People take up the sport of scuba diving for many reasons, but probably the number one reason is the calm beauty it provides. The underworld of the ocean is a beautiful wonderland that even cameras and videos can only capture a portion of. One must see it to believe the spectacle of colors and living scenery that is coral and fish together in nature’s watercolors.
Not only is there beauty among the underworld when scuba diving, but there are items that have fallen to their death that are open and inviting you to explore them. Sunken ships and crashed airplanes from years and years ago all invite the scuba diver in for a quick look around. Many have new life growing inside them where once humans powered the vessels. Usually these are part of a scuba diving tour and can be quite exciting.
What is required of a person before they can become a certified scuba diver are a few simple tests before lessons can begin. One is a medical questionnaire that may find problems that could prevent you from diving and save your life. If none of the questions apply to you, you sign the form and you are ready for the next step.
In order to become a scuba diver a person must be at least 10 years of age. Before completing a diver’s certification course, the instructor will ask you to perform some basic water-skills to determine your comfort level with the water and see how well you are familiar with the water basics. You will swim 200 meters/yards, or 300 meters/yards in mask, fin and snorkel. There is not time limit to these tests and you may use any type of swim stroke you are comfortable with. You will also be required to tread and float for 10 minutes; again, you may use any method you are comfortable with.
There are several different certified courses around the country you can take at certified dive shops that have pools that train you to dive the proper way and will then certify you so you can go on dives with others. There are also dive certification courses for those who want to become dive instructors or tour guides and take people on their own private dives. These are much longer courses, yet some of the training is the same.
There are many places to go scuba diving, such as the Great Barrier Reef near Australia, and the islands of Jamaica and the Bahamas each have beautiful, clear blue –green waters that allow for wonderful shallow scuba diving as well as deep sea diving, depending on where you are and what your experience level is.
Scuba diving is something to be shared with friends, loved ones and family. It is not a sport you can participate in alone. It is best to be participating with a group or at least another person while scuba diving, just in case something could go wrong. And you want to share the beauty nature has given us under the sea with someone special.
Tags: dive, diver, divers, Scuba, Scuba diving