The 8 Golden Rules of Recreational Diving

Throughout the years, SCUBA divers have come up with several "golden rules" that refer to the most important rules you must follow while practicing this sport. Depending on the diver, there can be between 3 and a little more than 15; but in my opinion this are the most important ones for recreational diving.

1- Never hold your breath

This means you can never stop exhaling or inhaling while SCUBA diving. If you hold your breath underwater while the pressure decreases your lungs can over expand and suffer some dangerous damage.

2.- Always dive with a partner

While diving, a ton of small things can go wrong, and some extra hands can go a long way. If you are diving alone, those "small things" may evolve into a scenario where your life is threatened.

3.- Slow ascent

Slow ascent gives you enough time to inhale and exhale normally while the gas in your lungs expand. Also, this gives the nitrogen in your body some time to be expelled safely decreasing the opportunities of a decompression sickness.

4.- Never make dives that exceeds your training

Exceeding your training is among the first reasons why people die during this activity. Good training must be one of your priorities if you want to expand your diving limits.

5.- Anyone can abort a dive without being question at the moment

Safety is the priority while SCUBA diving, so if anybody in the group wants to abort the dive there's no time to waste asking why. We must respect the decision.

6.- Plan the dive and dive the plan

Before any dive you must agree a dive plan between your group. Then, underwater, you must respect the plan you agreed on the surface.

7.- Check your gear before entering the water

Make sure you gear, and your body’s gear is in good condition, well ensembled, air open and BCD full before getting in the water. A malfunction in any of this can get you in big trouble after getting in the water.

8.- Never dive if you are airway sick

If you have any sickness regarding your respiratory system that produces inflammation, phlegm or snot you may have troubles compensating. This can produce several barotraumas that will place your health at risk.

March 23, 2020 Tags : All , Ranking , Tips

Monday, March 23, 2020

The 8 Golden Rules of Recreational Diving