Scuba Diving - Guidelines Before and After the Dive

Getting ready for a scuba diving getaway over the weekend? You must be pretty excited about your upcoming dive. But before you hit the road and drive to the coasts, better review the bare essentials and logistical parameters of your dive to guarantee a safe, comfortable and truly fulfilling diving experience with your buddy or dive team. Check out a few pre-dive and post dive guidelines that have been outlined in an orderly manner below.

Dive Planning. By all means, do not pursue a dive without going into some form of planning. Beforehand, you will have to discuss and set up with your team a few parameters including maximum depths and bottom time, decompression limits and safety stops, as well as a communication medium that will help you be in-synced during the dive.

Dive Site Survey. In relation to planning, take the time to acquaint yourself with pertinent dive site information including water temperature, climatic conditions, depth profile, underwater attractions and notable marine creatures that you are more likely to cross paths with. If it's a night dive you are pursuing, conduct an initial dive during the day. This will help you prepare for eventualities and set up scuba equipment to meet the conditions of the dive site.

Diving Skills Review. You may have earned an advanced open water certification, but a long layoff from the sport may have rendered you rusty in terms of scuba diving skills

nd scuba equipment operation. In that case, ascertain the status of your diving skills and determine if you are still in shape to dive. If not, then better take a refresher course prior to the scheduled dive.

Scuba Equipment Inspection. Check the conditions of your equipment prior to dive, particularly if these have been stowed for a long period of time. The scuba regulator should not be contaminated and check for any rust formation on the cylinder tank. Meanwhile, inspect the diving mask for leaks and double check the buoyancy compensator for a possible malfunction.

Pre-Descent Rituals. Before you hit the water, find out if pertinent gadgets such as the pressure gauge, compass, timing device and depth gauge are functioning properly. When using a dive computer , double check if the device has been activated. Better yet, get a dive computer with an automatic activation feature.

Safety Guidelines. Once underwater, periodically monitor the readings on your pressure gauge to determine if you still have enough volume of air. Likewise check your depth and keep the compass within reach to easily ascertain your direction. Make sure that you have a pressure of at least 500 psi in your tank prior to ascent. This will serve as a safety margin in case of an emergency situation that would require the use of Air. As a rule of thumb, reserve two thirds of your gas supply for the planned ascent back to the shore or into the boat.

Post Dive Gear Maintenance. Your scuba equipment and gear will require proper maintenance before and after the dive. Rinse your wetsuit properly after the dive and desalt it. Hang it out to dry outside, but take care to store it away from the heat of the sun or that might just damage the neoprene material. Similarly, clean the regulator set by removing silt, sand or any debris that could contaminate its frequently moving parts to cause a free flow in your next diving getaway.

Felix Tero produces web content for Scuba Suppliers, Inc. Get the scuba equipment that's right for you at http://www.scubasuppliers.com