35 mega-strong tips for beginners in scuba diving

The thought that you have to breathe underwater can be intimidating and, after all, it's not abnormal at all, because we are still land creatures and we're used to living like that!

But thanks to strict safety training and equipment regulations, scuba diving can be a solitary sport for people of all ages, regardless of weight or height, and with the most diverse abilities. One of the best things to help you calm down when you're worried is preparation.

If you are thinking of taking the step towards adventure, here are the best scuba diving tips for beginners, which will give you all the information you need!

Planning scuba diving training

1. When trying to choose a scuba diving school, check if you will be diving in cold or warm water, find out what marine life the area is famous for and, of course, how much the certificate costs.

To get an open water certificate you will need three full days of full training (or even more time), so you will want to live this experience in a place that is both comfortable and memorable.

2. Safety should be your number 1 concern when choosing your scuba diving school. Before going there, check the online reviews to see if there are other enthusiasts who repeatedly note various problems, including lack of organization, missed safety courses, or problems with the equipment. A safe scuba diving school maintains a low student-teacher ratio, never leaves equipment on the floor and communicates clearly with students.

3. To maximize your level of confidence and comfort under water, it is advisable to practice swimming and yoga for a few months before signing up for a scuba course. Yoga helps you learn to focus on breathing, one of the most important elements in scuba diving. In turn, swimming helps you maintain control over your body underwater.

4. Do research on several scuba schools, to find out which one is the best option for you.

Health and safety in scuba diving

5. Before diving, always check your diving equipment. Warning signs of faulty equipment include broken seals, strange air smell or taste, air leaks, and a needle that jumps on the air gauge when you draw air from the regulator.

6. One of the most frequent incidents when you dive is that the regulator - the device used to breathe underwater - comes out of your mouth. Even if this incident can only very rarely have serious effects, it is a problem that can cause a state of stress to all divers, regardless of the level of training.
Practice stretching up to the lumbar area and recovering the regulator (exactly as you learned in classes from your instructor), until it becomes a reflex, becoming second nature.

7. Avoid diving with an underwater camera for the first few dives, even if the scuba diving school you attend allows you to do it. Beginner divers tend to get distracted by the buttons, which makes them go up to the surface without even realizing it.

8. Take sea sickness pills beforehand, if you know you have a predisposition to such problems.

9. Never be afraid to ask your guide or instructor everything you want to know, no matter how silly it might seem to you. Don't forget, we were all beginners at some point and it's much better to dive in completely confident, than to still have unclear aspects.

10. Do not dive if you have a cold or if you have a sinus infection, because it will be dangerous (if not impossible) to equalize the pressure.

11. Are you planning a scuba diving vacation? Make sure you learn everything you need to know about the risks of "flying and diving" vacations before you set off.

12. If you have open wounds, avoid diving or make sure your wounds are covered, especially if you dive near coral reefs, where the skin is more prone to infections. Wear a waterproof suit or protect the wounds with water-resistant bandages and plasters.

13. Did you know that the human body processes liquids more efficiently at neutral buoyancy? This is the reason why when you dive you will have to urinate more often than normal.

14. Don't let point 14 scare you! Make sure you drink enough water before diving and after you get out of the water to avoid dehydration.

15. Learn as much as possible about the signs and symptoms of nitrogen narcosis, especially before attempting to dive in very deep water.

16. Many accidents that occur during scuba diving sessions can be prevented, as they are otherwise only caused by panic. A report by Scuba Diving Magazine informs that over 20% of the deaths recorded among divers are caused by panic.

Only with calmness can you get out of any problem that may arise during a scuba diving session. Therefore, practice self-calming methods, such as meditation and breathing techniques, so that you can face the challenges that may arise during diving.

Visualization is an excellent exercise, which helps you go through all the possible challenges in your imagination and thus you can think about how to overcome them.

17. The most important thing to remember is to always breathe. Never, but never, hold your breath!

18. Read about the things divers can do for their own safety and apply what you learn to prevent any kind of scuba accident.

How to become a better diver

19. Always stay close to the guide and follow his instructions - even when the other divers move away from the group.

20. Beginner divers often do not realize how much air they consume and tend to breathe more than advanced scuba divers. Always look at the pressure gauge and tell the instructor when you constantly have a low level. You don't have to be ashamed, it's perfectly normal!

21. Communicate constantly with partners. Ask them if they are ok and show them anything incredible you see.

22. Never hit or chase marine life. Not only is it good for the environment, but many sea creatures can be aggressive or poisonous. The "you can look, but you can't touch" policy is in the interest of everyone who is underwater, including you.

23. Diving can be a difficult sport, especially when you are walking next to other divers or next to the reef - it is normal to be like this when you are tied with wires and have a metal tank attached to your body. Give the other divers enough space to move without bumping into each other. Also, float for a while above the reef until you manage to establish a neutral buoyancy.

24. It's easy to be enchanted by what you see below you, but don't forget to look up or forward from time to time, towards the depth of the blue. Many times, there are the largest sea creatures or schools of fish.

25. Do you know what to do if you see a shark? First of all, don't panic and don't shoot like an arrow to the surface. Keep breathing and follow your guide's instructions. If you are diving with a partner and you are too scared to continue, put an end to the diving session for now. In general, sharks are harmless and pass by swimmers every day without incident.

26. If you want to attract the attention of another diver, make a noise by gently tapping your tank.

Choosing scuba diving equipment

27. There is nothing better than a comfortable diving suit that fits your body. It is worth investing in a waterproof suit suitable for the temperature at which you will dive most often.

28. When you choose a mask, tilt your head down, put the mask on your face and inhale. Then release the mask with your hands. If the mask fits your face, then it fits you. Before diving, get rid of facial hair (including facial hair) and use sunscreen. To make sure you choose the right size, check various equipment size guides online.

29. There are certain brands of scuba diving equipment that are more suitable for specific anatomical typologies. To see what suits you better, a solution can be to rent or borrow equipment before making a purchase, so that you can test different types.

30. Take care of your equipment, washing it with fresh water after each dive, hanging it to dry and keeping it out of the sun as much as possible. Salt, sand and the sun are hard elements that can deform the equipment if you don't take care of it carefully.

31. You may not always need to carry the same weight, depending on the thickness of the suit and even the temperature of the water. If you are not sure what weight you need, consult a guide in this regard. A good guide will assess buoyancy and may add or subtract weight.

Extra tips for scuba divers

33. Always keep in shape. Try to dive once every few months. Practice, practice, practice! The more often you go out, the better diver you will become!

34. There are many things to see around the world, starting from macroscopic life and reaching sharks, from coral reefs to caves, from shipwrecks to algae forests... The visual effects you will discover underwater they are completely different from anything else on earth. Make a list of your favorite places where you would like to dive, to motivate you to practice even more and discover new destinations.