What's to fear?
Learning to Dive gives you the courage to transform:
Scuba diving
gives you a unique way to face your challenges and transform your life
in new ways. Becoming a diver can give you confidence that spills over
into the way you face life every day.
It’s normal
to have questions whenever you begin an activity like diving. We can
provide you with answers, and below you’ll find the answers to many
questions people commonly have.
Q: My ears hurt when I go to bottom of a
swimming pool or when I dive down snorkeling. Will that keep me from
becoming a scuba diver?
A: No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and
sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing
in on your ears. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for
pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how.
Q:
Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking
preclude someone from diving?
A:
Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses,
respiratory function, heart function or may alter consciousness is a
concern, but only a physician can assess a person’s individual risk.
Physicians can consult with the Divers Alert Network (DAN) as necessary
when assessing a scuba candidate.
Q:
What are the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
A:
Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the
counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life
are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing an
exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your
hands and feet.
Q: What about sharks?
A: When you’re lucky,
you get to see a shark. Although incidents with sharks occur, they are
very, very rare and with respect to diving, primarily involve
spearfishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behaviour.
Most of the time, if you see a shark it’s passing through and a
relatively rare sight to enjoy.
Q: Do women
have any special concerns regarding diving?
A:
Aside from pregnancy, no.
Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the
foetus, the recommendation is that women avoid diving while pregnant or
trying to become pregnant. Menstruation is not normally a concern.
Q:
How deep do you go?
A: With the necessary
training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 40
metres/130 feet. Beginning divers stay shallower than about 18 metres/60
feet. Although these are the limits, some of the most popular diving is
no deeper than 12 metres/40 feet where the water’s warmer and the
colours are brighter.
Q:
What happens if I use up all my air?
A: That’s not likely
because you have a gauge that tells you how much air you have at all
times. This way, you can return to the surface with a safety reserve
remaining. But to answer the question, if you run out of air, your buddy
has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to share a single air supply
while swimming to the surface. There are also other options you’ll learn
in training.
Q:
What if I feel claustrophobic?
A: Although wearing a lot
of equipment may seem awkward, many people find the “weightlessness” of
scuba diving to be quite freeing. Modern dive masks are available in
translucent models, which you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed
in. During your training, your instructor gives you plenty of time and
coaching to become comfortable with each stage of learning. Your
instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each
skill necessary to become a capable diver who dives regularly.
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