Scuba diving combines exercise and exploration for a fun workout. You won't even notice the intense swim training as you explore underground worlds, monitor your oxygen and keep track of all your equipment. Keep your workout safe and enjoyable by becoming knowledgeable about the basics before your first dive.
Get Registered
According to marinebio.org, 500,000 new divers are certified each year in the United States. In a basic certification course you'll learn invaluable basics such as buddy breathing, hand signals, regulator recovery and how to handle an underwater rescue. Look for courses in your area run by PADI or NAUI.
Find a Partner
Find a reliable person with similar interests to participate in the scuba buddy system with you. Ask what depths, locations and kinds of dives a potential partner is interested in to determine similarities or important differences before you commit.
Get Your Gear
Buy a few basics to start your scuba diving career. Purchase a mask, fins, snorkel, dive light (to hang on your oxygen tank during night dives) and a waterproof flashlight to illuminate your surroundings during night dives. Invest in a dive hood and a wetsuit if you will be diving in cold water. As you advance you may want to consider your own buoyancy control vest, a waterproof compass and a dive computer. Serious divers have their own regulator, oxygen cylinder and air gauge.
Breathe Deep
Beginner scuba divers often take fast, shallow breathes. This sucks the oxygen out of your tank and limits the amount of time you can spend diving. Focus on deep, relaxed, steady breathing when you venture out on your first few scuba dives. Travelodestiniation.com recommends divers stay horizontal in the water because a vertical position suffers more resistance from the currents, which will tire you out and cause you to breathe more heavily.
Care for Your Ears
Equalize the pressure in your ears as you descend to minimize the risk of a popped eardrum. Close your mouth and hold your nose shut with two fingers while you try to breathe out through your nose. Repeat each time you feel pressure build in your ears. This maneuver, called the Valsalva move, keeps your ear pressure equal with that of your surroundings.
Start with a Drift Dive
Start with a straightforward, medium-depth dive for your first adventure in scuba. Minimize your energy expenditure with a drift dive, where the diver floats along with the current, usually at the edge of a coral formation or shipwreck. Concentrate on good ear equalization, keeping track of your partner, perfecting your hand signals and a slow, steady assent.
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