“The key to enjoying scuba diving is to equip yourself with knowledge and certification.”

– Femina Travel.

Scuba Diving is an amazing sport. Many people fail to realize that, just like any sport, it gets better with time and practice. So, don’t just throw yourself in the water and hope for a good time. The grandest times happen when you are the most comfortable in the water. In this blog, we want to share 5 tips to help you become a better diver so that when you’re out in the water, all you have to worry about is having a good time.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DIVING INTO.

Failure to assess your environment can cause unnecessary stress and put you and your dive partners at fatal risk. And where’s the fun in that? It’s easy to let excitement for the water overrun you and drive you to jump head-first without taking the proper precautions.

Knowledge is key. To better understand your surroundings, listen to your dive guide’s briefing intently and allow yourself to ask whatever questions come to mind. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.

Things to consider include the current conditions, temperature, your “buddy” and what limitations they may have, and relevant diving procedures. Ultimately, by knowing what to expect, you will be able to determine whether the dive is appropriate for you.

BUOYANCY & BREATHING CONTROL IN SCUBA DIVING

Now that you know what you’re diving into, take each dive as an opportunity to work on proper diving buoyancy control. As you learned during your scuba diving course, having adequate buoyancy prevents you from exerting unnecessary energy during your dive and keeps you from sinking to the bottom or shooting back up to the surface uncontrollably. Trust us. You do not want the hassle of constantly adjusting throughout the dive. Perfecting your buoyancy will help you glide through the ocean easily, making it more of a pleasant dive.

*Refresher* 

Two things that affect your buoyancy are using the right amount of weights and mastering your breathing. While diving, you ideally want to be at neutral buoyancy. Floating horizontally with your knees bent at a 90* angle is an indication that you’re doing it correctly.

You can do a quick weight check before descending by breathing through your regulator and holding in your breath while deflating your BCD. If weighed adequately, you will be at eye level with the water’s surface.

As for breathing, maximize each breath by breathing slowly through your diaphragm. Typically, we use our chest muscles, but you can ensure greater and more efficient gas exchange by utilizing your diaphragm while diving. To put it simply, breath slowly, deeply, and steadily.

PROMOTE POSITIVE DIVING PRACTICES

The ocean is a marvelous gift, and we are merely visitors at the end of the day. We must always be respectful of the space that we are occupying. As certified divers, we are responsible for promoting a positive diving environment for both your group and the marine life below. The best way to lead is by being a good example, so be a good example.

LEVEL UP, CONSIDER ANOTHER DIVING COURSE.

If you have been diving for a while, consider leveling up. There are many courses between open water level and divemaster level, including the advanced guide, SCUBA rescue diver, and master scuba diver certification. We highly recommend the SCUBA rescue diver certificate as the skills you learn will be incredibly useful in the event of an emergency.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. DIVE MORE.

Practice makes perfect. There’s no way to hone in on your skills than by taking the time to “practice” when you can. And believe us, the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll be and the more fun it’ll be. At San Diego Scuba, we offer day and night dives. Book a tour and get to practicing! There’s no reason not to get out there with so much to see out here in La Jolla Cove.

There you have it! Our top 5 tips to becoming a better scuba diver. At San Diego Scuba Guide, we offer the best-guided scuba tours. Not only will we facilitate a great diving experience, but we’ll help you every step of the way as you strengthen your skills. If you’re looking to get out there and practice, schedule a scuba tour by calling 1-858-397-8213 or by clicking here.