MERMAID SCUBA

Home Contact Information Certifications     Get certified!     Credit Card Payment     Endorsements     Medical Forms         Medical History Form         Second Medical Form     FAQ     Critters     Nitrox certification     My certifications     My O/W certification Diving Information     Guidelines     Pregnancy and Diving     US Navy Dive Table     Altitude Table     Atmospheric Pressure     Diving Sites in Utah         Bear Lake         Blue Lake         Fishlake         Flaming Gorge         Homestead Crater         Sea Base         Tony Grove Lake     Utah Dive Flag Regs     Diving Lingo     Motion Sickness Fun Diving Stuff     Fishlake Mermaid Story     Suzie's First Wet Suit     Diving Lingo     Diving Snippets Page         Diver's Chain Letter         Firediving         Happiness is         SCUBA         SCUHA         WANTED         Scared diver         Dive knife         Whale         Mermaid and shells Photographs     Underwater Page 1     Underwater Page 2 Diving Links Merchandise Beaver-43 Sunblock

Diving Guidelines

(Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

1. Never hold your breath. Breath slowly and deeply.
2. Plan your dives. Look at your dive tables before and after your dives.
3. Keep a dive log. Some dive operators will want to see your certification card and your dive log.
4. Be responsible for yourself. Don't dive if you don't feel comfortable about the conditions or your ability to do the dive. Keep record of your depth and time.
5. Keep your equipment in good condition. Have equipment checked at least yearly.
6. If you haven't been diving for awhile take a refresher course. Improve your diving education. There are many advanced courses available. Open water certification is only the beginning.
7. Air expands as you ascend and compresses as you descend. This means you will probably need to vent air on ascents and add air on descents to stay in control.
8. Buoyancy control can be fine tuned with your breathing.
9. If you get separated from your buddy on a dive, look around for one minute. If you still haven't found each other, then surface.
10. Know your gear and your buddy's gear.
11. Practice buoyancy control and navigation often, preferably on every dive.
12. Remember to use altitude diving tables when needed.
13. Use the correct amount of weight, checked by being neutrally buoyant at the surface. Neutrally buoyant at the surface is: With your BCD empty and your lungs full of air, you should float at eye level.
14. Get into shape before you go diving. Learn to relax while diving. You will not get tired as quickly.
15. If you find yourself shivering in the water, get out. Don't risk hypothermia. In warm weather wait to put your wet suit on just before diving to avoid overheating.
16. Procedures that reduce decompression sickness: Do's: Dive your deepest dive first, drink plenty of fluids (no caffeine), dive your tables or computer conservatively, get plenty of rest before a dive, be extra conservative in cold water, ascend slowly, and make a safety stop. Don'ts: Don't smoke, avoid alcohol, don't skip-breathe, don't do heavy exercise while diving or directly after, and don't fly or ascend higher (driving up a mountain pass) directly after diving. Check your dive tables and/or your computer for guidelines for flying or ascending after diving.
17. Use a dive flag to alert boaters that divers are in the area and to avoid a fine.
18. Review diving hand signals with your buddy before you dive.
19. If you encounter a problem while diving: STOP, THINK, then ACT.

***CAUTION: FOR USE BY CERTIFIED DIVERS ONLY.***



[ Certifications | Credit Card Payment | Scuba Diving Information | Fun Diving Stuff | Photographs | Diving Links | Mermaid Images | Contact Information | Mermaid Scuba Merchandise | Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen | Beaver-43 Sunblock | Bonica U/W Cameras ]

lynn@mermaidscuba.com