These are some of the frequently asked questions about Scuba Diving, certifications and recommendations.
1. What is sport diving?
It is a sport and a recreational discipline that requires both theoretical and hands on training before you can be certified as a sport diver. During sport diving, decompression is not necessary because dives are done with time and depth limits, different to those of commercial and professional divers.
2. What is decompression?
When we dive breathing compressed air (ambient air forced into a tank by a special compressor) a quantity of nitrogen is dissolved in our body due to the greater pressure from the water above us. This nitrogen forms bubbles in our body when we ascend and the pressure we support decreases.
It could be compared to shaking a soda and opening it all of a sudden: a lot of bubbles appear when the pressure inside the bottle goes down right after we open it. If we keep ourselves within certain time and depth limits, calculated by immersion tables, then the nitrogen liberation is gradual and harmless. If we exceed these limits we are obliged to stop from time to time during the ascent to avoid these bubbles forming and putting our lives at risk.
These stops are called decompression stops and in Sport Diving the tables are calculated to avoid them.
3. What physical condition do I need to be in to go sport diving?
For the basic level any certifier will require you be in a reasonable physical condition. The more levels a diver wishes to achieve, the better physical condition they must be in.
4. At what age can I start diving?
Most certifiers have 12 years old as the minimum age to start. One can obtain certain certifications according to your age.
5. What does it mean to be certified?
A ''diving certification'' means that the diver has completed a course in one of the many existing agencies. There are many different levels ranging from basic to advanced. There are also different agencies offering similar programs. When choosing a particular course it is important to evaluate your options in order to decide the one that is right for you.
6. Why do I have to get a certification in sport diving?
The underwater world is not our environment. We are subject to many physical changes that we must know and understand to perfection. Motion underwater is totally different also and we have to get used to this change. Adapting to this new environment is something that we achieve after hours of practice in the pool and open sea, guided by a qualified instructor (to achieve a satisfactory level you must feel as comfortable underwater as you do on land).
7. What are the certification levels called and what are the differences between them?
All sport diving certifying companies issue a first or basic level of certification. This basic certification has different names depending on the certifying company and it enables the diver to descend down to a certain depth under specific conditions related to sunlight, area knowledge, weather conditions and geographic conditions. After which, according to the diver's interest, additional courses could be done to exceed the limits established by the first certification.
Obviously no one will measure how deep you go on your dives, or under what conditions, therefore it is extremely important to understand that the limits are established by the agencies for a reason and it is not safe to ignore them.
8. Who will ask for my certification before diving?
Each time you go to a dive shop to rent equipment or hire transportation to the dive sites, someone should ask for your certification. Not every operator does it and this incident should indicate irresponsibility on the operator's behalf for they are authorizing a dive to someone who may not be trained.
We must then report this situation to the certificating company or the proper authority because these actions damage the reputation of sport diving, for those non divers risk their lives by ignorance and certified divers share a dive with someone who they think is trained while in reality he/she isn't.
9. How long will my certification last?
If there are certain variations in criteria among different certificating companies, they all agree that if the diver maintains a degree of activity, diving at least once every 6 months, his certification has no expiry date. They recommend refresher courses if you have not dived for a while.
10. How long does a diving course last?
The duration of a course is perhaps the point that generates more controversy among fans and directors of the different certificating companies. On one hand there are two day courses and on the other there are two month courses. No survey indicates a relationship between accidents happened to graduates from both systems. If one is superior to the other it is only due to the amount of time you want to invest in your training.
11. What certificating company is the best?
Each dive certificating company claims to be better than its competitors, without bad faith. The best way to decide is to select a place where a diver that you know and trust did his/her course.
12. Are there any recommendations for before and after the dive?
Don't take a flight in the first 24 hours after diving.
Do not drink alcohol before diving.
Drink lots of water to hydrate your body.
Have a light breakfast.
Sleep well the night before the dive.
13. Can everyone dive?
No, it is not recommended for people with:
High blood pressure.
Epilepsy.
Pregnant women.
People with respiratory problems. |
