Scuba Certification, a Note to New (& Potential) Divers
Underneath our oceans, lakes and other bodies of water, there are underwater wonders that few folks get to see. Snorkeling is good for shallow diving, but it is no replacement for deep exploring. Scuba ( self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) the scuba diving equipment permits divers to breathe underwater, as deep as the body can bear.
Although diving is a good source of exercise and adventure, divers must be conscious of the intrinsic dangers associated with it. Although many folks think about underwater creatures as deadly, most deaths and injuries are self-inflicted. These situations can be evaded with correct training and appropriate scuba diving gear. One of the commonest ( and potentially-fatal ) injuries are due to lung expansion injuries, and decompression sickness.
To understand the significance of scuba diving gear, it is good know a bit about pressure. For instance, on dry land at sea level, the pressure on a body is 14.7 PSI ( pounds per square inch ), AKA 1 atmosphere – this is thought to be ordinary pressure. Since water is compressed, it exerts much more pressure. Diving to 33 feet will contract human lungs to half their size. Once a diver surfaces again, the lungs return to their ordinary size.
so keep this in mind, from one to two atmospheres (33 fsw or 10 meters) taking a breath of air is equivalent to two lungfulls of air what happens to your lungs if you bolt from 33 feet to the surface and hold your breath. . . POP! You will blow both your lungs out like popping a balloon. This can be fatal as you are drowning in thin air.
Decompression Sickness
When the gas is released, it is dissolved in the water. However, when it rises, it forms bubbles and expands – very similar to a carbonated drink. When a diver is submerged underwater, respiring air from their scuba diving gear, some quantity of nitrogen ( a gas that makes up the respiring air ) becomes dissolved in the bloodstream. If a diver ascends to the surface quickly, it’s much like opening a bottle of soda in bloodstream – the nitrogen expands and causes extraordinary discomfort and even death. Don’t think you have escaped Caisson’s Disease if you violate these rules and hop on board OK, if you get sleepy on your surface interval, malaise is one aspect of sub symptomatic decompression illness.
Scuba Diving Computers are becoming more common; before, water resistant dive-tables were needed to calculate the safe diving time. Although a dive computer is far more costly, the convenience they offer is profound. If a diver suffers decompression illness, they must spend some time in a decompression chamber that matches the underwater chamber – which is a horrible way to end a good day of underwater exploration.
Blowing out your lungs and decompression sickness are just one danger of diving.
. . . running out of air may cause drowning. duh!
What about crappy instruction?
In instruction, cheap costs in scuba diving and flying airplanes. If you are poorly trained and do something stoopid inadvertently, it could cost you your life.
How to know what to ask?
if the training is ridiculously cheap or short ($99 weekend special) that is an indication.
if the training is broken up into pieces (boat dive is $X, certification card is is $X, books are $X) add it all up and shop around for what a REAL Certification costs. Duck when the “Advanced Certification” pitch happens and find a senior and experienced diver to take you under his or her wing. Finally, dont chase merit badges from PADI, NAUI or any other agency. Learn to be a competent diver.
We suggest ourselves of course, The Crazy Cool Social Networking place for Divers the world over Divers One, and if you are a gurl, you MUST ping ScubaDiverGirls!
| Hi! If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! |
Ping me if you have any questions, comments, ideas, or concerns. Leave comments and let the discussion begin!
Tevis
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Tags: bends, lung injuries, scuba certification, scuba equipment decompression illness
