Archive for February, 2010

Hello there,

I was certified as a PADI Open Water diver three years ago, and I am sorry to say that I have not done another dive since.

I will be traveling with my parents and some more extended family to Oahu, Hawaii this December and I am wondering if there is anyone who can give me any diving information.

i.e.

-Good places for a beginner, open water diver to dive – I may have a partner, and I may not so if you could suggest some good dive shops that would take me out as a solo person, that would be fantastic.

-Price ranges

-Things that can be seen at different dive sites – I am a huge turtle fan and I am not afraid to experience a shark dive.

-Educational places that I could network with other divers, people involved with marine conservation down in Oahu.

-Fun places to go for educational purposes (ocean life based)

The ocean is my one true love and I want to experience as much educational and fun things that have to do with ocean life in Hawaii. Either as a solo person, or drag my family along. Any fun travel info is also welcome.

THANKS

-Alysia

Get in touch with a reputable dive shop in the area you are staying in. Most shops offer boat dives where you will dive with 4-5 other people in a group. A typical, two tank boat dive will meet around 7am, get everyone’s gear together and on the boat, get out to dive spot #1 and do the first of two dives. The first is typically deeper/more bottom time. Then you’ll surface, get snacks, and proceed to site #2, which is typically shallower/shorter. A good shop will ask divers what they’re interested in seeing and cater the dive spot to the group (and weather) as much as possible.

A two tank boat dive will usually fall in the $100-135 price range.

This doesn’t cover everything, but hope it helps a little bit. I recommend getting a guidebook (my choice would be Oahu Revealed – the Ultimate Oahu Guidebook from http://www.wizardpub.com – sold at Barnes & Noble) and reading recommendations on dive shops and what to expect and go from there.

Enjoy your trip!

Were going be going all the way along the coast down to Marco Island where were staying for a week. I’ve bee saving up my money for months to buy me and my father scuba gear after we got certified a few years ago. Were not spoiled so we don’t need great diving we’d be happy in a mud puddle. Were also staying at some natural springs can you dive in these?

Thanks,
Shne

there is a place near panama city called vortex springs. you might want to check that out

Should I have an rope tender while I’m Diving ?

I’ve got to go diving into our lake behind our house as an pipe or something is clogged under there, Should i tie a rope onto my waistline while I’m deep in the water while diving ? I’ll be using an mask, scuba tank & some swim fins.

A rope tender only adds another entanglement hazard. If you are not properly trained, then this is making a dangerous situation more dangerous.

Second, are you properly trained for scuba diving? If it is a standard recreational diving certification, are you diving with a buddy?

If you are trying to dive solo, are you properly trained for solo diving? Since you lack a buddy, you have to be completely self sufficient while diving.

Back to the rope tender, the only diving that I know of that uses are rope tender (and a live person at the other end) are ice divers.

what’s necessary equipment for scuba diving?


In general I’d agree with Doug’s second list. The kit used during WWII would absolutely not be considered adequate today. However I would also include a snorkel, an emergency signaling device and a submersible pressure gauge and compass if your computer doesn’t have those functions.
You can’t dive (buy, rent or borrow equipment) until you have a minimum entry level communication. I’d suggest you do PADI Open Water Diver. Even if you live inland, they will find local diving in lakes or quarries for you to do. They will teach you all about equipment including choosing, fitting, use and maintenance on your course.
Happy diving!

I just finished my scuba certification, and they told us the number one rule of scuba diving is to *never* to hold your breath. Even when you’ve lost your regulator, you’re supposed to breath out a small stream of bubbles.

Is this only because of the overcompression injuries you can get if you hold your breath and rise (which allows the air to expand/decompress, potentially rupturing a lung, etc.) or are there other reasons?
Okay people, enough with the grouchy "you should know this".

First, if it’s just a matter of not holding your breath when you *rise* I totally get the whole "expanding air" / "ruptured lung" thing (reread my original question… I state it right there).

My questions is why you should not hold your breath when you’re stationary (not rising or sinking), such as during the exercises where do you regulator recovery (sweep and reach methods). It feels more natural to hold my breath during that, but the course instructions say never hold your breath; hence my question.

It’s just a bad habit to get into that you might do on ascent is all and it’s the primary reason why they tell you never to do it. If you’re conditioned to never hold your breath, chances are, you won’t be doing it when it’s really important, like an emergency swimming ascent. Don’t get me wrong, tons of divers do do it, it’s called skip breathing. It’s a way to wrangle a little more TBT out of your tank by reducing your gas consumption a bit. PADI and the rest don’t want you skipping because that could lead you to believe it was ok to do it. It’s not really and for the reason I mentioned above. Mental conditioning.

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