Snorkeling Gear Maintenance

To ensure a great diving adventure you have to have good snorkeling gear maintenance. Maintaining your equipment properly will keep it in good shape for years to come.

Never lay your mask face down in the sand or on any surface. You do not want to scratch the lens of your mask. Simply place your mask face up whenever you are not wearing it or when it is not in its case.

To help protect your mask and to ensure your visibility during diving, use a defogging solution as often as you can. Just squeeze a few drops on the inside of your mask and rub the solution around making sure to cover the entire surface completely. Then just do a quick rinse to remove excess solution and ensure a clear view on your future dives.

Be sure to rinse your equipment after every dive to remove salty residue and dirt that accumulated during your last dive. After rinsing everything in clean fresh water, make sure you let every piece dry completely before storing them away. Simple snorkeling gear maintenance like this can go a long way.

If you have hard cases for your scuba equipment, be sure to place each piece in the proper case to protect it from any damage. These pieces are very light weight and can be easily damaged with the slightest amount of pressure. In addition, if these pieces of equipment are left in the back of a car in direct sunlight, you may experience drying and then cracking of the plastic. You will then run into all types of problems with leakage and breakage underwater, so be sure to protect your equipment properly.

Buying Your BCD

Your BCD is one of the most important parts of your scuba diving equipment. BCD stands for buoyancy compensation device or it may be called a BC for buoyancy compensator. Your BCD allows you to control how buoyant you are while in the water. You can let air in or out of your BCD as needed for buoyancy control. Keeping in mind a few tips when buying your scuba BCD will help you find the one that will work best for you.

If you are primarily a recreational diver, a jacket or vest BCD will work best for you. In these types of BCD’s, the air bladder goes around the diver from the back to the front of the vest. This style of BCD will allow you to float comfortably on the surface of the water in a vertical position. A back-mounted BCD has air bladders on the back of the device, which gives the diver an increased freedom of movement. This BCD is most often chosen by divers who spearfish and need to move quickly and freely. This BCD is not recommended for new or inexperienced divers, as these BCD’s tend to force divers face down on the water’s surface because the weight is on the back of the BCD. In an emergency, face-up on the surface is where you want to be, so these BCD’s require a cool-headed experienced diver.

Keeping in mind these few tips when buying your scuba BCD, will help you pick the one that will work best for you style of diving. Always perform regular inspections of all of your scuba equipment to ensure safety.

How To Choose The Right Scuba Fins

If you want to enjoy your underwater experience, it is important you first understand how to choose the right scuba fins. Scuba fins are vital because they help you to swim underwater. The proper fins help you to with that extra push needed to be mobile underwater. Scuba fins not only can give your leg muscles a boost, they can allow you to move through the water more quickly and with consistent direction.

There are many different types of scuba fins to choose from, each providing you with different types of performance underwater. If you want to find out how to choose the right scuba fins, first you need to know of the three types of scuba fins available. The first type of scuba fin is the force fin. The force fins are lighter and allow the diver to move much faster. These fins are perfect for the experienced diver. Because the fins are so light, a new diver would have a lot of difficulty controlling them.

The next type of scuba fin is the split fins. The split fins are for beginners because they do not require much work to control them, which is ideal for the beginner. Unlike other fins, you don’t have to make multiple kicks to get moving.

The final type of scuba fin is the paddle fins. The paddle fins are by far the most popular because the price is extremely reasonable and they work exceptionally well. These fins are perfect for the novice as well as pro diver.

Snorkel Gear Checklist

On your next snorkeling adventure be sure to follow this simple snorkel gear checklist to ensure a fun and safe trip for you and everyone involved. Take a minute and make sure you’ve got everything you need before beginning your journey.

Your mouthpiece on your snorkel must feel comfortable. This is critical for a safe time underwater. If you have a purge valve, that will allow water out and you won’t have to keep tilting your head back every time.

A swimming cap can serve a few purposes. It will protect your head from sunburn and keep your hair from getting in the snorkel.

A float vest is perfect for the less confident swimmer because it is a great way to remain buoyant and relieve any nervousness about your adventure.

If you aren’t wearing a wetsuit, a rash guard protect you against ocean stinging and from the sun too.

You will definitely need fins on your snorkel gear checklist. Make sure to have the proper type of fins for the trip. The shorter fins tent to allow the most mobility and comfort.

To protect your feet from blisters, neoprene socks can provide protection as well as comfort. They will also keep your feet warm in colder diving conditions.

Make sure you use a mask that is not only comfortable, but one that fits your face too. If you experience any air leakage that means you don’t have a good tight fit. You should also apply some defogger to prevent the mast from fogging up. You could also just spit in the mask and rub it around to achieve the same result.

Basic Snorkeling Tips For Beginners

Here are some basic snorkeling tips for beginners, that have been accumulated over the years. These tips will keep you safe as well as others around you and ensure you have fun.

Before you enter any water it is very important to gather as much information about your snorkeling destination as possible. It is your responsibility to evaluate and understand the weather and the water conditions very carefully before you begin your snorkeling adventure.

Here are some of the more important basic snorkeling tips for beginners that you really need to pay close attention to:

More important than all the other tips combined, it is crucial as a beginner that you swim with a friend or a buddy. Do not ever try to snorkel alone, especially as a beginner. There are too many variables that you simply are not aware of yet as a beginner.

Before you even enter the water you need to become extremely familiar and comfortable with your equipment. Spend some time on dry land wearing and becoming comfortable with all the equipment you are going to use.

Make sure you familiarize yourself with all the wind, current and wave set patterns. Become aware of potential hazards such as rocks too.

As a beginner there are simple things you may overlook or think do not apply to you, such as using plenty of sunscreen and hydrating yourself before you begin snorkeling. Do not ever touch marine life. For your own safety never try to reach out to anything that may come within your reach, including manatees, dolphins or large fish. It is just not smart to mess with sea life.

Choosing the Right Snorkel

Choosing the right snorkel is vital if you are going to enjoy your underwater experience. With so many different types of snorkels on the market, it may be difficult to choose the right snorkel. Here are some tips to make your purchase easier.

Basically any type of snorkel will do the job, but you want a more comfortable and efficient snorkel to enjoy your diving experience. The typical J snorkel is a rigid, bare bones snorkel and the low cost alternative, but here are some types you may want to consider before picking any type off the shelf.

Many of the snorkels on the market today come with a purge valve. This makes it easier to clear your snorkel, you will not have to tilt your head back every time you want to clear the snorkel. A flexible barrel can also make it easier to purge the snorkel. Of course one of the most important features in choosing the right snorkel is comfort and fit. The mouthpiece needs to fit comfortably and not feel like it is pulling on your mouth. Try to find a mouthpiece made of silicon.

If you swim in rough waters, you will want a semi-dry snorkel. That way you won’t be taking in large amounts of water. Be sure to get the proper length of snorkel that makes you comfortable. If the tube is too short you will be filling with water a lot, and if it is too long it becomes harder to take deep full breathes, and harder for the inexperienced to exhale.

Snorkeling Safety Tips

Snorkeling can be a very enjoyable activity in which an individual can explore the seascape from the surface of the water with occasional dives to the bottom terrain to see things up close. When engaging in this activity there are precautions that all snorkelers should take notice of. By following a few Snorkeling Safety Tips you can have a great time.

Fish of all sizes are attracted to objects that reflect light and shimmer in the waters. Fish think of these flashes of light as a potential food source. Insure that you do not wear any jewelry when snorkeling. This includes all finger rings, piercings, ear rings, and especially necklaces. Make sure if your face mask has a metal rim that it is covered tightly with electricians tape to avoid any reflection. Likewise, if you wear a diving knife ensure that the handle does not have a metal band showing that might reflect the light. If so, cover it tightly with electricians tape. Barracuda have long sharp teeth and are lightning fast when it comes to attacking their next meal. They are well known to strike shinning objects that reflect light.

When making a quick dive to the bottom seascapes to pick up sand dollars watch closely for holes that may conceal moray eels. These sea snakes are quick to protect their habitat. Their sharp teeth will not let go of anything that happens to pass by.

One of the most important Snorkeling Safety Tips is to be observant when snorkeling and not to touch anything without a short probe first. Often times sea creatures may be camouflaged and blend in perfectly with their surroundings. Some of the sea life have poisonous barbs and tentacles that can turn your fun filled day into one swelled with unpleasantness.

Scuba Safety Tips

Scuba diving is a popular sport all over the world. Because scuba diving requires knowledge and skill, all divers must be certified before diving. Equipment rental is available during your certification course and most divers become certified in as few as 5 open water dives.

If you become certified as a scuba diver, there are several things you can do to remain safe while having a great time. Scuba accident prevention is best accomplished by being prepared for any type of underwater emergency before one occurs. The first rule of thumb in safe scuba diving is never dive without a buddy. Always have someone stick with your during your dive, which will make it more fun as well. Both you and your buddy should not drink alcohol before you dive, because diving requires strict concentration and good judgment for maximum safety. Be sure all your equipment is in good working order before going into the water. Your regulator, computer and BC are important pieces of equipment that keep you alive and breathing underwater, so proper maintenance is a must. Do not hold your breath while ascending, you must always ascend at a slow rate and maintain normal breathing patterns to avoid decompression sickness more commonly known as the “bends”.

Once you complete your dive, pay close attention to how you feel physically. If you experience sudden pain or illness, go at once to an emergency room. Never fly for at least 24 hours after you dive, especially if your dive required decompression stops. Scuba accident prevention is possible when you keep these few things in mind before you go into the water.

Required Scuba Gear

Ever since Jacques Cousteau slipped beneath the surface of a little cove on the French Mediterranean coast with the first aqualung, the sport and recreation of scuba diving has thrived to become an international industry. Dive shops abound along the coasts of the world and can also be found in cities far inland, well away from water. Dive shops offer certification classes, equipment rental and sales and often provide dive trips and travel to the popular scuba destinations.

Once certified, the new diver is always anxious to purchase their own equipment and this generally follows a pattern of which, of the required scuba gear, should be purchase first. Usually the student will buy his own mask, fins and snorkel to use during the certification class. This equipment is of a personal nature as the mask must be a perfect fit to the divers face to prevent water leakage; fins are chosen with regard to the divers size and strength and snorkels are now equipped with purge valves and floats to keep the water out.

Next on the list of required scuba gear is the regulator and buoyancy compensator. There are a multitude of regulators to choose from and they are equipped with a safe second stage, a pressure gauge and low pressure inflator. The BC must be of a proper fit and assure an adequate capacity of lift. A watch and depth gauge or dive computer is required scuba gear and a proper exposure suit is dependent on water temperature.

Dive The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living thing on the planet and runs for 1300 miles along the coast of Australia. The reef is comprised of 3000 individual reefs and 900 islands and is home to over 1500 species of fish, a multitude of hard and soft corals and 30 different species of whales, porpoises and dolphins inhabit the waters.

For the globe-trotting diver, to scuba dive the barrier reef is the epitome of the sport and while there is fabulous diving in many areas of the world, the GBR is the nirvana. As the reef lies offshore from as little as twenty miles to over 100, boat diving is the norm and the majority of charters depart from Cairns and Townsville. There are virtually thousands of dive sites on the reefs, but there are some that have become favorites of dive operators and divers alike.

The Cod Hole lies 60 miles north of Cairns and is home to the Potato Cod, a large sea bass that can reach a length of six feet and weigh over 300 pounds. Due to the many dive boats that visit the area, these fish are tame and love to interact with the divers.
The wreck of the Yongala is one of the premier wreck dives on the planet for recreational divers. The Yongala sits in 100 feet of crystal clear water and her hull is a tapestry of color amid a profusion of tropical marine life.

Come scuba dive the barrier reef.