Scuba Diving Tips for Beginners

When you are a beginner, scuba diving can be scary.  However, if you follow some basic rules, scuba diving is extremely save and offers a whole new world to explore underwater.  Here at Maple Leaf Scuba, we have some basic tips for beginners to help you get the most out of your Cozumel diving adventures.

Here are some beginner tips to help you if you are a beginner:

1. Do Not Hold Your Breath
   It is a natural instinct for you to want to hold your breath when you go underwater.  Holding your breath can lead to lung injuries and result in panicked breathing.  This could potentially throw off your breathing rhythm and send you towards the surface from pure instinct.  Instead, breathe in a slow, relaxed manner and make sure that you exhale fully.  Try not to alter your breathing too much.  Make sure you follow the instructions provided by your dive instructor.
2. Never Dive Alone
   This is probably one of the most important scuba rules. Never, ever, under any circumstances, dive alone. Ensure that you never swim more than ten feet from your dive partner and make sure you check in with each other frequently.  Have an agreed hand sign for "Okay"  and make sure you use it to signal to your partner that things are okay. Diving with a partner can mean the difference between life and death.  You and your partner can also check all the gear to ensure that everything is in working order prior to diving.
3. Stay Conservative in your Dive
   The more conservative of a diver you are, the safer you will be. Make sure you follow the rules and this will help ensure that you won’t get hurt. If you dive conservatively, you will be safe.
4. Ascend Slower than your Bubbles
   You must ascend slow enough to give your body’s air pockets time to adjust to the expanding oxygen in your system. Ascending too too quickly will cause the the oxygen in your lungs and sinuses (and blood vessels for that matter) to expand at an alarming rate.  This will push nitrogen bubbles into your blood stream that can result in serious injury or even death. A good rule of thumb to avoid this from occurring is to swim upward slower than the stream of bubbles issued from your exhale.

Should you be interested in learning how to dive while in Cozumel, please contact Maple Leaf Scuba.  We have a variety of diving courses from introductory diving courses to advanced specialty courses.