Open Water Scuba Diver

Surface Signaling Devices

The most common surface signaling devices are a Whistle and a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB). If diving from a boat these two items are strongly suggested if your need to be seen. Current or incorrect navigation can take you a significant distance from the dive boat. Alternative surface signaling devices are mirrors and in a

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A Flashlight (Torch)

Taking an underwater flashlight with you on a night dive is essential. In fact, a primary light and a backup light might be needed in some environments where light is essential to safety. Both you and your buddy should be equally equipped. During daylight, a light is seldom needed except to look into a confined

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The Diver’s Down Flag

As you swim along underwater with your buddy, you might hear what sounds like a huge mosquito zooming in on you. It’s a power boat crossing over you. Your body is no match for that propeller. So, in every state in the United States, and most waters around the world, there are dive flag laws.

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Weight Systems

All thermal protection suits are buoyant; therefore some amount of extra weight is required to maintain neutral buoyancy. The thicker the suit, the more weight you will need to achieve neutral buoyancy. As you will learn from your instructor, using the least amount of weight you can wear is best. As your wetsuit compresses at

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Assembling SCUBA Unit

How does all this gear fit together? There will be a discussion and practice usually during an early pool session. Let me give you some information to make that assembly easy. First, the process of mounting the BC on the cylinder is extremely important. You don’t want your tank falling out during the dive do

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Information Systems

You are taking a scuba course and reading this text to become informed. You should also have important information available to you during the dive. As you plan and make a dive with your buddy, you need to have continual important information about various aspects of the dive. There are four required items of information

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Buoyancy Compensator

With cylinder and regulator attached, the BC becomes the diver’s support flotation on the surface. When a diver is ready to descend, the air in the BC is expelled leaving the diver about neutrally buoyant. If the diver exhales, he will become somewhat negatively buoyant and begins to sink. As a diver wearing a wetsuit

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