

Scuba Diving And Snorkeling Vacation In Hawaii

Millions of vacation tourists visit Hawaii every year. Most of them came to explore the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and volcanoes while some came with the intention to scuba dive in the tropical seas and to explore Hawaii’s magnificent underwater world. According to Rodale’s scuba diver magazine, Hawaii is one of the world’s top ten diving destination for scuba divers.

Hawaii’s marine life is very diverse so much so that there are more than a hundred endemic species found no where else on earth. You can explore Hawaii’s myriads of underwater caverns, reefs, drop off walls, canyons, gulleys and swim with turtles and seals in clear crystal waters. If you are not a scuba diver, you can take scuba diving lessons and then can plunge into Hawaii’s beautiful seas almost immediately.

If you want to go scuba diving, it is best to go in the morning as strong winds often rough up the sea in the afternoons. This is especially so on the island of Maui and that is the reason why dive operators often take divers out to sea early in the morning and terminate the dives around noon or early afternoons.

One of the big attractions in Hawaii is snorkeling. Almost anyone can go snorkeling since all you need is a face mask, a snorkel tube and a pair of swimming fins. If you have never snorkeled before, most resorts and dive operators can give you snorkelling lessons and rent you snorkeling gear. However, if you can swim, you really do not need any formal training as snorkeling is quite easy.

The most popular spot for snorkeling in Hawaii, especially for the beginner is the Hanauma Bay, on the island of Oahu. Other popular snorkeling sites in Hawaii are the Kee Beach on Kauai island, Hulopoe Bay in Lanai, Kahaluu Beach on the Big island and Kapalua Bay on Maui.

Although great snorkeling can be gotten at all the islands in Hawaii, snorkeling and scuba diving on the Big Island is recommended because of its volcanic activities and lava formation resulting from that. There are magnificent and spectacular drop offs with awesome underwater scenery to watch and admire. Some of the great snorkeling locations there are Molokini Crater and the Kealakekua Bay.

Whether you are snorkelling or scuba diving in Hawaii or anywhere else, always snorkel or dive with a buddy for safety reason and companion sake. Do look up now and then to check that you are not getting carried away by drift current too far away from shore and also to check for boat traffic. Do not touch anything as some corals and sea creatures in Hawaii can pack very painful and venomous stings.

Chris Chew
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/scuba-diving-and-snorkeling-vacation-in-hawaii-90254.html

Preparing For Scuba With Scuba Diving Lessons

In today’s world, where ordinary citizens and adrenalin-junkies alike are equally capable of chasing adventure, we turn to lessons to make sure we have the appropriate skills. We have lessons for golf, tennis, dance, and any other activity or hobby that can summoned to mind. But for those activities that come with risk, lessons become even more important. Subsequently, those who are interested in scuba diving should always begin with comprehensive scuba diving lessons.

If you are in good health, you can scuba dive. And with proper scuba diving lessons you can do so safely to ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your experience as possible. Finding scuba diving lessons is relatively easy, as scuba diving continues to rise in popularity. Luckily, the availability of lessons does not in any way depend on your proximity to the ocean. Scuba diving lessons are taught in indoor pools which gives the instructor maximum control and eliminates the variables that can easily arise in open water. For students, scuba diving lessons should be confidence building and the best way to achieve this confidence is by mastering your technique in a confined and controlled environment.

In most cases, however, scuba diving lessons actually begin with comprehensive classroom instruction where students are given the basics of the scuba diving technique. Only when the instructor is comfortable that all students completely understand scuba techniques – and the reasons behind them – will you enter the pool. In some cases, equipment can also be rented for scuba diving lessons – an enormous benefit for those who are delaying the purchase of pricey equipment until they receive scuba certification.

Pool instruction during scuba diving lessons offer students the opportunity to put those classroom lessons into use, practicing techniques over and over until they are comfortable. It is essential that these systems are mastered; scuba diving can be dangerous if not done properly and with full respect of the equipment and the water.

There are scuba diving lessons that are offered for children and adults separately. Be sure to research any instructors or instruction facilities to ensure that they are reputable and experienced in training.

Upon successful completion of your scuba diving lessons you will be certified for scuba diving; and you will be well on your way to enjoying a lifetime of adventure and exploration.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/preparing-for-scuba-with-scuba-diving-lessons-103170.html

Young and old are fascinated by underwater dwellers. It is fun to watch how fishes swim and glide or how reefs breathe like it has pumping hearts. You will be amazed by how these creatures come together and swim in one direction or how they immediately drifts apart whenever a huge sea creature instantly appears.

You will not definitely experience the fun and adventure of how underwater creatures find solace and enjoyment in their habitat if you will just watch them on television or see it through the pages of a magazine. You need to go out and see them. One way seeing them is to visit aquarium centers. Here are some aquarium centers that might be helpful on your next trip:

Adventure Aquarium
The underwater recreational center in New Jersey take pride of its almost eight thousand underwater dwellers bringing ample of under-the-sea-look-alike sightseeing. If you will visit the place you are to observe different underwater species such as fishes, sea turtles, sharks and more.

Epcot’s Living Seas
Walt Disney World has it! You and your family can enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in a large aquarium. What is fantastic about it is that you will be able to experience swimming together with the creatures under the sea such as fish, turtles, and even sharks. Be sure to be on your swimming attire if you plan to plunge into the water and mingle with sea creatures. You should not worry though, since there are available guides to help you explore the world under the sea.

Dallas World Aquarium
This aquarium recreational center is located in Dallas, Texas. It does not only boast of an aquarium center, it also showcases different interactive exhibits to portray the vastness of rainforest, the exquisiteness of South Africa, and the hidden beauty in Mundo Maya. Additionally, it is not only adventure that you will encounter; you will also have the opportunity to be environmentally aware.If you will be in Texas, do not forget to visit Dallas World Aquarium and be captivated with fun and adventure the place may bring you.

The great aquarium of the Pacific is located in one of the cities of California – The Long Beach. It is considered as one of the biggest aquariums in the entire United States. It has an estimated 1,000 species, 19 main habitats and about 32 focus exhibits. When you visit Long Beach and witness the aquarium, it is as if you are in the three regions of the Pacific Ocean at the same time. These regions are the Southern California or the Baja, Northern Pacific and the Tropical Pacific.

The Long Beach aquarium has a height of 156,735 ft. It has a sweeping, wave-like and curving architecture which is intended to imitate the ocean. It has more than 12,000 marine animals with the inclusion of five classes of whales, dolphins, rays, eleven classes of sharks, and skates such as the manta rays, birds, sea turtles, bears, and over 10,000 mussels. It also has natural exhibit accessories and more than 10,000 individual and artificial coral which represent 58 different species of coral.

The aquarium itself gives the scene trips where anyone can dive into the world of the underwater and witness the virgin places in this Aquarium and feed some of the animals. All of the visitors in the Aquarium are encouraged to witness animal feedings and also learn everything about animals and some of the environmental issues presented in a habitat showcase.

The Long Beach Aquarium can be found at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach City, California. It is easy to get there, when you have a car you can just park it on the Shoreline Drive located in between Aquarium Way and Chestnut Palace. The parking fee in the Aquarium is only $6 especially if you present a stub of the Aquarium ticket.

Visiting the Aquarium will provide total fun since you can make the trip by taking the Aquabus, a harbor shuttle which connects the Catalina Express, Catalina Landing and the Coastal Hotel. The Long Beach Aquarium is open everyday except on Christmas Day and during the Long Beach Grand Prix weekend.

The admission rate is $18.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 3 to 11, $16.95 for senior ages 60 years or over and children under 2 years old can get in for free.

The Aquarium is a great destination for a weekend escapade. So, never hesitate to experience the wonders and beauty of marine life in the Long Beach Aquarium.

It is not only fascination and adventure that aquarium recreational centers may bring to you and your family. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about underwater creatures, their habitats and other related matters.

Awareness about underwater creatures and its environment is significant on top of gaining pleasure from visiting aquarium recreational centers.

Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/family-underwater-fun-and-adventure-inside-aquariums-109173.html

At the summertime when everything around you seems to be melting down, there’s nothing more appropriate than bathing. But wouldn’t you like to try something different this year? How about scuba diving?

Scuba diving refers to swimming underwater while using breathing equipment which is self-contained. Other swimming underwater activities such as free-diving or snorkeling use breath-holding techniques. Scuba diving implies having a compressed air source, which means that the scuba diver can remain submerged for a longer period of time and he/she is not hindered to a remote air source. Scuba diving is swimming underwater with fins which are attached to the diver’s feet. However, there are other options for scuba divers to move around, such as the diver propulsion vehicle or sleds pulled by a boat. The latter are surface tethered devices.

The term ‘SCUBA’ is the acronym for “self contained underwater breathing apparatus”. However, the term now refers to ‘scuba apparatus’ or ‘scuba equipment’. The term goes back to World War II when it arose to refer to the oxygen rebreathers used by US combat frogman in underwater warfare.

It’s worth mentioning that there are persons who confuse scuba diving for an extreme sport, and this false impression will be changed as soon as get to actually practice scuba diving. The divers wears a diving suit at all times, in addition to his/her breathing apparatus. This diver suit helps avoid skin cuts that could be caused corals, marine animals or underwater objects. They also prevent the loss of body heat. Scuba diving doesn’t require a substantial physical effort on the part of the diver. Therefore, we could say that anyone who can walk a few miles can successfully complete a scuba diving session. Although it’s underwater, scuba diving does not require swimming abilities, but some certified scuba divers may be asked to have swimming skills, just to check the extent to which candidates can adapt to water.

There are many reasons why number of people engrossed in this sport is constantly increasing. Here are some of the reasons why people go scuba diving. First of all, those interested in marine life can be close to it. The variety of underwater wildlife, coral reefs and the numerous species of colorful fish leave the scuba diver with a wonderful experience. Secondly, there’s something different and unusual about each dive because of the numerous diving variations and the variety of marine life. Then, studies, researches and investigations are truly feasible with scuba diving. Marine biology, for instance, has experienced great improvement with the help of scuba diving. Not to mention that scuba diving is a relaxing activity, as it shows a soothing environment. This outdoor activity is also very educational, as the scuba diver combines fun with learning about marine life during a dive.

The terms scuba diving refer to various diving activities, such as recreational diving, technical diving, public safety diving, commercial diving, military diving and scientific diving. Technical diving includes cave and cavern diving, wreck diving, deep diving and ice diving. However, these are not the only categories that scuba diving is limited to, because it is still evolving.

For more resources about scuba or even about diving please review the following page http://forum.scubish.com

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/scuba-diving-an-alternative-to-classical-summer-vacations-133987.html

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