While most of us would love to have the opportunity to dive frequently, the unfortunate fact is that this is often just not possible. Many of us dive only a few times annually, and there are many others who dive only every few years, when we get the opportunity to take a vacation. If you are a landlocked scuba diver or someone who spends a lot more time at work than enjoying dive holidays, or if you’re an occasional diver for some other reason, you will appreciate this quick look at essential scuba diving skills for people who have had some time off.
Learn about Updated Equipment
If it has been some time since you last went scuba diving, you might be surprised at some of the recent advances in scuba gear, especially if you are going to rent gear. While it’s always a good idea to own a BC, a regulator, and a dive computer of your own, this often is not practical for people who dive only occasionally. So read up on the newest equipment, and if you know where you will be renting your dive gear while on vacation, find out what brands the shop carries and do your best to learn about the features you’ll find on that gear. If possible, rent the gear locally for some refresher training and familiarize yourself with it. This is a little time-consuming, but it will greatly improve your dives while on vacation.
Re-familiarize Yourself with Basic Scuba Skills
Don’t be embarrassed if it has been awhile since you last enjoyed diving. And for your own safety, as well as for the safety of those you’ll be diving with, do not embellish or exaggerate your experience or pretend that you know things you don’t. Divers have suffered from serious accidents and have even died as a result of lack of skill or knowledge, and pride is a sorry excuse for putting yourself, fellow divers, and potential rescuers at risk. Some basics to focus on include:
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Scuba Gear. Re-familiarize yourself with basic scuba gear, thinking about the way it fits and the way it functions. In particular, ensure that you are able to use your compass, your dive computer, and other functional items as appropriate, even if you’ll be on easy, guided dives. You never know what challenges could arise while on a dive, and having the ability to self-rescue is invaluable.
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Breathing Gas. In the past, you may have used standard breathing gas. Today, many resorts and dive shops, particularly those at popular vacation destinations, offer enriched air, giving their clientele the opportunity to enjoy diving just a little more. If you would like to try diving with nitrox, be sure to set yourself up with an enriched air diving course well in advance of your vacation. Yes, it’s time consuming, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
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Entries and Exits. Practice various entry and egress methods, focusing on the type of entries and exits you’ll be doing while on holiday. While you can practice them in person, you can also read up on the steps and practice them in your mind. This will make refresher training easier for you and it will greatly increase your confidence in your own abilities. While you’re at it, remember the basics of descending and ascending.
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Buddy Breathing. Remember those drills you did back in basic scuba certification classes? Now is a good time to re-familiarize yourself with the basics of buddy breathing. If you’ll be diving with a friend or family member, include them in this portion of your refresher training. If they’re an occasional diver also, consider having them participate in all aspects of refresher training.
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Using Emergency Signaling Equipment. Be sure that you will have ready access to all emergency signaling equipment you might need while diving. Ensure that you remember how to properly deploy a safety sausage and use a signaling mirror, for example.
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Recognizing Dive Related Medical Problems and Injuries. A medical problem or injury can happen to any diver at any time. Be sure that you spend a little time going over symptoms of common dive related illnesses and injuries, not just so that you can recognize them in yourself, but so that you can be an effective part of the group you are diving with, if needed. Simply having the ability to alert the divemaster of an impending problem can make a huge difference.
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Avoiding Decompression Sickness. Make your plans carefully so that you will have plenty of time between arriving at your destination and your first dive, even if it’s just a checkout dive. In addition, be sure that you plan your departure well after your final dive, and don’t give into the temptation to take an additional dive too close to your flight. Taking extra care to ensure you get adequate surface intervals is a good way to keep yourself safe, and it’s also a good way to ensure that you won’t permanently injure yourself and prevent a future dive holiday.
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Familiarity with Marine Life. Familiarize yourself with the types of marine animals you are likely to encounter while diving. Not only will this help prevent unpleasant incidents, it will help you know what to watch for so that you enjoy your dives more.
Needless to say, it’s important to assess your skills before heading to any dive site; in many places, resorts and dive operators offer checkout dives to ensure that all participants are able to handle the challenges associated with the dive sites being visited during a certain trip. If it has been some time since you kitted up and enjoyed some bottom time, your best course of action would be to take a refresher diving course from your local scuba shop. You’ll rapidly regain your confidence and skills – and this will ensure that you pass checkout dives with ease once you reach your vacation destination, plus it will ensure that you get to focus on enjoying the dives you take while on holiday, creating valued memories you’ll treasure forever.