71% of the world is water. Scuba diving opens up this world letting you practically experience life as a fish. However, the hobby is not for everyone and can take real diligence to master. Here is everything you need to know, if you are thinking of taking up diving.
It’s a physical activity
Swimming underwater with 31 pounds of tank on your back whilst trying to regulate your breathing can be exhausting, so if you have a heart problem or any respiratory issues you should probably give diving a miss. You can take a medical test to see if you are fit to dive. Conditions such as Asthma and Diabetes previously prevented people from taking the activity up, but these laws have been relaxed.
It’s mentally challenging too
Most of the training needed to dive prepares you for being able multi-tasking. Your brain is constantly fighting against your urge to breathe underwater, as well as trying to constantly calculate what way up you are. You won’t be taking films and pictures straight away – not until you have acclimatised your body to the unnatural act of diving. Eventually it will become second nature like driving or riding a bike. It takes patience – you can’t dive straight into diving.
It costs money
This should come as no surprise. You can rent equipment for a much cheaper price, but getting your own equipment is recommended, as it will be measured right and will feel more comfortable. Plus who really wants to use a second-hand snorkel. Equipment you need includes a regulator, a dive computer, a watersports mask, snorkel, fins and a wetsuit.
You need to be certified to dive
Diving isn’t one of these activities that you can pick up and self-teach. You’ll need to go on a PADI course before you’re allowed to go diving around the world. There are also specialist courses that you can take if you want to be a rescue diver or an instructor. Thankfully, the license is international, so you can go anywhere in the world and use it without having to take tests in every country. View more details here.
You will never experience a freedom like it
Once you’ve passed your training, once you’ve forked out on all the equipment, once your body has adapted to the alien act of diving, you will have the freedom to explore the ocean like you’ve never been able to before. You can get up and close with The Great Barrier Reef. You can visit shipwrecks underwater. You can even see sights like this. It can take some perseverance in order to keep the leisure pursuit up (especially if you don’t live by the sea), but just having the certificate under your belt will give you the option, if you find yourself somewhere exotic in which you may wish to use. Of course, you can always try snorkelling first to get a feel for it. You don’t have to go straight in the deep end.
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