To get the most enjoyment
out of your diving, it's important to not only have good buoyancy but also
the right amount of weight on your belt, if you are overweighted your position
in the water will not be streamlined and you will have to use a lot of
air to fill your Bcd, which will lift the front of your body, while leaving
the lower half of your body sinking to the bottom, thus endangering yourself
from stings, cuts etc., to damaging the fragile reef. Your breathing should
be as relaxed as possible and remember, everyone varies in the amount of
air they use, the most important thing is to enjoy the dive. The equipment
should fit you well, not too big or too small and it should feel comfortable.
Try not to use your hands too much as you will use a lot of energy and
get tired quickly, most of the work should be done by your legs and fins.
New Mask.
If you have a new
mask always remember to clean off the silicone from the lens, with a little
white toothpaste rubbed around the inside and outside of the lens and of
course the normal Spit before you use it (Who said diving was a glamorous
sport)
Do not pull the strap too tight as this only distorts the skirt of the
mask and is likely to let in more water.
Ears
If you are prone
to ear infections (outside the ear) always wash out your ears with fresh
water and dry them thoroughly, you can buy medication specific to drying
out your ears which will help a lot. If you get an inner ear infection,
you will need to take antibiotics (specific for middle ear infections),
it's good to get some from your doctor before you travel. Always take care
to equalize your ears gently as you slowly descend, it's a good idea to
mention to the Dive guide that you normally have problems equalizing, so
that they are aware that you might need a little extra time.
Haven't dived
for a while
If you haven't dived
in a while and have lost a lot of your confidence and skills, always do
a Scuba tune up or Refresher course, once you have gone through the skills
again you will really enjoy the dive much more and have time to look at
the marine life, instead of worrying about your mask, buoyancy or whatever,
it really is worth taking the extra time to do this half day course
