Get Fit To Dive
Now that we've all been carbo loading since Thanksgiving, it's time to get fit to dive! Although scuba diving appears easy as you drift weightless along the reef, it is anything but. An hour of diving burns 852 calories and demands a whole-body fitness program. Improve cardiovascular fitness with any type of aerobic exercise (swimming, running, walking, aerobics, cycling) at least 30 minutes 3 times a week. Strength training is essential for your legs (to swim distances or against a current), stomach (the body's support center), lower back (to support that heavy equipment), and arms and shoulders (to lug the dive bag and tank around). With a little commitment you can get yourself in diving shape in 6 weeks and enjoy these benefits:-- retain less carbon dioxide
-- stay warmer
-- fewer muscle cramps
-- more energy
-- relieve stress.
Get Control of Yourself
Divers are encouraged to increase their awareness of fragile coral reef eco-systems and refine their diving skills. No-impact diving on coral reefs and wrecks requires control of buoyancy, equipment, fins, and your attitude toward the underwater world. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. Float above the reef at a safe distance and in close quarters, kick shallowly or not at all. Keep your body and gear under control at all times. The number of dives made is not necessarily an indicator of how good a diver you are. Be aware of your limitations and respect the marine environment and its inhabitants to become a no-impact diver.
Ditch the Weight
Yes, those extra holiday pounds need to go--but so does that extra lead you pack on your weight belt. Perform a buoyancy check to find the least amount of lead that allows for a safety stop at 15 feet with only 500 psi in the tank. The biggest cause of reef damage and lack of diver control is overweighting. It's difficult to maintain neutral buoyancy, practice good breathing techniques, and maintain a streamlined swimming position when loaded down with too much lead. Where you wear the few weights you need can dramatically affect your comfort and fatigue in the water. Place weights forward of the hips, not across your back. The diver who wears weight across his back experiences the need to kick to keep the legs up and trunk level to counteract the tendency of back weights to roll him over.
Streamline Your Gear
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