Dos and Don’ts of Diving (may have been overlooked)

If you’ve ever taken a sea cruise to say the Caribbean or the west coast around Catalina, you will remember how blue and clear the water was. The perfect place to enjoy underwater.

I think (if) you were into diving, or maybe not, and the cruise offered an underwater expedition, you would want to sign up. A great (yes). If you register, you want to be in good physical condition and be an experienced swimmer, and above all be certified. Certification assures the cruise dive team that you are a qualified diver, the Grim Reaper also lurks underwater.

Diving is one of the most important sporting activities in the world, but there is some knowledge involved before starting your exciting journey.

Here are some recommendations related to diving.

(What to do): (1) Be in good physical condition and be certified. Physical fitness and certification are the two most important aspects of diving, they make your trip enjoyable and safe.

(2) Have a checklist. There are many items to consider, but these are the most important items to make sure you have before leaving home.

Mask, dive fins, weight belt, regulator and octopus, compass, dive light with backrest, dive knife, dive watch, air tank and backrest, dive flag, replacement mouthpiece, first aid kit, pistol of flares, don’t forget the flares.

(3) Have a dive buddy. This will make your diving more enjoyable and safe, especially if you get into trouble. Maintain eye contact at all times and try not to kick your partner’s spokesperson.

(4) Have a third person. It is very important to have a third person on top. They should have a cell phone handy in case of trouble, they can also help you get out of the water.

(5) Take an underwater camera and underwater light and a backup with you. You’ll want to show your friends and family pictures of your beautiful underwater adventure.

(Don’t): (1) Please don’t drink or dive. Intoxication can put the diver in a compromised position. One of them, the inability to use common sense and make rational judgments, especially when it comes to safety that involves you and your partner. Leave the drink at home to enjoy while viewing your photos.

(2) Forget telling someone where you are going and approx. when you return.

(3) Eat a large meal before diving. You must wait at least two (2) hours after eating before taking your dive. Diving on a full stomach can put you in a dangerous situation. It not only creates the possibility of cramping, but also the possibility of the mouthpiece choking, making it difficult to breathe.

These are just a few of the dos and don’ts related to the sport of diving.

Here are some topics in my Tid-Bit section that might interest you.

Tid-Bits: Several centuries before Christ, ancient carvings revealed Assyrian soldiers crossing rivers wearing inflated goatskins. This is the only documentation that inflated goatskins could have been used as breathing devices. I will leave this to the imagination of the readers.

Leonardo de Vinci made the first known mention of an underwater breathing device. (UBD) around the 15th century. He described it as bad human nature and did not elaborate on how it worked. Mainly because the use of (UBD) could be used to sink ships and even to commit assassinations.

Waterproof glasses were first introduced in France in the 1930s. They were actually invented by Guy Gilpatrick to keep salt water out of the eyes on the surface. Thanks Gil.

The first scuba certification course in the US was offered by the LA Co.’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The show was hosted by Albert Tillman and Bev Morgan.

It was in 1956 before wetsuits were available to the public.

I will add Tid-Bits to the next articles. The main topic of this article is to warn you, as a diver, that you should use your good judgment safely and take advantage of the great rewards you will receive from your diving experience.