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 Scuba diving gives you a unique way to face your
challenges and transform your life in new ways. Becoming a diver can
give you confidence that spills over into the way you face life every
day.
It’s normal to have questions whenever you begin an
activity like diving. The dive crew at Divers Training Center can
provide you with answers, and below you’ll find the answers to many
questions our students commonly have.
You may read through this information, or click on the
frequently asked questions below to be taken directly to the answer.
My ears
hurt when I go to bottom of a swimming pool or when I dive down
snorkeling.
Will that keep me from becoming a scuba diver?
Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking
preclude someone from diving?
I wear glasses or contact lenses. Will I be able to
see underwater?
What are
the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
What about
sharks?
Do women have any special
concerns regarding diving?
How deep do you go?
What happens if I use up all
my air?
What if I feel claustrophobic?
No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The
discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your
ears. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure
changes in our ears – you just need to learn how, which we'll do during
our first confined water dive in the pool.
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Not necessarily. Any condition that
affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function, heart function or may
alter consciousness is a concern, but only a physician can assess a
person’s individual risk. You and your physician(s) can consult with the Divers Alert
Network (DAN) as necessary when assessing fitness to scuba dive. See our
Medical Information page for more details.
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I wear glasses or contact
lenses. Will I be able to see underwater?
Being able to see
clearly underwater is important, for avoiding injury, for being able to
read your dive gauges, and to see directions from your instructor. If
you wear glasses, then we recommend having prescription lenses installed
in your dive mask before you begin the confined water portion of your
training. There are many options for prescription dive masks, and local
dive shops can help you obtain the correct mask and lenses. If you wear
contacts, many modern contacts can be worn while scuba diving. However,
you should consult with your optometrist or ophthalmologist before using
your contacts underwater.
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Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the
counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life
are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing an
exposure suit (wetsuit), staying off the bottom and watching where you
put your hands and feet.
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When you’re lucky, you get to see a shark. Although
incidents with sharks occur, they are very, very, very rare and with
respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks,
both of which trigger feeding behavior. Most of the time, if you see a
shark it’s passing through and a relatively rare sight to enjoy.
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Do women have any special
concerns regarding diving?
Aside from pregnancy, no. Because physiologists know
little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation is
that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Menstruation is not normally a concern.
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How deep do you go?
With the necessary training and experience, the limit
for recreational scuba diving is 130 feet. Beginning divers stay
shallower than about 60 feet. Although these are the limits, some of the
most popular diving is no deeper than 40 feet where the water’s warmer
and the colors are brighter.
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What happens if I use up all
my air?
That’s not likely because you have a gauge that tells
you how much air you have at all times. This way, you can return to the
surface with a safety reserve remaining. But to answer the question, if
you run out of air, your buddy has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to
share a single air supply while swimming to the surface. You will learn
and practice this and
other options in training.
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Although wearing a lot of equipment may seem awkward,
many people find the “weightlessness” of scuba diving to be quite
freeing. Modern dive masks are available in translucent models, which
you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed in. During your training,
your instructor gives you plenty of time and coaching to become
comfortable with each stage of learning. Your instructor works with you
at your own pace to ensure you master each skill necessary to become a
capable diver who dives regularly.
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