Following are the basic diving skills that a novice diver should pursue to master while on training and during his first few open water dives.
In-Water and Swimming Skills
Dive sites are unique and the diver shouldn’t expect every drop off point to be profiled only with calm waters. Thus it would take some time and solid diving experience to learn quick descent methods, whether that involves the roll-off from the back of a boat or plunging into harsh currents. Similarly, divers will have to hone their swimming skills which would come in handy during the return trip to the boat.
Mask Skills
Water tends to seep deeply into the mask which could distort the diver’s range of vision. Considering that the diver is a a few hundred feet below the surface, while subjected to pertinent decompression and air supply limits, swimming to the surface repeatedly just to clear the mask of water is not feasible. Therefore, the skill of defogging the lens and purging water from the mask will have to be mastered. Moreover, diving experts have identified the simple methods of clearing water from both a non-purge or purge mask in the course of the dive.
Buoyancy Control Skills
Acquiring neutral buoyancy is one of the skills a neophyte scuba diver should learn. Being adept with the use scuba equipment such as the buoyancy compensator, weight belt and diving fins is not enough since buoyancy control is also governed by pertinent factors such as the diver’s weight and the efficiency of his breathing. Failure to meet weight standards while being inadequate in terms of buoyancy techniques can result to a stressful dive and the inefficient use of air supply to considerably reduce bottom times.
Equipment Handling Skills
Being adept with the handling of basic scuba equipment and gear heightens the diver’s margin of safety as he pursues recreational depths. Scuba equipment malfunction cannot be averted during the dive. Thus, the diver should learn how to do a quick troubleshoot of these devices underwater and gain the confidence to respond constructively during times of emergencies.
Filed under: Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving Equipment | Tagged: scuba, scuba diver, Scuba Diving, scuba equipment
