Tips for your First Dive

Posted: Apr 15 in Dive Blog tagged diving instruction by Jan

The underwater world is fascinating and beautiful, but before your first dive it is important to understand the necessary preparations to ensure your safety, as well as an enjoyable experience. Scuba diving in Illinois may be a bit safer than taking a plunge in the open ocean, but that’s not to say a diver shouldn’t be prepared. Here are a few tips to remember when preparing for a first dive.

• Study Up! It is vital to keep a clear head and understand what is going to happen before heading out for the dive. Before a dive, divers should be certified and trained on the many procedures, equipment and rules of diving. Training will ensure that they can go about everything correctly and safely. Additionally, they need to be comfortable swimming and moving within the water. It also doesn’t hurt to know the area in which they will be diving.

• Gear Up!  Testing gear before getting into the water is vital, because once a diver hits the water, any gear issues are compounded. Equipment checks are designed to spot equipment issues before  entering the water. Diving buddies should check not only their own gear, but each other’s gear to minimize the risk of something going wrong.

• Buddy Up! Diving alone is never a good idea, especially for beginners.  Chances are that beginner divers will execute their first dive with an instructor or with a team, which can lead to boosted confidence and thus, a more successful first dive. If a diver decides to go about their first dive without an instructor, an experienced scuba guide is another good option.

A solid first dive can lead to years of enjoyable and exciting dives, so make sure it’s a good one!