Scuba diving or S.C.U.B.A., is an acronym standing for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. It’s independent of surface supply allowing a diver to breathe underwater with freedom to move about.
The mobility allows scuba divers to enjoy underwater sights. While scuba diving is enjoying by many as a recreational activity, it’s also a professional. In some industries, tasks must be attended to underwater and a scuba professional is necessary. Divers may also work as instructors within the community.
Recreational diving is done for enjoyment purposes, but may also be done for health and fitness benefits. It’s an enjoyable way to get exercise for some, but it does require specific training to become scuba certified.
Scuba Diving Safety
While serious medical issues are not a common problem for scuba divers, some do happen. Millions of dives occur each year in the United States with only about 90 deaths reported throughout the year. Less than 1,000 divers require recompression therapy each year, as well.
Even though scuba diving doesn’t come with many risks, there are still safety rules that must be followed, which include:
Don’t attempt a dive you’re not comfortable with or trained for. 
Never hold your breath during the ascension and ascend slowly with normal breathing.
Understand the marine areas you will be diving within and any potential dangers. This includes any fish or coral that could cause injury.
Be aware of local currents and tides.
Don’t panic under water if you become afraid or confused. Stop and try to relax or get help from the dive master or a dive buddy.
Don’t attempt a dive alone. Always have a buddy with you.
Plan your dive and follow the plan you created.
Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs before diving.
Don’t dive while on medication, unless you have been cleared by a doctor.
If you go on a dive requiring decompression stops, don’t fly in an airplane for at least 24 hours.
Don’t attempt cave diving without the proper equipment and training.
Get clearance from a doctor before diving if you suffer from any medical issues.
The main reasons divers may become injured or die include poor health, procedural errors, equipment problems or environmental problems. Before each dive, make sure you have thoroughly inspected your gear and make sure you’re in good health. Take your time and follow the plan you’ve created for your dive. It’s also important to take safety seriously and follow all the safety rules above, along with any local laws or safety regulations from your dive master.
Scuba Diving Safety
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Ten Rules For Safe Scuba Diving
Health Benefits of Scuba Diving
While scuba diving provides incredible underwater views and many pleasurable benefits, it also provides some health benefits. It may not be easy to dive daily for exercise, but diving often can provide the following health benefits:
Increased Strength
You will need to use your entire body underwater to move around. The resistance from the water will help to develop increased strength, along with better endurance and flexibility. Swimming, considered an excellent form of exercise and scuba diving provides many of the same benefits to your muscles.
Relieves Stress
Not only will the beautiful underwater surroundings help to relieve stress, but you will also gain stress relieving benefits from the breathing and the escape from everyday life. The breathing is similar to breathing performed during meditation, which will help to relax your body. Divers also stress the importance of staying relaxed throughout the dive, which helps keep stress out of the equation.
Healing from the Water
Water provides many critical healing benefits. Researchers that have spent time in an underwater environment over the course of many weeks have shown healing benefits. Since the body uses oxygen to repair the body, scuba diving provides these benefits through the increased amount of oxygen in the body.
Better Circulation
Since diving uses all of your muscles and provides a full cardiovascular workout, the body will experience better blood flow. This helps to give oxygen to the muscles faster and provides some of the healing benefits, as well.
Lower Blood Pressure
The exercise and the lower stress level will help to reduce blood pressure in those suffering from high blood pressure. This can contribute to lessening the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Social Benefits
Scuba diving is often done with groups or at least with a diving buddy. This provides a social environment, which can be excellent for humans. Meeting others and sharing a common hobby is a great way to make friends, which leads to even less stress.
Performed in Warmer Climates
While it’s possible to dive in colder climates, most divers travel to warmer climates for dives. This provides many health benefits from time in the sun and from the climate itself. Sunlight helps to provide Vitamin D for the body, which promotes the absorption of calcium. This provides strength for bones and increased endorphin production, which helps keep the nervous system healthy.
While scuba diving may not be seen as regular, daily exercise, it can certainly be an incredible choice for physical fitness. It provides a full body workout with many benefits from better breathing to social interaction. All of the benefits coming from scuba diving regularly have the ability to keep you healthier.
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Health Benefits of SCUBA Diving (video)
The Top Health Benefits Garner in Scuba Diving (video)
How to Scuba Dive
Scuba diving isn’t something you can just buy a little equipment and do today. It requires the right training and at least a dive buddy, once you have completed your training. Below are essential steps you need to go through if you want to learn how to scuba dive.
Step #1 – Do you Meet the Physical Prerequisites?
While diving equipment has advanced to accommodate just about anybody looking to enjoy scuba diving, there are still physical requirements to consider. A basic level of physical fitness is needed, and you should be comfortable with getting into the water. It’s recommended that you be a good swimmer if you want to enjoy scuba diving. If you suffer from any ongoing medical condition, it’s important to discuss scuba diving with your doctor before attempting it.
Step #2 – Find Scuba Diving Courses
Unlike basketball or other sports, you cannot try to go out and enjoy scuba diving on your own. It comes with certain risks that you must learn first; along with other training, you will need to enjoy diving. Many scuba diving programs are available across the world to help you learn how to enjoy underwater diving safely and efficiently. Often, these courses will include what are known as “try dives.” These dives are just what they sound like. They allow you to try scuba diving in a swimming pool without a commitment. Open water courses are often provided once you have completed some of the training.
Step #3 – Get Your Scuba Diving Gear
Plenty of gear goes along with scuba diving. Once you have received proper training, you can either rent or buy your equipment. We will cover the type of material you will need in the next section.
Step #4 – Gain an Understanding of Dive Theory
It’s important to understand how diving will affect you and how different underwater environmental may affect your body and gear. Understanding dive theory will help with the overall safety of your diving. You want to understand pressure, buoyancy basics, ear equalization basics, no-decompression limits, nitrogen absorption and safety stops before diving.
Step #5 – Get Scuba Diving Lessons from an Instructor
Before diving without an instructor, you should practice plenty of scuba diving skills with an instructor. You need to be able to breathe underwater and learn the hand signals of diving. It’s also important to find out how to descend from an instructor and understand the pre-dive checklist to ensure your equipment is ready for the dive.
Scuba diving requires instruction from a professional. While you are going through training, make sure to ask questions to ensure a full understanding of the material being taught.
SCUBA DIVING TRAINING
Learn How to Scuba Dive (video)
Start Diving!
Scuba Diving: Underwater Skills and Lessons (video)
Scuba Diving Gear
Getting the right gear for scuba diving is critical. There’s quite a bit on the market, and as a beginner, it’s necessary to know what you need and what you don’t need. The gear you will need starts with the basics, which include:
Scuba Diving Mask
The important part of choosing a mask is getting one that fits your face properly. You want a good watertight fit, which can be achieved by selecting a mask you can look up at the ceiling, while wearing, without using the strap. It should rest on your face evenly without any gaps. Perform a sniff test to ensure proper fit.
Snorkel
While you’re not preparing to snorkel, a snorkel is still an important part of the gear for scuba diving. It allows you to conserve air in your tank when you are close to the waters’ surface. Again, comfort is important from your snorkel.
It should provide easy breathing and should be comfortable when it’s dry. Larger snorkels will create more drag in the water and it’s important to consider how it will attach to your mask, along with how durable it will be. If you plan to enjoy snorkeling, along with scuba diving, don’t skimp on this piece of equipment.
Fins
Another piece of gear you need is fins. These will allow you to push through the water with the power of your leg muscles more efficiently. You want comfortable fins that don’t pinch your toes or bend the arches in your feet. You ‘ll be able to wiggle your toes when you wear them. If you can’t, they are too small. You don’t want to skimp on the fins, as they are a crucial part of scuba diving.
Exposure Protection Suits
You will need a suit to allow you to handle the cooler water, which can reduce body heat much faster than air. The type of suit you get needs to fit comfortably, but will also depend on where you plan to dive. Colder climate requires a different kind of suit and thickness compared to warmer climates.
BC
The BC is critical and a very complicated part of the gear you will need. This holds your other gear in place and lets you carry it without exerting too much energy. The right fit and size it imperative with your BC. Get a quality BC and let a professional help adapt it to your specific needs.
Regulators
You will also need a regulator. A good one is easy to find as many of the top brands will work just fine. You want a high-performance choice that can allow for the high volume of air at any depth. It should also have a comfortable mouthpiece.
Dive Computer
A dive computer will provide what you need to ensure you can monitor your depth and bottom time. They will also help with no-decompression status and other important statistics you need to track. Make sure the one you choose is user-friendly and provides plenty of features.
Tanks
You probably won’t need to purchase your dive tank, as most divers rent them when they arrive at the dive site. However, if you do buy one, you want to get one that will last. It should be inspected yearly and go through a hydrostatic test every five years.
Dive Weights
Again, you probably won’t buy these unless you head to dive sites independently. Most divers use the weights from the boat or rent them from the dive site. However, you can buy weights, and you just want to make sure you get something fitting with your diving needs.
There are other accessories you may want to consider for better safety and diving. Some of the most popular choices include diving knives, surface marker buoys, and underwater lights. Some divers prefer underwater signaling systems and whistles, as well. These are not necessary, but may be helpful when enjoying scuba diving.
Your First Set Of Gear: A Buyer’s Guide
What Equipment Do You Need to Scuba Dive?
Scuba Diving: Necessary Gear (video)
Scuba diving equipment list
Additional Resources
5 Common Mistakes New Scuba Divers Make
Learn to Dive: What You Need to Know about Learning to Scuba Dive
Tips For Drift Diving
Scuba Diving Gear: 5 Tips For Dive-Mask Care
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