| There's a completely different world underwater! | | | | blood vessels and tissues. |
| What we see on the water's surface is a far cry | | | | Staying above 60 feet poses no serious risk. But |
| from what scuba divers get to explore in traverse | | | | once beyond that depth, a good preventive measure |
| depths. But unfounded fears of scuba diving brought | | | | to off-gas nitrogen even further is to follow a dive |
| about by myths, hearsay and lack of knowledge get | | | | profile which requires a safety stop of three minutes |
| in the way of experiencing the exciting sport. | | | | at 15 feet. Always remember to ascend at a slow |
| It's natural to fear something you haven't tried or do | | | | pace, while continuously breathing. Keeping within the |
| not have first hand knowledge of. The term SCUBA | | | | limits of your dive chart and following what your dive |
| is derived from Self Contained Underwater Breathing | | | | instructor taught you are the best tips to avoid "the |
| Apparatus. Scuba divers need special gears to be able | | | | bend." |
| to stay below the water's surface for extensive | | | | Myth #3 |
| lengths of time. The discovery of teeming aquatic | | | | Scuba diving will cost me an arm an a leg |
| life, breathtaking drop-offs and even mysterious | | | | Myth buster |
| shipwrecks are only a few perks of scuba diving. So | | | | The rich are not the only people who can enjoy |
| read on to overcome your fears and enjoy the other | | | | scuba diving. There are ways to go about money |
| wonders of scuba diving! | | | | issues if you're really interested in the sport. The |
| Myth #1 | | | | most practical thing to do for beginners is to rent the |
| Sharks will attack me when I go scuba diving | | | | equipment they will need for the actual dive. |
| Myth buster | | | | Professional dive centers have all sorts of gears for |
| Whatever Hollywood taught you is definitely an | | | | rent, catering to the diver's basic or advanced needs, |
| exaggeration. Majority of divers have never even laid | | | | while varying qualities and different brands come in |
| eyes on large sharks. When they do, the shark | | | | different prices. Renting will incur a minimal additional |
| species which they often encounter during scuba | | | | cost to the original fee of your diving course but will |
| dives are typically timid and unwilling to approach, | | | | save you time and money than buying your own |
| such as sand tigers, nurses, greys, bulls, and rarely, | | | | equipment. After several dives, you will be able to tell |
| hammerheads. Most species of sharks are not to be | | | | if you're ready to commit to the sport and invest in |
| feared. The kind that poses some danger is the | | | | your own gear. |
| Great White shark, but they are rare species which | | | | Myth #4 |
| usually reside in selected areas in Northern California | | | | Scuba diving is a life-threatening sport |
| or off the south coast of Australia. Most will actually | | | | Myth buster |
| leave you alone if you will do the same for them. | | | | With the growing popularity of scuba diving, divers |
| As for the shark's smaller "dangerous" counterparts | | | | now have more options to choose from. Today's |
| that are believed to be a threat are actually great | | | | contemporary diving programs, development of |
| subjects for underwater photographers. Stinging | | | | diving vehicles and resorts, and |
| marine creatures like sting rays, lionfish and jellyfish | | | | technologically-advanced equipment are consistently |
| can be easily avoided and are not aggressive. An | | | | making scuba diving a safer outdoor activity. The |
| encounter with a moray eel is even a rare treat since | | | | chance of acquiring injury is lower for diving that for |
| they rarely go out of their caves and holes. | | | | any other adventure-oriented activities like snow |
| Myth #2 | | | | skiing and snowmobiling. |
| Scuba diving will give me "the bends" | | | | If you do things correctly, scuba diving can be an |
| Myth buster | | | | activity you have almost complete control of. Start |
| Getting a diving certification requires each diver to | | | | right -- review your choices, select a reputable diving |
| take the corresponding course for each desired level. | | | | school, choose an instructor you feel comfortable |
| Among the many things that you'll learn is how to | | | | with, assess what program suits you, and complete |
| prevent getting "bent." Decompression sickness, | | | | the required training before an actual dive. Be a smart |
| better known among divers as "the bends," is a | | | | diver at all times -- check your gear before going into |
| diving disorder which can almost entirely be | | | | the water, use your instincts combined with wise |
| prevented. It is brought on by going too deep and | | | | judgment, never dive alone, and remember the |
| coming up too fast, resulting in bubbles of inert gases | | | | cardinal rules of diving taught by your instructor. |
| (like nitrogen or helium) getting trapped in the organs, | | | | |