3 Essential Scuba Skills You Should Master
If you’re ready to become an open water scuba diver, congrats! You’ve entered a new world that most people on the planet will never experience. But why would you let your progress stop there? As a diver it is important to constantly improve your scuba skills, this will improve your diving game to ensure enjoyable and safer dives.
Constantly practicing your dive skills, will make you a better diver. The basics are most important during dives, this provides you with the best foundation you can have. Let’s say you’re a tennis player who wants to master his serve, for example, he needs to master tossing the ball up in the air. The same principle applies when it comes to scuba diving.
Buoyancy
The number one scuba skill for every diver to master is controlling buoyancy. Buoyancy itself isn’t a difficult task, it requires a calm, clear mind, focus and steady actions. Divers will control it with the help of a BCD, better known as a buoyancy control device. Buoyancy control is determined by multiple factors, for example, breath control, ballast weight, depth, ballast weight and BC control. When your buoyancy is mastered you will enjoy your dive more. You will consume way less air than normal and you will also avoid damaging the underwater world! For instance, managing your buoyancy won’t damage corals, marine habitats and artifacts.
Clearing your mask
Water will get into your mask no matter what since no mask seal is impenetrable underwater. Even if you’re smiling for a few seconds, water will get into your mask and this will interrupt your dive. To properly empty your mask, you will have to inhale deeply through your mouth and press the top ridge of your mask to your forehead while opening the bottom seal and blowing hard through your nose. During this process, you will have to tilt your head back to help the air blow out easier. Always alert your scuba buddy, so you won’t get separated. If you master this basic it will only cost a couple of seconds of your beautiful dive!
Scuba Hand Signals
Underwater communication equipment is not always reliable and expensive, so why won’t we use our hands then? Learn appropriate hand signals to optimize communication with your buddy! Some hand signals will vary depending on your location but major signals like, “okay” and “out of air” are universal.
Pay attention to the hand signals discussed at your dive briefing so you know how to signal to your buddy when tank pressure is low or your ears are not equalizing.
Safe Divers Are Skilled Divers
At Dive Culture we will ensure, that you know how to perform these scuba skills. Exploring the depths of Amed will be eye-opening and fun. By mastering basic dive skills, risks can be minimized. With enough practice, you will become a diver who’s ready and capable of handling all kinds of diving situations and we’re to help you!
