Open Water Scuba Diver

Because our bodies are near the same density as water, as we enter water, we feel almost no affect from gravity. Actually, when an object (our body with all equipment) is immersed in water, we are supported by the weight of the water that we take up or displace. Archimedes, a scientist living around 250 […]

Robert Boyle around the year 1650 discovered what we know as Boyle’s Law. It states that “With temperature constant, the volume of gas is compressed inversely to an increase in surrounding pressure”. Since air is the gas we breathe as we descend in the water, the density and therefore the weight of the water around

Our bodies are well-designed and adapted to living in an air environment. Air actually has weight and is held to earth by gravity. However, as you go up from sea level, the pressure or the weight of air above becomes less. If you go very far up a mountain or fly in an unpressurized airplane,

Your Ticket to Fun and Adventure When you approach a dive center wanting to dive, you will be asked for your C-card and perhaps your log book. The C-card indicates the level of training that you have received as a diver and the log will show recent activity and the extent of your experience. All

From the beginnings of boat travel on the seas, people began losing items overboard and wanted them back. Harvesting food from the sea began thousands of years ago. So it is assumed that as far back as 3,000 years BC people jumped in over their heads to retrieve food and lost objects. Many early attempts

Diving as well as other water activities does place added demands on our bodies. Immersion in water, even without additional activity, causes stress on the heart and lungs. To dive safely, we all must maintain a level of physical fitness that is beyond sitting in a chair watching television. Even a small amount of regular

As with any recreational activity, there are risks to consider. Snorkeling, skin diving and scuba can be very safe when divers are properly trained and equipped. One of the biggest risks in scuba is holding your breath during ascent toward the surface after breathing on a scuba unit at depth. The air you inhale at

This is a really big one. You must be ready and want to learn to dive. Do not allow a friend or family member to talk you into something with which you are not comfortable. If there is doubt, try an introduction to scuba class first to see what it’s all about. Again, being comfortable

For any recreational activity, you must be healthy. There are a few contra-indictors for scuba, but most healthy individuals can dive. If you have a medical challenge, consult with a scuba instructor and your doctor for advice. The Divers Alert Network (DAN), a non-profit dive safety organization, can also advise you and perhaps your doctor