KrabiDivers asked:


Diving - Is it Safe?

Scuba Diving can be a dangerous sport if you do not take a ‘be safe always’ approach when entering the water. It has a lot to do with your personality at the end of the day. It will be as safe as you want it to be, even in times of extreme weather or water conditions. it is important to be always stay alert. Just like crossing the road, if you don’t take precautions and follow the simple rules that you have learnt as a child, accidents can happen anytime anywhere!

Get certified by a professionally recognised centre

Many new divers do not check that the centre they are learning from, particularly when they visit more remote places in Asia, that their dive instruction is received from a professionally organised and run centre. There is often a presumption that all dive centres have gone through proper checks, controls and certification. Unfortunately, there are many who profess to be qualified to instruct, but to save costs, have not received authentication from professional bodies such as PADI or SDI which have strict rules and requirements for all dive operators. Don’t miss this first check when you step in. Always ask to see proof of their certification.

Be medically certified to dive

See your doctor before you sign up for dive instruction. No one else should care as much about your safety as you! And no one else will be as sorry as you if there are accidents or problems when you dive. Get physically checked and if necessary, obtain a letter from your doctor authorising you to learn to dive.

Be aware of the conditions and your own diving competency level

Sometimes, it is best to follow your instinct. If you feel the currents are too strong, or you are not feeling well, stop your dive by informing your buddy straightaway and ascend together. Do not try to attempt a dive if you are uncomfortable. We have seen many experienced divers abandon dives due to strong currents, and that has saved them and their dive group a lot of trouble.

Never dive in terrain or environments you are not certified for

In order to dive caves, do night dives or penetrate wrecks, you should have received proper training and certification before you attempt them. There are techniques that you must learn in order to be safe for such specialty dives. Choose from the wide range of the Specialty Courses that krabidivers.com conducts regularly which is of interest to you, and you will find that you will be much more confident whenever you dive the next wreck or cave.

Be prepared to say “No” to a dive

If you find yourself uncomfortable or unsure, even after you have started to descend or are in the middle of a dive, it is OK to cancel that dive and come back another day when the conditions are more favourable. It does not mean that you are not a good diver - infact very often, it is the smart diver who knows himself best - and knows when to say “No thanks, I will sit out this one.”

Never dive alone

Regardless of experience levels, you should never dive alone. If you lose your buddy during a dive, look around for no more than one to two minutes. If you still cannot find your buddy, you should end your dive and make your way up to the surface. Not only will it be safer for you, it will also give comfort to your buddy that you are watching out for him too.

Prepare for a dive well

The night before a dive trip, you should always rest well, and hydrate yourself by drinking lot of water. And, you should not have a heavy night’s drinking as alcohol causes dehydration. Dehydration contributes to many diving-related illnesses.

Always check your dive gear before each dive (especially for rental gear!)

Before you go on each dive, always check all your dive gear again. Make sure that your regulator and hoses are working well without leaks, your BCD inflates well and your tank has the right level of air. Do not assume that just because you have returned from one dive safe and sound, using the same set of dive gear will not cause any problems on the next dive. Many shops have rental gear which may not have been serviced well or for a long time. You should check all gear, rental or your own, well before every single dive.

Choose a buddy who dives like you

While choosing a buddy who dives like you may not be an option many of the times, it is always good to get to know your buddy before you start diving together. Ask simple questions such as how many times he has dived, where he has dived, when his last dive was, and how good he is at air usage. This will help you to also anticipate problems your buddy may have during the dive. The most enjoyable dives are sometimes when you have a good buddy, who shares with you the sights he comes across and paces well with you throughout the dive.

Drink plenty of water

Diving can be a very dehydrating sport. Make sure that before every dive, you have plenty of water. I always make it a point to drink a cup of water just before I jump into the water. This has always helped me to stay well hydrated throughout the dive for the next 45 to 60 minutes.

Pay attention during your pre-dive briefing

Dive briefings are important to help you understand what to expect when in the water. Your dive guide will explain about the terrain, what you should expect to see as well as how to best navigate yourself around the dive site for a most enjoyable dive. It will also help you to anticipate changes in the terrain so that there are no surprises.

Be aware of sympthoms of hypothermia, heat exhaustion and dehydration

Watch out for all the sympthoms as you are your best judge of whether your dive will cause any problems. It is always best to be safe and not sorry, so look out for tingling sensations, nausea, giddiness, numbness and any other sensations that makes you uncomfortable. Inform your dive buddy and/or your dive guide about it, and stop the dive and start your ascend to the surface.

Respect marine life

All marine life needs to be respected, not just the big stuff. Be very aware of your surroundings and the fish and coral life around you. Do not touch anything as far as possible, especially if you are unsure if it will be poisonous. Remember, the ocean belongs to the marine life and we’re the visitors!

Diving is as safe as any other sport. As divers, we have a responsibility to the environment, to other divers and most of all, to ourselves to ensure safety and preservation. Safe diving is practiced if you choose the right partner to dive with, so make sure you find out about the dive centre, instructors and guides, and feel very comfortable that they practise the prescribed safety standards diligently and conscientiously.

KM61.com asked:


You’ve found the perfect mask that fits you face and the right color to impress the fish.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your mask before taking it into the water.

1. Remove all labels from the lenses, inside and out.

2. Take 500 PSI Mask Scrub solution and apply to the inside of your mask lenses.

3. Using your fingers in a circular motion, rubbed the mask scrub around the inside of your mask lens.

4. Let sit for a few minutes

5. Rinse mask.

6. If the mask scrub is not available use toothpaste and a toothbrush or soft scrub.

7. Place your snorkel on the left side of your head, attaching it to your mask strap.

8. Place your mask on your face and adjust it for fit & remember, if you’re wearing a hood, readjust the strap size.

9. When you’re ready to use the mask, use commercial defog like 500PSI Mask Defog, available in 2 Oz or 4 Oz bottles for portability. Dive leaders, Shop Owners or Dive Resort Operators, we recommend Trident’s Mask Defog Solution (available in 1 Gallon bottles.) Why should you use a Commercial Defog? It’s much more sanitary than your salvia and lasts longer keeping your mask de-fogged!

After use, make it a point to soak your mask in warm water, especially if it was used in salt water. The warmer water will break the salt crystals and keep your mask nice and clean.

Every once in a while, re-sanitize your mask and snorkel with toothpaste and the toothbrush. It will keep them from retaining a possible mildew odor. You could also soak or rinse them with a mild solution of mouthwash. This solution could be used with your regulator mouthpiece, your manual inflator-hose and the inside of your BCD.

SCUBA.com has a combo pack of equipment care products called 500psi 6-Piece Ultimate Divers Care Kit it contains:

o 8oz Wetsuit/BC Wash and Conditioner

o 2oz Mask Defog

o 4oz Stink Guard

o 2oz Salt-Away

o 2oz Mask Scrub

o Lubricating Zipper Wax

Do you wear corrective lenses?

Don’t you want to see how big the barracuda or shark really are? Or to be able to see the small Nudibranchs in the cooler waters off our coast or tiny, colorful Madrid Fish of the warm Pacific Tropical Islands. SCUBA.com has a variety of masks for divers and snorkelers requiring corrective vision. We have a wide range of prescriptions’ lens in stock. Your lens will be installed into your mask by instructors before being shipped out.

Nearsightedness - (Minus Diopters) That condition of the ocular refraction in which the posterior principal focus of the eye lies in front of the retinal plane, so that neutral light waves, entering the eye in a state of rest, instead of focusing on the retina, come to a focus before they reach it, are reversed, and fall on the retina in diffusion circles of plus waves.

For the near sighted

Negative Left (OS) Lens

Negative Right (OD) Lens

Far sightedness - (Positive Diopters) That condition of ocular refraction in which the posterior principal focus of the eye lies back of the retinal plane, so that neutral light waves instead of focusing on the retina, fall on the retina in diffusion circles of unfocused waves.

Two Styles available:

#1 Lower Half of Lens – aka: Bi-Focals

Bifocal Left (OS) Lens

Bifocal Right (OD) Lens

#2 For the far sighted - Positive Lens (Full Lens)

Positive Left (OS) Lens

Positive Right (OD) Lens

If you live in a year round warm & moist climate remember, critters like to nibble on the silicone mask products. Once dry, place the mask in your mask box & store it in a cool, dry place.

For added enjoyment, consider purchasing a Scuba.com Strap Wrapper. For divers and snorkelers not using a hood while diving in warmer water, you’ll find the Wrapper a comfortable addition to your mask. The Wrapper slides over the strap and is placed on the back side of the mask strap.

aaronbye asked:

There are 3 dogfish that came over to check out this camera when my buddy put it down the hole. Very neat if you are into odd fish.

David asked:


I have a car that is new and has leather seats. I have also recently taken up scuba diving.

I want to be able to carry the scuba tank in the boot/trunk of the car, not in the actual car itself for fear of damaging its interior.

Is there some easy way to secure the tank in the boot/trunk of the car so that it stays in one place?

Alan Hawkins asked:


Have you ever experienced a serious disaster whilst on holiday? If not, it’s merely a matter of time. It has been said there are two kinds of travellers, those that have experienced a problem holiday and those that are still going to.

Tasked with identifying the top ten travel tips immediately got my mind going but an idea soon took shape. Why not use the experiences of the professionals, ask them to identify the more common causes of problems when travelling. Unbeknown to me this certainly dropped the cat amongst the pigeons, largely because limiting this to only ten became a problem, thank you so much to all those who were a part of the panel.

One of the most common problems and a unanimous choice of the panel were problems surrounding logistical arrangements. Largely related to reservations; dates and ticketing, these can be problematic despite the ease and simplicity of the internet. It is imperative when planning any holiday to any destination that all bookings are made well in advance, followed up either by e-mail or telephone a few days before your departure and still in time to rectify problems if discovered. After this has been done, prevent further problems by ensuring you have proof in the form of copies of any relevant document or reference number, this could be a receipt confirmation of a deposit paid or any item depending on your personal arrangements. This is one of those suggestions where prevention is definitely far better than cure.

Our second tip is all encompassing and covers the packing of essential items. Obviously these items might vary according to your personal plans but would perhaps include items such as passports and ID documents; applicable drivers licences; money - credit cards, wallets and other financial needs; mobile phones and camera’s, (get with it, preferably digital) are essential items nowadays, together with supporting items such as chargers and memory cards. On my personal list are always sunglasses, activity equipment, a few books, a pack of cards, a multi-purpose pocket knife and other smaller items or games which always come in handy.

How are we doing so far, the bottom line is that with tip numbers one and two you can go almost anywhere in the world and if you have forgotten anything else you can purchase them en route.

Tip number three is so absolutely boring you might well stop reading at this point but it remains one of the most common causes of holidays being cancelled. Before you leave home ensure that all domestic matters are resolved and tucked in to bed. These will again vary but will certainly surround adequate locking up and security issues; paying all accounts, in particular municipal services; cancelling any deliveries; ensuring access is available to a trusted friend or relative in the event of a fire or emergency; ensuring pets are adequately cared for and that someone responsible is able to contact you in the case of emergency during your holiday. Yes…boring….but oh so often the cause of having to either come back early or returning to face a smelly deep freeze or worse.

The basics are covered and now we can move onto the fun part, tip number four surrounds choosing the right holiday for your needs and enjoyment. To haul three children under ten years old to a game reserve for ten days will stretch your patience and theirs, you might enjoy spending half an hour looking at a bird or waiting for an Elephant to come to a waterhole while sipping a Chardonnay, they certainly wouldn’t. If you have had a really stressful year and are going on holiday for a time out, a few days in London followed by a few in Rome and a low cost flight via Moscow to save a few cents would mean lots of flights; too many airports and complicated transit arrangements. Our panel suggests taking a few extra minutes to analyse the real needs of all travelling partners before selecting your holiday destination.

You have analysed your own needs and decided on let’s say a scuba diving holiday as an example. Tip number five stays with destination choice and is all about research. That’s easy I hear you saying, once you’ve decided what type of holiday you want. However, you could also end up on a scuba diving holiday in monsoon season, perhaps to a great destination at most times of the year but in the month you have chosen, it’s infested with mosquito’s and a temperature of 45 degrees, is that what you wanted.

Perhaps you might be looking for a quiet and romantic getaway and choose a week in a Spanish seaside village only to find out it clashes with a local political election and the local school holidays. Time researching local conditions is well spent, beware particularly of special offers or discounts, these are usually offered for a reason and often due to seasonality or other sub-optimal characteristics of the destination at the time the offer applies. This same principle applies to discounted flights and packages, it’s important to be fully aware of which items and costs are included and not included in the price.

How far have we gone so far, in summary we have the logistics and essential equipment under control, chosen a stunning destination to ensure our needs are covered and we have selected the dates to suit the destination characteristics.

Tip number six is about the modern day wonder of the travellers’ world. You guessed it, the internet. This modern tool enables you to ensure you are fully au fait with all and any information you might need. From disco’s to dive centres, museums to mausoleums, cathedrals to camping grounds, the information is easily available to you from the comfort of your home; office or failing which, an internet café. Referring back to our Spanish village, if you want to know the history, what to see and do while you’re there, the internet provides this service. Even once you’re there, if you want to send pics and news to someone at home, the internet has really made this simple. I read recently that in excess of 70% of all travel arrangements are now made on-line, wow, that is an awesome number and it is no doubt climbing, not without reason.

A list of top ten tips would definitely be incomplete without a reference to the importance of adequate packing. Notice we say adequate as it does vary according to destination and travel method. A car trip to Port Alfred with a trailer and roof rack is a far different scenario than a flight to London. Tip number seven is to pack early; to pack correctly and most of all to pack according to a well prepared list. One often makes the mistake of packing too much, leaving little room for error and no space to include a few souvenirs or that tee-shirt that looked so good in the market. On a personal note our family has a rule, what you pack you carry; this has a fantastic effect of ensuring no one packs without a plan.

The boring battle of the budget. We all have dream destinations we hope to get to one day; this is unfortunately not a reality for most of us. Tip number eight is to ensure you remain within your personal limits of expenditure. Interest rates are high and could get higher; credit offered by banks can be easily obtained by utilising the credit card options so often available. You don’t want to spend the year after your holiday stressed out about how you’re going to pay it back during the rest of the year. Plan adequately before and during your holiday. Whilst it’s certainly fun to spoil yourselves during a holiday, we suggest you allocate a daily allowance to each person and to the whole group; this will certainly help control costs, particularly in an international destination when one is not fully conversant, it can come back and bite quite hard.

The members of our panel are all seasoned travellers, local and overseas. In conversation we certainly learned that all had on occasion bumped their heads or made often silly mistakes. Our unanimous tip number nine is to enjoy South Africa. As residents of this beautiful country we are all absolutely blessed to live within a reasonable distance from either a beach; lake; mountain; game reserve or whatever it might be that appeals to your family. Too often we feel the need to travel far and wide when it’s all on our doorstep. We might travel to an exotic dive destination but haven’t yet experienced Aliwal Shoal; sit on a Mauritian Beach when our coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, perhaps even camping in France when you’ve never been to the Drakensberg or Clarens.

It might be a cliché but we really do have it all in one country. We certainly hope that our leaders will take every action to ensure that it stays that way. We in turn need to appreciate it and invest in local tourism and the job creation it offers. Our panel felt that we need to market ourselves as a destination a little better than we do, encouraging local travellers that Cairo is perhaps not always better than Cape Town. Local is lekker, it has its place alongside braaivleis, biltong, sunny skies and all the rest.

This might be our last tip of the ten we were confined to but it is the simplest and most important – have fun! You’ve worked hard, you deserve your holiday, please don’t forget to enjoy it. In most cases when on holiday, one is surrounded by those your love the most, those dearest and closest.

What an absolute blessing to be able to spend quality time in a holiday destination with those you love.

CaptainsLog20 asked:

Scuba Diver SUCKED INTO Power Plant Water INTAKE PIPE - Captain’s Log Boating Safety TV Show # 10 Part 3 MIB Studios MIBstudios

Hall Andrew asked:


 
Scuba diving today has taken on a new turn.  It has become popular over the years.  Many are now reading through the hoards of diving courses offered on the net to find the best ones.  People are not only looking to learning how to scuba dive but find the best diving experience too, which is why London Diving is seen biggest demand for its qualified PADI centre London.  London diving has grown to be superior in most ways.  The school is equipped with high technology scuba gears to equal the highly qualified experts and instructors.  London Diving sees that tools and equipment are updated each time.
 
Their site for scuba diving is provides only the highest standard of instruction in all courses.  From open water to instruction level, London Diving boasts the best  experience and courses, because it is in close contact with PADI centre.  It sees to the complete adherence of the highest level of commitment and dedication.  Superior instruction and the best of personalities make for a good combination of learning strategy. 
 
London diving has taken diving into a new level of learning.  It takes each student one step at a time before finally committing each person to the advanced courses.  It allows you to take your time and not to rush on anything which might put you in a compromising situation when you reach open water.  You have to resolve first whatever is bugging you or if you have apprehensions in taking the course.  In other words friendly instructors are out to make you feel confident until such time you are ready for the full blown courses.
 
London Diving makes London diving from PADI centre London your best experience yet.  It provides the diving solutions of individual requirements.  London Diving is working with the best professional standards in the diving business.  It has the qualifications and the proper credentials to offer diving lessons from starters to master scuba divers and specialty courses for scuba diving enthusiasts and interested parties. 
 
London diving affords scuba divers the best of the underwater world.  Scuba diving provides the opportunity of romancing with the natural beauty of the sea.  This is only made possible by the best instruction approaches from the PADI centre London.  Only when you learn how to scuba dive and when you have understood aquatic life then you can start to appreciate what nature has to offer.  London Diving makes this fully understood when you start with your naturalist diving course.
 
The London Diving team supports the vision and objective of every student of scuba diving.  You are underwater for a reason and London Diving makes your goals come true.  With the PADI system scuba diving lessons have taken a new twist.  It is not just for the heck of diving but it more than just diving.  The highly technical programs of London Diving make diving one notch higher or more than its competitors.  The site in London turns their students into passionate and highly enthusiastic divers.  The students in turn know how to appreciate nature at its best and learn how to nurture the thriving life under the sea.
 
The London Diving team is PADI trained and have been teaching scuba diving for many years in London.   The members of the team have acquired so much hours as diving instructors.  If only for these reasons London Diving has turned out to be on the top of the list of the scuba diving industry.  It is now a name to reckon with in London diving.      
 

phantom_of_valkyrie asked:


My husband wants one of these underwater camera cases for our digital camera. Now it says it’s waterproof up to 33 ft and it says it doesn’t blur the camera lens so that your pictures turn out great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7615196528&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

If that link doesn’t work, it’s a WP500 camera case.

Obviously the brochure selling it is GOING to say all that. In the past we’ve always used the underwater cameras and they tend to be fine but he is a man and this is a cool gadget.

But have you ever used one? Worth it or pictures still look like a disposable underwater camera? Did your camera get ruined?

We have a water resistant case for our I-pod which has to go on the cruise. I’m fine with that b/c I don’t go that close to the pool to begin with. But this will be going underwater with us…so I’m a little hesitant. Anyone?

Abby Johnson asked:


The Great Barrier Reef is considered to the ultimate in scuba diving adventures in the world which offer same excitement to experts as well as beginners. So what is so special about the Great Barrier Reef ? First of all, the size. Its simple huge - stretching over 1400 miles along Australia’s East Coast. It is not only the largest reef system in the world, but many consider it as one of the most beautiful too. If this has been your dream to visit this natural wonder, here are some tips for the first-time traveler :

The Location of the Reef

Situated near Queensland in Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is about 185 miles away from the mainland on the southern side. It is about 12 miles away from the shore on the northern side. It is about 50 miles wide at the northern side - the widest stretch. What can you expect to see at the Great Barrier Reef. The amazing variety of plant and animal life which have made its home here is mind-boggling. You can, actually see about 4000 species of mollusks, more than 1000 species of fish, about 380 species of coral, 500 species of seaweed, six varieties of sea turtles.

How to Get to the Barrier Reef

There are daily flights to Australia from the West Coast in the United States. When you reach Australia, you may have to take a small connecting flight to land near one of the gateways to the reef. Generally people go for Cairns and Townsville, two tropical cities located near the northern side of the reed. The other gateway is at Gladstone and Bundaberg, located near the southern side of the reef.

The Ultimate Scuba Diving Adventure

The calm and lucid waters around the reef make it the best location for scuba diving in the world. Water may run deep at certain places, but is generally moderate for amateurs to dive in. For beginners, diving should be in shallow waters - about 60 feet in depth. However for experts, there are reefs around the Coral Sea where the depth is about 300 feet.

To go through one of the best scuba diving experiences, you can board one of the popular ‘live aboard’ boats. These specialized boats take visitors right where the action is. Many such boats have convenient luxury amenities and can organize boats to take divers right at the center of the reef. There are day boats available for day-time scuba diving. These day boats take visitors for 4 to 5 hour trips into the reef. Even local resorts organize these day boats for their guests.

Finding a ‘Dive Island’ Resort

Resorts located in small islands around the reef are capable of organizing scuba diving trips for the guests. They provide convenient access to the reef and are great for visitors looking for a scuba diving adventure. Generally these resorts are situated in Lizard, Green, Lady Elliot, and Heron islands. ‘Cod Hole” - a popular diving site is situated off Lizard Island.

Best Time to Visit the Reef

Anytime of the year is considered to be safe and suitable to visit the reef for scuba diving. This is because of the nature of the water which is normally calm and steady. The Australian summer is considered to be popular - which is between December and March. Because of the tropical climate, the temperature usually hovers around 70 to mid-80s.This makes a visit to the Great Barrier Reef and its surrounding cities pleasant at anytime of the year.

Simba asked:


I’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive, but I’m not much of a swimmer. I do know how to swim, but I don’t feel real comfortable in the water. I don’t like to go to the pool or beach, but I really think I would enjoy diving. I would love to see what’s under the surface. To me it would be like a whole other world.

Has anybody had the same experience diving? You dislike swimming or are hesitant to dive? Any advice?