How to Start Scuba Diving

By Lois Friedland, About.com

At some resorts scuba divers can just walk offshore, sink downward 30- to 40-feet and be in a coral garden or swimming through a school of fish. Once you’ve learned to scuba dive, you can
also arrange to swim with dolphins in the ocean or protected bays, and even take a highly structured dive with the sharks. But before you start scuba diving alongside coral walls that are 90-feet deep, or with dolphins or sharks, there's a lot you need to learn. Here’s an quick primer outlining how to get started.

Ways to Get Certified for Scuba Diving

Take a scuba-diving course in a pool near your home, then follow your dive master’s suggestions for the open water dives required before you can be certified. The choice for an open water dive can range from the Blue Hole, a frigid “hole” that is part of a New Mexico cave system to the underwater coral gardens in the Cayman Islands and Bonaire in the Caribbean.

Wrap a vacation around getting certified. You can take a scuba diving course anywhere from the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean to Hawaii or Fiji, depending upon how exotic a trip you want to take. Keep in mind that if you plan to take the full certification course during a week-long trip, there probably won’t be much time to do anything else, including laze on the beach or explore the locale.

Take a resort course. These scuba diving certification courses range in length from one-day to three-day courses. If you take the shortest course, which usually includes a shallow dive in the afternoon, understand that your training is limited. Even the two- and three-day courses don’t give you as much experience in dealing with underwater emergencies as the full courses offered by PADI and NAUI, two of the major scuba-diving certification operations.

What’s it going to Cost?

The cost of a scuba-diving certification course varies considerably, depending upon where you are taking your certification course. If you take a course in a pool near your home the cost of getting to where you’re going to take an open-water dive for final certification will impact this price dramatically. The two- or three-day resort courses can cost several hundred dollars. Hiring a private tutor at a hotel to take a full certification course, which can take up to a week, is much more expensive. But, doing all of your book work sitting in a lounge chair beside the ocean is a really great way to study.

Where to Learn More

On the About.com scuba diving website, there's an excellent article by Jay Umbenhauer outlining questions to ask before you get certified. For specific details about learning where to get certified for scuba diving read how to get certified, by Clint Leung who is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver.

Open Water Certification

By Nicholas McLaren, About.com

If you're thinking about learning to dive or you want to know a bit more about what to expect in your certification course I've answered the most common questions here.

What is the Open Water course?

The Open Water course is the basic scuba diving certification course taught by all certification agencies. There are small differences in course content between agencies, but they all cover the same basic skills and knowledge you will need to know as an independent diver.

Who can enroll?

Children as young as 10 years old (12 years old in some countries) can enroll in the Junior Open Water course and those 15 years and older can enroll in the Open Water course. Junior Open Water certified divers are automatically upgraded to Open Water divers on their 15th birthday with no need for recertification.

You'll also need to be in good health with no major health problems.

What does the course qualify you to do?

When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced Open Water course and many specialties.

How long does the course take?

The course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days in dive vacation destinations, but can also be taught over weeks or even months if taken as a part-time course. The course content is the same but the daily workload is much greater, although still quite manageable, on the shorter course.

What do I have to do to complete the course?

• Knowledge Development
  You will be given a text book and videos to watch and will either study independently in your own time, with the assistance of your instructor, or online with guided e-learning. You will learn the basics of diving techniques, how diving affects your body, diving safety, equipment selection and maintenance, dive planning, and preview the skills you'll learn in the water. There will be a test at the end but if you've studied your material you should have no problems passing.
  
  
• Confined Water Training
  Your confined water training will be conducted in a swimming pool or swimming pool like environment, such as a calm beach. Beginning in water shallow enough to stand up in you'll learn all the basic skills you'll need to confidently and safely enjoy scuba diving. As you gain confidence you'll gradually move into deeper water and learn some more advanced skills and safety drills.
  
  
• Open Water Training
  This is what it's all about - open water diving. Over four or more dives you'll practice all the skills you've already mastered in confined water out in open water, which means the open ocean or another large body of water that is used for diving. You'll practice the skills with your instructor until you're completely confident and can perform them with ease in a real diving situation. Of course you'll also get to check out everything the underwater world has to offer and hopefully develop a life-long love for diving.

Do I have to renew my certification?

The Open Water certification is forever and never needs to be renewed. However, it is recommended that if you haven't dived for a while (usually a year or more) or feel the need to brush up your skills to do a Scuba Review. This review is a short refresher course with a professional that can be integrated into your first regular dive.

Diving Glossary

Absolute Pressure

• Absolute pressure is calculated by using a vacuum as the zero point and including the gauge and atmospheric pressure in the calculation.

Actual Bottom Time (ABT)

• Total elapsed time in minutes from leaving the surface until ascent is initiated.

Air Compressor

• A machine that compresses or pressurizes air (to fill your tanks before going diving)

Air Embolism

• Blockage of blood stream by air bubbles. Can occur when air enters the bloodstream through ruptured alveoli. Can result in a block or disturbed blood flow to the body's tissues causing serious damage.

Air Pressure

• The force per unit area exerted by the weight of air.

Alpha Flag

• International maritime signal flag, meaning "Diver down, keep clear!"

Alternate Air Source

• Any device a diver can use in place of the primary regulator, in order to make an ascent while still breathing normally.

ANDI

• American Nitrox Divers Incorporated

Archimedes Principle

• Principle that states that a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.

Argon

• An inert gas that makes up less than one percent of air.

Artificial Spit

• Small bottles of "special" liquid used by divers to keep their masks defogged.

Ascent Bottle

• An extra cylinder of air used on deep dives to allow decompression stops without fear of running out of air.

ATA

• Atmosphere absolute - 1 ata is the atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Atmosphere

• The first 64-80 km above the earth contains 99% of the total mass of the earth's atmosphere. Also a unit of pressure equivalent to the pressure of the atmosphere at sea level.

AUF

• Australian Underwater Federation

Back Roll Entry

• Leaving the dive boat by sitting on its rail/pontoon and rolling backwards into the water.

Bail-out Bottle

• A cylinder with an emergency supply of breathing gas to bails one out of air supply trouble.

Bar

• Short for barometric pressure. The method of measurement of air pressure used throughout most of the world and by the compressed gas industry - also a place where divers meet after a long hard day of diving.

Barotrauma

• Injury caused by unequal pressure between a space inside the body and the ambient pressure, or between two spaces within the body - usually caused by a too rapid ascend.

BCD

• Buoyancy Control Device - holds your tank, lets you control your buoyancy and acts as a flotation device on the surface.

Beaver

• Piece of neoprene on wetsuit jackets that hangs down in the back. You pull it through your legs to attach it to the front of the jacket - has other meanings as well, be aware.

Bends

• See - decompression sickness

Bottom Time

• Generally the time between descending below the surface to the beginning of ascent.

Booties

• Neoprene boots worn with open heel fins.

Bounce Dive

• Dive and surface within a very short intervals - to secure an anchor, save a student etc. - a dive instructors favourite pastime.

Boyle's Law

• Under constant temperature, the volume of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to the absolute pressure of the gas.

BSAC

• British Sub-Aqua Club

Buddy

• Your diving partner. Very valuable in times of trouble. A good buddy makes diving a lot more enjoyable.

Buddy Breathing

• Two divers sharing air from one regulator - gimme that thing

Buoyancy

• Upward force exerted by a fluid on any body immersed in it. Buoyant force can be explained in terms of Archimedes' principle.

Buoyancy Compensator - Buoyancy Control Device

• See - BCD

Burst Disk

• A thin disk preventing the pressure in a your tank from exceeding the maximum safe tank pressure - very loud when it happens.

BWRAF

• PADI training acronym - "Begin with Review And Friend"

C-Card

• Divers Certification card to show your level of achievement. If you forget it at home you might have problems getting on the boat or filling your tank - don't despair, many shops can check your records on-line these days.

CAGE

• Cerebral arterial gas embolism.

Canister Light

• Type of dive light where the battery pack is strapped to your belt or dive tank and the light is held in your hand.

Carbon Dioxide Headache

• Headache after diving usually caused by skip breathing and CO2 build-up.

CDAA

• Cave Diving Association of Australia

CESA

• Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent

Charles' Law

• The amount of change in either volume or pressure of a given volume of gas is directly proportional to the change in the absolute temperature.

Chumming

• Term used for attracting sharks with a mixture of blood and fish parts - can be used to describe your buddys behaviour when vomiting overboard from seasickness.

CMAS

• Confederation Mondiale des Activitias Subaquatiques (World Underwater Assoc)

Cylinder

• Scuba tank or bottle.

Dalton's Law

• The total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the pressures of each of the different gases making up the mixture - each gas acting as if it alone were present and occupied the total volume.

DAN - Divers Alert Network

• A non-profit organisation, exists to provide expert information and advice consistent with current literature for the benefit of the diving public. In Australia call 1800 088 200.

DCS/DCI

• See Decompression Sickness / Illness

Deco Mix

• Gas mixture used during decompression.

Decompression

• Any change from one ambient pressure to a lower ambient pressure; always results in a reduction of gas pressures within the body.

Decompression Dive - Deco Dive

• A dive where the diver exceeds the recommended safe limits for recreational diving - the safety stop(s) become(s) compulsory to enable a safe return to the surface.

Decompression Schedule

• Specific decompression procedure for a given combination of depth and bottom time.

Decompression Sickness / Illness (DCS/DCI)

• Problems resulting from nitrogen leaving the body when ambient pressure is lowered ie. coming up.

Decompression Stop

• A specified time spent at a specific depth, for purposes of nitrogen off-gassing. also called a safety stop when diving within recommended safe limits for recreational diving.

Defogging Solution

• "Fake spit" that prevents fog from building up inside the mask during diving.

Dehydration

• Reduced water content in the body - caused by diving without drinking enough water, too much alcohol the night before the dive etc. - always drink lots of water before diving.

Depth Gauge

• Device that indicates how deep you are - no kidding J

Descent/Ascent Line

• A line from a boat or buoy which can be used by divers to control their descent or ascent.

DIN Valve

• Screwable alternative to a yoke fitting for first stage - commonly used in Europe and has the advantage of reducing the chance of O-ring failure.

DIR

• "doing it right" - Term invented by George Irvine III to describe the practices that he and others derived from Hogarthian principles, a rigorous diving discipline. Loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Dive Computer

• Device that does all the had work for you. No more multi level diving calculations, no more PADI wheel - based on empicic data and theoretic models - not necessarily always right but a great help for repetitive diving. Beeps often.

Dive Flag

• Flag signalling divers in the water. Blue and white double tailed pennant (Australia) or a red rectangle with a diagonal white stripe.

Dive Tables

• Various collections of dive times for specific depths, to guide the diver to stay withing recommended safe limits for recreational diving. Generally based on Haldanian theory for nitrogen uptake and elimination - Too complicated? See Dive Computer.

D-Rings

• D-shaped rings. Generally part of good BCDs and loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Dry Suit

• Water-tight suit that keeps the diver's body warm using a layer of air as the most important part of insulation - generally used in very cold waters like Tasmania, Victoria, Antarctica and the like. Loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Dual Regulator Systems

• Dual regulator systems use two regulators on a single air supply to allow a diver access to continue to access his air supply in the event of a malfunction in the main regulator. Generally loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

EAN - EANx

• Enriched Air Nitrox - see nitrox

EAD

• Equivalent Air Depth - The depth at which air would cause as much decompression obligation as nitrox with a given O2 concentration at a given depth

Equalisation

• Equalization is the act of forcing air into an open space to offset increasing hydrostatic pressure. This can be applied to such spaces as a dive mask or the diver's ears, and prevents what is known as a squeeze.

Eustachian Tube

• Hollow structure of bone and cartilage extending from the middle ear to the rear of the throat. By permitting air to leave or enter the middle ear, the tube equalizes air pressure on either side of the eardrum - see equalisation.

Fathom

• A linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth - commonly used by fishermen.

FAUI

• Federation of Australian Underwater Instructors

First Stage

• The part of the regulator which attaches to the scuba tank valve and which is responsible for the first level of tank pressure reduction.

Fins

• Worn on the feet to increase maneuverability and allow for faster swimming. A great point of discussion between divers - who has the fastest and most efficient fins. See split fins.

Foramen Ovale

• The opening between the left and right atria of the fetal heart which remains open in about 30% of people, allowing passage of bubbles into the arterial circulation which is believed to cause symptoms of arterial gas embolism.

FSW

• Feet of Salt Water

Gas Saturation

• Gas saturation occurs when the level of dissolved gas in a particular body tissue has reached its maximum.

Granny Line

• Also known as a Gerry Line. A line which goes from the stern platform or hangbar to the anchor line.

Haldanian

• Related to Haldane's theory that nitrogen is taken up and given off in exponential fashion during a dive, and that there is some safe ratio of pressure change for ascent (originally, 2:1).

Halocline

• Visible boundary between layers of water of different salinities. Appears as a barrier of mist.

Hang Tank

• An extra tank, ideally of deco mix, staged at the decompression stop.

Heliox

• Mixture of helium and oxygen, used for very deep diving.

Helium

• Second lightest gas; does not cause problems of narcosis seen with nitrogen, and is therefore used for very deep diving.

Henry's Law

• The amount of any gas that will dissolve in a liquid at a given temperature is a function of the partial pressure of the gas in contact with the liquid and the solubility coefficient of the gas in the liquid.

Hogarthian Principles

• The Hogarthian configuration is named after Bill "Hogarth" Main. It is based on reducing equipment to a minimum streamlined configuration that nevertheless includes sufficient redundancy for extended decompression dives

Hogarth Rig

• Hogarth rigged dive gear.

Hookah

• Surface-supplied compressed air apparatus, for use in shallow diving in calm waters. The air is delivered to one or more divers through a long hose.

Horsecollar

• Old style floatation device worn around the neck (replaced by the modern BC).

HP Hose

• High Pressure Hose. Goes from the regulator 1st stage to the air pressure gauge.

H-Valve

• A tank valve with 2 outlets.

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen is an inert gas and the lightest, most abundant gas in the universe. It is believed it could be used as a substitute for helium in deep commercial and military diving.

Hydrostatic Test - Hydro

• Pressure test in which the tank is filled with water instead of air. Needs to be done yearly in Australia to be able to have your tanks filled.

Hyperbaric Chamber

• Air-tight chamber that can simulate the ambient pressure at altitude or at depth - used for treating decompression illness.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia is a sudden and profound cooling of the temperature in the core of your body to below 35.5 degrees C. This can have a crippling effect to the body. Continued cooling can result in an irregular heartbeat that can lead to death.

IAND

• International Association of Nitrox Diver

IANTD

• International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers.

J-Valve

• A J-Valve contains a spring-loaded mechanism which shuts off a diver's air supply when a certain tank pressure is reached - formerly used to trigger switching to reserve air supply and divers ascent.

K-Valve

• Simple on/off valve.

Lift Bag

• Like underwater balloons - Helps lifting heavy objects underwater using bags filled with air at depth.

Live Aboard

• Dive boat with sleeping and eating facilities - a preffered way to dive for those who don't like to jug their gear around a lot and for those whose life on the surface of this planet is just another surface interval. - see surface interval.

Log Book

• Something to record your diving history - great as evidence for all the places you've dived. Collecting as many different stamps as possible is cool. Log books can be required on some charter dive boats.

LP Hose

• Low pressure hose. Runs from the regulator 1st stage to the 2nd stage or inflator.

Manifold

• Plumbing to connect 2 tanks so that one regulator can access gas in both tanks.

Mask Squeeze

• Occurs during rapid descents if the diver neglects to equalize his mask. Blood shot eyes are the most common symptom.

Mixed Gas

• Any non-air mixture of gases. Generally loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Multilevel Diving

• Spending a period of time at several depths on a single dive - pretty much every dive you do.

NASDS

• National Association of Scuba Diving Schools

NAUI

• National Association of Underwater Instructors.

NDL

• No Decompression Limit

Nitrogen

• Inert gas that makes up 78% of air. can cause problems under pressure - see nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness.

Nitrogen Narcosis

• Nitrogen narcosis develops with an increase in nitrogen partial pressure, anywhere between 20 and 40 metres. At this depth, nitrogen becomes dissolved in the lipids of the neurons, which interferes with signal transmission from neuron to neuron. Symptoms will increase dramatically with depth and can lead to death.

Nitrox

• Any mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that contains less than the 78% nitrogen found in ordinary air.

NOAA

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

OEA

• Oxygen enriched air - nitrox.

Occy

• Reserve 2nd stage regulator, also called octopus.

Offgassing

• Reducing the load of nitrogen (and/or other inert gasses) on the surface or on the safety stop. Also known as outgassing.

Oxygen

• Gas vital to all life on this planet which makes up 21% of air by volume.

Oxygen Toxicity

• Damage or injury from inhaling too much oxygen. Dangerous if oxygen partial pressure exceeds 1.6 ATA - at around 66 metres using normal air. One of the first symptoms of oxygen toxicity while diving can be seizures.

PADI

• Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Partial Pressure

• Pressure exerted by a single component of a gas within a gas mixture or dissolved in a liquid.

Pneumothorax

• Abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity potentially resulting in the collapse of the lung.

Pony Bottle

• Small scuba tanks strapped to your main dive gear - see D-ring. These tanks have their own first and second stages and can be used as an alternate air source - see solo diving.

Prescription Dive Mask

• Special masks for divers needing refractive correction.

PSI

• Pounds per square inch - a common measurement of air pressure.

Pulmonary Barotrauma

• Rupture of the lung surface from increased pressure of ascent from depth.

Purge Valve

• Purge valves allow masks and even regulators to be cleared easily without having to remove the mask from the diver's face or the regulator from the diver's mouth.

Rebreather

• Device that reuses air by scrubbing or removing the carbon dioxide from it and adding used oxygen. Alternative to SCUBA generally loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Recreational Scuba Diving (RSD)

• Diving to prescribed limits, including a depth no greater than 40 metres, using only compressed air and never requiring a decompression stop.

Regulator - Reg

• Regulators reduce the highly compressed tank pressure to ambient pressure for easy breathing pleasure.

Repetitive Dive

• Any dive done within a certain time frame after a previous dive - generally, any dive whose profile is affected by a previous dive is considered repetitive.

Residual Nitrogen

• Nitrogen that remains dissolved in a diver's tissues after surfacing from a dive.

Residual Nitrogen Time (RNT)

• The time it would take to off-gas any extra nitrogen remaining after a dive.

Reverse Block

• When the internal pressure of an air space is greater than the external pressure.

Reverse Squeeze

• Pain or discomfort in an enclosed space (e.g., sinuses, middle ear, inside mask) on ascent from a dive.

RIB

• Rigid Inflatable Boat - generally with solid keel and large inflatable tubes.

RNT

• See Residual Nitrogen Time

ROV

• Remotely Operated Vehicle

Rule of Thirds

• An air management technique. Use a third of the tank to get to your destination, a third to get back, and the last third belongs to your buddy in case of an emergency.

Safety Stop

• Generally 3-5 minutes spent at 3-5 metres for the purpose of off-gassing as an extra safety precaution. Is by definition not mandatory for safe ascent from the dive. See decompression stop.

Salinity

• The relative proportion of salt in a solution.

Saturation

• The degree to which a gas is dissolved in the blood or tissues - full saturation occurs when the pressure of gas dissolved in the blood or tissues is the same as the ambient (surrounding) pressure of that gas.

Saturation Diving

• Diving performed after the body is fully saturated with nitrogen - to become fully saturated, the diver must stay under water for a much longer period than is allowed in recreational scuba diving tables.

Scooter

• Diver Propulsion Vehicle.

SCUBA

• Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Second Stage

• The part of the regulator you put into your mouth to breath through.

Sinus Squeeze

• Sinus squeeze occurs during a rapid descent when a diver is unable to equalize the air space in the sinus cavity. A diver experiencing sinus squeeze will often experience pain and surface with blood in his mask due to the trauma caused by a squeeze.

Sinuses

• Air spaces within the skull that are in contact with ambient pressure through openings in the back of the nasal passages.

Sinusitis

• Inflammation or infection of the sinuses.

Silt-out

• A complete loss of visibility caused by silt being disturbed, typically by careless finning.

Skin

• A thin exposure suit, typically made of Lycra and used in warm water diving.

Skin Diving

• Another term for breath-hold or free diving - diving without the use of SCUBA equipment.

Snorkel

• Breathing device consisting of a bent tube fitting into a swimmer's mouth and extending above the surface - allows swimmer to breathe while face down in the water.

Sling Bottle - Stage bottle

• A reserve supply of breathing gas not carried with the diver generally used for decompression.

Solo Diving

• The act of diving without a buddy - It is generally recommended to have at least an alternate air source (see - pony bottle, alternate air source) if you engage in such practice. Not a recommended dive practice and not allowed on most charter boats. However, loved by keen photographers and videographers.

SPG

• Submersible Pressure Guage

Split Fins

• Clearly the superior fin design, which works like an underwater propellor. However this fact is heavily disputed. See Fins.

SPUMS

• South Pacific Underwater Medical Society

Square Dive

• A dive in which you stay at the deepest point for the duration of the dive.

Squeeze

• Pain of discomfort in an enclosed space (sinuses, middle ears, inside a mask) caused by shrinkage of that space - occurs on descent. See reverse squeeze.

Squidgie

• A British term for RIB or inflatable boat.

SSI

• Scuba Schools International

Surface Interval

• Length of time on the surface between two consecutive dives.

Surface Marker Buoy - SMB

• Buoy with a flag and a line to a diver below.

Surface-Supplied Compressed Air Diving

• Diving with the air continuously supplied by a compressor on the surface. See hookah.

Tekkie

• Diver who likes lots of gadgets or even as little gadgets as possible - depending on the type of tekkie - see DIR and DIS. Diving with rebreathers, different mixes of gas, lots of stage bottles, going very deep into caves and silty wrecks are part of the tekkie diver heaven. If you have a BCD with less than 6 D-rings, you are NOT a tekkie diver.

TDT

• Total Dive Time

Thermocline

• Sudden changes in water temperature with changing depth. They occur when warmer, lighter water forms a layer above a more dense, colder layer of water If strongly effected by currents it can be the other way round occasionally.

TNT

• Total Nitrogen Time

Trimix

• Breathing mixture composed of three gases, usually helium, nitrogen and oxygen. The composition is denoted as percentage of oxygen / percentage of helium, e.g. 17/50 is trimix with 17% oxygen, 50% helium and the balance (33%) nitrogen. Used for very deep diving. Generally loved by all tekkies - see tekkies.

Vertigo

• Dizziness brought on by the inequality of pressures in the inner ear.
• Vertigo (dizziness) is a sign of ear barotrauma and should not be ignored. Causes may range from minor ear squeeze to perforation of the eardrum to inner ear barotrauma.

Visibility - Viz

• Visibility is the distance a diver can see underwater measured in feet or meters.

The Wheel

• The Wheel is a PADI dive table used to plan multilevel dives - see dive computer.

Y Valve

• A tank valve with two outlets.

Zodiac

• Brand name inflatable boat or RIB.

Compiled and researched by underwater.com.au using various sources.

Women & Tech diving - Who dares wins

Author: Irene Pramudito
02 November 2003

"Technical Diving". It's funny how such a simple phrase used to send shivers down my spine. It conjured up images of deep, dark caves, eerie wrecks, unimaginable depths. For the novice diver that I was, it was a scary world full of unpleasantness and seemingly unnecessary risks. I could not understand why people would want to venture into dark caves devoid of any aquatic life, penetrate wrecks full of hazardous wires and sharp edges, or go deep where the sun doesn't shine. Spending hours doing numerous decompression stops just didn't appeal to me. Can you imagine currents, cold water, and circling sharks when you're doing a 1-hour long decompression? Besides, how would a woman cope with carrying five or more tanks or a rebreather? The sheer weight would topple a lesser man, let alone a woman. See, my problem was that I had no idea what technical diving was. I couldn't see past that scary word "technical". After a little bit of research and a taste of enhanced air, I've realised that technical diving is not that scary after all. It just takes a little more effort, understanding, and time. (Plus a whole lot of money!) The rewards are great: you could explore extensive cave systems, dive deeper than a single-tank open circuit SCUBA systems allows, see weird deep-sea creatures, explore the inside of wrecks - the possibilities are endless. Now, let me take you on a journey to find out what tech diving is all about, so you can decide if a woman can do it.

What is technical diving? In layman terms, tech diving is any type of diving that goes beyond the depth limit of recreational and involves gas mixes other than air. So if you dive below 30 metres, you're doing a simple form of technical diving. If you're using a gas other than air (79% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen), that's technical diving. But real tech diving starts when you actually plan a dive to a depth that requires decompression stops and different gas mixes. Note that when I say "decompression stops", I don't mean the obligatory 3 minutes at 5 metres. A decompression dive may have several stops along the way which are calculated in correlation to the planned depth. At each stop, a different gas mix is used. Also, tech diving could mean any dive in an overhead environment such as caves and the insides of wrecks. Another type of tech diving involves the use of semi-closed or closed circuit rebreather, a machine that "recycles" the CO2 we exhale into breathable air. The complexity of skills and "technical" knowledge needed to survive such dives coined the term "technical diving".

Is tech diving suitable for you? If you've heard the term "scuba diving is not for everyone", the same goes for tech diving. Some people are content to snorkel, some are happy to be an Open Water diver with a maximum depth of 18 metres, or an Advanced diver who can go 30 metres deep. But if you have the craving for deeper depths, cave or wreck explorations, and rebreather diving, then a foray into tech diving may just be what the doctor prescribes. Sure, it involves risks, more complex calculations, and specialised skills. But then to a snorkeler, so does scuba diving. Tech diving is just a matter of enhancing what you have learned in your initial Open Water/Advanced courses.

So, is it suitable for women? Don't be deterred by the predominantly male population in the tech diving community. Scuba diving used to be a male-dominated sport too, but now the number is almost equal. Very few woman divers have chosen the technical path, and even fewer have made it all the way to the instructor level. However, there is apparent evidence that women divers are starting to pick up tech diving. On a typical weekend at the Seven Skies wreck in the Anambas islands, for example, a smattering of women rigged up in twin tanks and deco bottles is a common sight. And before you ask, NO, they're not the butch, oversized type of ladies. In fact, most of them can be called "petite". The secret of their strength: the numerous tanks are only heavy when you're on land, in the water they become completely neutral. Besides, all divers with multiple tanks will be assisted when entering the water. No mere mortal can carry seven tanks and bounce around the dive deck unharmed.

It is also a known fact that more women are pursuing further education in tech diving. GUE (http://www.GUE.com), a US-based technical diving training agency, has noted a sharp increase in the number of female divers enrolling in their courses. IANTD (http://www.IANTD.com) is also churning out more and more female tech divers, gas blenders, and instructors. PADI (http://www.PADI.com) is another agency that offers tech diving courses.

Tech diving can be considered an option when you're planning to continue your diving education. Beyond the Advanced diver stage, there are two paths to choose from: one that leads to a dive professional (instructor/course director/commercial diver), and another that leads to a recreational tech diver. For those not cut out to be a teacher, a natural progression would be tech diving.

The first step into tech diving is to take the Enriched Air course which gives an introduction to the topic of diveable gases. Because tech diving involves the use of different gas mixes at different depths, it is essential that you know the benefits and effects of each gas. A certain percentage of Oxygen, for example, become toxic at a certain depth. This course, however, only concentrates on Oxygen-Nitrogen mix. If you want to learn more about other diving gases such as Heliox or Trimix, you will need to take a more advanced course such as GUE's Rec TriOx.

According to GUE, there are several types of tech diving, and each is a specialised type that needs separate training. However, there is also a pre-requisite to all of these tech courses: the DIR Fundamentals course. This course is the mother of all courses. It emphasises and aims to refine the basic necessities of diving skills such as buoyancy, buddy awareness, trim, streamlining, safety, and equipment configuration. In this course, you will be taught to ditch all your bad diving habits (kneeling on the sand instead of hovering, fear of mask clearing, slack buddy awareness, etc.). The equipment configuration part of the course will familiarise you with the Hogarthian configuration, which is the most common set-up for Tech Diving. You will learn how to use the long hoses, back plate and wing, stiff rubber fins, etc. This course act as an entry qualification gauge for further tech courses at GUE - if you fail, you will have to re-take the course before you can go to the next level. It is also so vigorous that you can actually notice the difference in your skills after just four dives - all recorded on video as required by the course syllabus. To see sample videos, check out www.fifthd.com. Even if you're not tech-inclined, you can take this course just to perfect your diving skills.

The next level is the specialisation courses: Tech, Cave, Wreck, or Rebreather, all of which has Level 1 and 2. You should select a course that matches your interest and long-term training plan. For example, if you're claustrophobic, forget about Cave or Wreck courses. On the other hand, if you are nervous about abyssal depths, stick to Cave and Wreck. All of these courses will prepare you for more advanced tech diving, if you are inclined to become a tech instructor or a commercial diver.

How does all that sound? Pretty damn exciting, if you ask me. It has all the ingredients of an "experience of a lifetime": challenge, novelty, opportunity to excel, a rewarding experience, and of course, the adrenaline rush! There's nothing like the feeling of triumph, when you realise you've beaten the odds and excel at something few women have ever had the chance to do. You've become a diver, so what's stopping you from becoming a better diver? I've taken my first step, and I dare you to take yours!

Dive more, pay less - 10 ways to stretch your diving dollars

Author: Irene Pramudito
03 November 2003

When I started diving, nobody ever told me how addictive this sport is! I did my Open Water course with the intention of diving maybe once or twice a year. I realised it's an expensive sport, and diving more than twice a year would mean having a skinny piggybank. To my consternation, I got well and truly hooked (no pun intended) and started diving obsessively. I spent thousands of my hard-earned dollars on courses, equipment, and trips - and not without making some mistakes along the way. A good portion of the money could have been saved if I only had a guideline to buying stuff, planning trips, etc. So here it is, my attempt at listing out the things I could have done to save a lot of moolah (read: $$$). Perhaps this will help a newbie or two to save themselves some money, heartache and frustration.

1. Do your homework
   Research is the key. Visit scuba diving resource websites such as http://www.scubadiving.com, http://www.divernet.com where all kinds of articles related to diving are available for free. These websites are not affiliated with any dive operation, so the articles are fairly objective. Read up on destinations, how to get there, which equipment performs well and are reasonably priced, what to look for in a dive operator, what kind of insurance to get, and a myriad of other general diving-related knowledge. If you're planning to travel to Palau, for example, you can find articles that not only review the dive sites, but also recommend dive operators, accommodation (resort-based or liveaboard), currency to bring, etc.
2. Use a message board or mailing list
   You can also do a proactive research through message boards such as http://www.scubaboard.com. You can ask questions and exchange opinions with divers all over the world. What better way to learn about a dive site than to ask a local diver? I have successfully organized trips to remote areas based on tips and recommendations from message boards. All you have to do is ask the right questions; people will genuinely try to help if you sound sincere and intelligent.
   Be careful, not all the messages on the boards are genuine. Sometimes you'll get bogus members who are actually dive operators trying to solicit clients. There are also the occasional 'trolls'; people who are there simply to wreak havoc. These are the people who post messages such as "Operator X is terrible!" without any explanation of what happened and when. They're in it to bring down others, and should be ignored, not replied to.
   It is also important that you observe the rules and regulations of a message board before posting a message. At Scubaboard, for example, it is customary to introduce yourself prior to posting your questions - do it out of sheer politeness. In most message boards, posting something that could be considered advertising is also frowned at. You can give suggestions for dive operators, for instance, but not the full address, course and trip prices, etc.
   Board members occasionally arrange get-togethers, such as BBQs, dinner, drinks, dives, etc. These gatherings are good opportunities to meet other divers and to find buddies.
3. Talk to people
   The best deals are usually not advertised. Rather, it's spread through word-of-mouth and intricate networks of 'people in the know'. Like in any other sports, divers seek each other and form exclusive cliques, groups, clubs. These cliques are the best source of information because they contain divers from all levels: instructors, divemasters, resort owners, dive guides, dive shop owners. Not only you can gain invaluable general diving knowledge from them, you can also learn about the best deals. All you have to do is be friendly; most divers are kind enough to share information.
   Also, most divers usually have 'day jobs' - occupations when they're not diving. I have met a diver who is a travel agent during the week, who can get dirt-cheap flights. Another diver friend works for a multinational company that regularly offers discounted weekend trips to its employees and their family and friends. A diver/insurance agent friend also managed to get me attractively priced travel insurance.
   However, you must bear in mind that first and foremost you are looking to widen your network of friends who share the love of diving. These people are not your discount coupons, so treat them as you would your other friends. Also, remember to give something in return. When you have info about a good deal, share.
   Sometimes just by being a member of a diving club gets you perks such as discounted trips, courses, equipment. While there is usually a membership fee involved, the fee is offset by substantial discounts you get from various sponsors or affiliated dive operators.
4. Get insured
   A lot of people think that diving and travel insurance is a waste of money. They think, how often does one get DCS or miss a flight hence the rest of the planned dive trip? Maybe not that often, but when it happens, you'd wish you had one!
   An incident of DCS (Decompression Sickness), for example, may involve a lot of parties and treatments that ultimately, will leave you financially crippled. An airlift from Komodo Island to the nearest decompression facility in Bali, for example, will cost a minimum of USD5,000. Chamber treatment and other costs are extra - a single chamber treatment costs approximately USD2,000 and you may need up to 5 treatments depending on the severity of injury. If you live through the ordeal, your bill will be easily what you make in a whole year.
   A basic travel and diving insurance, such as one provided by Divers Alert Network (DAN, www.danseap.org) will cover any diving accident or travel accident and leave you worry-free while you recover.
   Other types of diving insurance offer full reimbursement for damaged or missing gear (flooded housing, missing regulator), even compensation for flight delays and cancellations.
   With a reasonable annual premium, insurance provide you the peace of mind and financial security should the unthinkable occurs.
5. Bypass the middleman
   It is a common knowledge that travel agents and dive operators charge a premium for organizing a trip. Dive operators in Singapore, for example, don't normally have an operation set up in Malaysia. These Singapore operators usually act as an "agent" for the Malaysian dive operators. The Singapore operators send divers to the Malaysian operators and get a commission.
   If you have a little bit of time to spare, why not bypass the local operators and go straight to the overseas operators? This way, you may get a cheaper rate because the overseas dive operator no longer needs to pay the middleman. Also, you will probably be charged in the local currency, which may work out to be cheaper overall.
   With the Internet, you can have direct access to various dive operators the world over. By email or instant message, you can communicate with the operator and work out a deal that suits your budget.
6. Travel with a buddy!
   It is common for a dive operator to charge an extra premium for diver traveling alone. This surcharge can reach up to 70% on top of the normal price. So, get a buddy to travel with you! Not only you'll get a cheaper rate, you can eliminate the possibility of getting buddied up with a stranger whose diving skills you know nothing of.
   Operators also usually offer group discounts. The more buddies you have, the cheaper each of you has to pay. For example, liveaboards often offer "charter" prices - one diver pays $1,000, but 6 divers pay the group price of $5,000.
   
7. Plan and stick to your budget
   At the initial stage of planning, you need to establish a budget that will suit you and your buddies. You must all agree on a realistic budget that covers the essentials:
   ? Diving
   ? Accommodation
   ? Meals
   ? Transport
   Other expenses such as tips, shopping, extra meals, etc. should be left out of the group budget.
   In my experience, it is also more cost-effective if all the participants use the same dive operator, stay at the same resort, and use the same transport arrangement. This minimizes the overall waiting time (e.g., participants arriving on different flights, trains, etc.), and you could perhaps get a group rate for transport/accommodation.
   You would also save a lot of money by working out a personal annual budget. Set aside a certain amount every month to go into a separate account or a 'diving piggybank'. Plan your dive trips around public holidays, so you can take a minimum amount of precious annual leave. Impulsive holidays usually costs much more than planned ones.
   However, plans are just plans - if a better offer comes up around the time of your planned holiday, grab it! If you already have the budget previously planned, it's just a matter of shuffling the dates.
8. Get a good instructor, not a cheap one
   When it comes to taking courses, bear in mind that you are paying for an education that may save your life. So, look for a good instructor that has a good track record. Ask around for references. This is the one aspect in diving that you should never scrimp on because the risk is your life. There are plenty of cheap instructors, but how would you like to be taught by an instructor who only has 100 logged dives?
   The trick is to find an instructor who loves the sport and want to share his/her knowledge. This instructor would willingly answer your questions even if you haven't signed up for the course yet. He/she won't try to sell you equipment along with the course, nor try to sell you a "combined" course (for example, Open Water and Advanced Open Water in one go).
   The price of the course should be reasonably comparable to the market prices. Do not fall prey to "Special Offer" courses - these courses are cheap but bundles too many divers in a class and in the shacks they call a resort. Often enough they also serve you terrible food, use falling-apart non-A/C transport, and rent out poorly-maintained equipment. Stay away from these "cattle-diving" operators - it's your life at stake!
   
9. Invest on high-quality equipment
   The one cardinal rule in buying equipment is: think of it as an investment. It is better to buy an expensive wetsuit that will last 1,000 dives than a cheap one that will last 10. You're paying for quality, so it's money well-spent. Of course you'll have to have a price limit, but make sure the limit is as high as your wallet would allow.
   Buying life-supporting gear such as regulators and BCD must be thought through, because you cannot afford to have these fail. Price should be secondary to performance and durability. Find information on service frequency and cost, and include this in your yearly diving budget.
   Dive computers are also a life-saver. It is your Plan B, an assistant to the dive tables you have in your brain.
   Safety devices are just as important as regulator and BCD. You never know when you're going to need a surface marker, whistle, spool, etc. You should not leave these essential gadgets for last.
10. Read The Manual!
    Many cases of equipment damage results from varying degrees of human error and sheer carelessness. Many people had their underwater housing flooded simply because they did not read the user's manual before using it. If they had spared 15 minutes to RTFM, they would have saved a lot of buckaroos.
    The same goes for other gears: treat them with care and follow the manufacturer's suggestions, and you won't need to spend on new gear for a very long time.
    For gears that need regular servicing such as regulators, do not attempt to service it yourself even though you've read all the servicing manuals you can get your hands on. It's a very delicate piece of equipment, and any failure would mean your life at risk. Leave the work to professionals.
    To sum it all up, diving can be cheap yet enjoyable with a little research and a whole lot of planning. Do your homework and you'll be surprised at how much more dives you can log from all the money saved.

A Guide to PADI's 'Tec Rec'

Author: Simon A. Gilbert
06 March 2004

Long-established as leaders in the world of recreational diving, PADI has finally taken a giant stride into technical diving. Less than 10 years from their first cautious acceptance of Nitrox in the mid-90's, they are now offering a complete range of technical diving courses. From a suck'n'see 'Discover Tec' experience, all the way to an extended depth Trimix course, the world's leading issuer of diving certifications has thrown its educational and marketing muscle into the fight for this growing segment of the diving market.

Run in conjunction with the technical diving arm of the media production company Diving Science and Technology (DSAT), the new programs provide the techniques and procedures necessary for diving beyond recreational dive limits. The well-produced suite of student materials, including manuals, videos and slates, allows the course to follow the same performance-based instructional system familiar from PADI's recreational courses.

The 'Tec Rec' umbrella program covers a number of different courses, all conducted in full technical kit using double tanks. At the heart of the program is 'Tec Deep'. Consisting of 12 dives, this nine day program transforms recreational divers directly into fully-fledged technical divers without the need for any of the intermediate courses so favored by other technical diving agencies. Successful candidates leave the course certified to make decompression dives to 50 metres, and to use up to 100% oxygen as a decompression gas. To enroll on the Tec Deep course divers need to be certified as both Rescue and Nitrox divers, and have logged a minimum of 100 dives with at least 20 logged Nitrox dives, 25 dives deeper than 18 metres, and 15 dives deeper than 30 metres.

Divers who don't meet these prerequisites can enroll instead on 'Apprentice Tec', a sub-set of the main 'Tec Deep' program. Apprentice Tec divers can make gas-switch no-stop dives to 40m using air, and Nitrox up to 60%. Certification as an Advanced Open Water diver is enough to be able to start this course, along with Nitrox certification and at least 50 logged dives, with minimum 10 logged Nitrox dives, 12 dives deeper than 18 metres, 6 dives deeper than 30 metres.

'Discover Tec' offers a chance to try on a set of doubles with technical configuration. This program is offered either in a pool, or in the ocean to a maximum depth of 10 metres. Because of these tight restrictions any diver with just 10 dives and an Open water certificate under their belt can give it a go. With the right paperwork the 'Discover Tec' can be credited towards 'Apprentice Tec', which itself can be upgraded to full 'Tec Deep' after completion of the remaining dives.

For the extreme diver ready to further explore the world of technical deep diving, the gas of choice is trimix. The DSAT Tec Trimix Diver course takes experienced divers to the outer edges of technical deep diving, extending the depth range beyond 50 metres in open water. Divers wanting to join the course need to already be certified as a DSAT Tec Deep Diver, or have a qualifying certification in deep decompression diving using air/enriched air from another organization. The course extends their depth range capabilities by training them in the use of trimix (helium, oxygen and nitrogen).

The 'Tec Rec' program is a welcome addition to the choices already available in the field of technical diving certifications. Yet technical diving is not for everyone. These courses are aimed at the small minority of active divers who want to go beyond the everyday challenges offered by recreational diving, and are willing to accept the costs and risks involved.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions offers you Australia's best diving holiday experience.

Our Dive Expeditions are suited to the adventurous divers seeking pelagics, deep walls and shark action.

You don't waste time & money looking for the best dive sites. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' 30 years of operation ensures that you will dive only the best dive sites.

Affiliation:

PADI

Training Level:

Nitrox, Advanced, Photo/Video Specialties

Boat Description:

Spoilsport - Cairns - Stable and spacious twin hull catamaran - Unlimited diving! - Superb cuisine. - Solo Diver Program - Nitrox (EANx32) fills and instruction - Camera stations on dive deck - Winner of 10 prestigious Rodale's Reader's Awards - Advanced Ecotourism Certified - Swim with Minke Whales Program (June & July)

Sites Visited:

• Spectacular! World's best low level flight - from/to Lizard Island - saves 12 hours of travelling time - more diving!
• Diverse sites along the Ribbon Reef chain
• Excellent macro and fish photography
• Pristine coarl gardens at Challenger Bay
• Huge Potato Cod and Maori Wrasse at the world famous Cod Hole

Facilities:

• Own Boat(s)
• Camera Hire
• Gear Service
• Diving seven days

• Nitrox fills
• Scuba hire
• Resort/Intro Dives
• Own Liveaboard(s)

Whale Watching Byron Bay

One of Australia's most popular whale watching locations Byron Bay is famous as one of the most popular whale watching locations in Australia. Each June/July thousands of Humpback whales travel past Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point, on their annual migration from Antarctica to their breeding grounds off the Great Barrier Reef. Then in September/October the same humpback whales return with their newborn calves. Join one of our tours and let Whale Watching Byron Bay take you to meet these majestic creatures as they frolic in the waters just off Cape Byron. We are Byron Bay's most professional whale watching company. This is one breath taking adventure you will not want to miss.

Boat Description:

Our vessels are permitted by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service to be launched directly from Cape Byron. This allows us to access the waters used by migrating Humpback whales within minutes of departing Cape Byron. Therefore there are no long boat rides to and from whale watching sites and your whale watching adventure begins immediately.

Facilities:

• Own Boat(s)
• Camera Hire

• Own accommodation
• Showers

Undersea Explorer

The Undersea Explorer has the reputation of giving the diver the best Adventure dives on the Northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, whilst supporting quality research projects, and offering high quality coral reef interpretation and education. Whilst onboard passengers are able to learn about the vast and complex marine environment, as well as informally associating with researchers from the scientific community. This gives passengers a unique and valuable understanding of the importance of sustainability of our precious coral reefs.

Departing weekly from Port Douglas, expeditions are 3 day/3 night Cod Hole expeditions (Mar-May) or 6 day/6 night Osprey Reef Shark Encounter with a maximum of 20 guests. Undersea Explorer visits remote Osprey Reef, a seamount in the Coral Sea, which offers 1000 metre drop-offs and exciting pelagic action. In addition, the itinerary includes the many varied dive sites encompassing the coral gardens of the Ribbon Reefs and the world famous Cod Hole.

Undersea Explorer offers many different expeditions throughout the year, which focus on a variety of research projects including: nautilus population research, water quality studies, coral reef monitoring, shark identification and behaviour, and the Dwarf Minke Whale. On each expedition the company offers an excellent interpretive Reef Discovery program which enhances diving and snorkelling - through interpretive presentations provided by our researchers, and interpreted by the onboard researcher/biologist. The Reef Discovery course takes the form of a series of visual and oral presentations each day during the expedition.

Affiliation:

PADI

Training Level:

Advanced Open Water certification, Enriched Air certification (Nitrox)

Boat Description:

Undersea Explorer - 25m steel - Max passengers 20 + 5 Crew. Ducted Air-conditioned Twin or Queen Berth Cabins. All meals prepared by qualified Chef onboard.

Sites Visited:

Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole, Osprey Reef

Facilities:

• Own Liveaboard(s)
• Own Boat(s)
• Showers

• Nitrox fills
• Scuba hire

Becoming a Diver

Why would you want to learn to SCUBA dive?

SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. SCUBA diving gives you the opportunity to explore a world that is vastly different to ours. The oceans are so rich with life and have a huge variety of living organisms, all adapted to their little habitats. Most of the creatures you will find, look more like aliens than something you might expect to encounter on this planet. Some historic wrecks and caves are hidden below the waters surface, ready to be explored. The fact that you carry your air supply strapped to your back enables you to enjoy every detail of the underwater environment without having to rush back up for more air.

Certified SCUBA divers can dive all over the world. Everywhere where there is water, there might be an underwater challenge. Whether you enjoy the biological or the technical aspect SCUBA diving has to offer.

Who can SCUBA dive?

Everybody who has a good general health can learn to dive from the age of 8 years old. Unless you have diabetes, epilepsy, or respiratory problems such as asthma, there should not be a reason why you could not become a diver. People of all ages can learn to SCUBA dive. Pregnant women should not dive, as the effects of SCUBA on a developing foetus are not known. In Australia a dive medical is performed to make sure aspiring divers are fit and healthy enough. Other than that, a SCUBA diver has to be able to swim and feel reasonably comfortable in the water. Some people worry about the fact their ears hurt when they dive to the bottom of a pool. During your Open Water Dive course you will learn how to feel relaxed and equalize your ears and sinuses. In general, young divers need to be accompanied by an adult certified diver on all dives until they are 15 years of age, when their Junior Open Water certificate or equivalent is upgraded to a regular one.

Isn't SCUBA diving really dangerous?

As with any sport, there are risks involved by going SCUBA diving. Proper training, carefully planning of dives and accurately estimating diving conditions and abilities of people in the group will eliminate most risks. The most common issues facing a diver are Arterial Gas Embolism and Decompression Sickness. Most of the time these can both be prevented by following the safety procedures taught in courses and by not pushing the time limits of the dive tables. The media is always keen to report freak accidents and sometimes make SCUBA diving look more dangerous than statistics prove it to be.

And what about all the vicious marine animals that are waiting to attack or eat you? Most of those "attacks" on divers happen because the divers themselves harassed or fed the animals involved in the first place. Responsible dive schools will teach you that as long as you leave the marine life alone, it will leave you alone. "Don't touch, just observe" is a golden rule.

Where to go to become a certified SCUBA diver?

All over Australia dive shops offer Open Water Diver courses and there are different certifying agencies. NAUI, SSI and PADI are the three largest ones and all three agencies are recognised internationally. Prices for courses might vary depending on season, location and competition. Although the agencies have minimal standards for their courses, some shops include a few extras and offer more value for money. It is important to ask questions such as: Where will we go diving? Are they boat dives or shore dives? How large are the classes? Can I keep the textbook or is that extra? Is gear hire included? Do I have to buy my own snorkel gear at the beginning or can I buy later? How is the dive medical arranged and is it included in the price? If you are not sure whether you want to do a full course, it is normally possible to do an introductory or resort dive. You will do a one off dive with an instructor right by your side. At the end you are not certified, but you have a bit of an idea what it is like to be underwater.

What happens during an Open Water Dive course?

Generally the course has four parts: theory, pool sessions, open water dives and a knowledge review. During the theoretical part you will learn the basics on diving physics, safety, diving gear and how to use dive tables to estimate the amount of nitrogen absorbed by your body. Generally, a textbook will be available to read through the theory, you will watch some videos and your instructor will elaborate on the theory discussed in the textbook and videos and hopefully clarify any remaining issues. The theoretical knowledge is tested in a knowledge review to make sure you understand what your instructor has been teaching you. In the pool you will become familiar with your dive gear, which buttons to push and which hoses to connect to what, how to control you buoyancy and how to act when your mask lets water in or when you regulator drops out of your mouth.

The open water dives give you the chance to practise the skills you have learned in the pool in a more realistic environment. Visibility might be less than in the pool (depends where you go or what pool you used!), there might be a bit more wave action, some currents and greater depth. Some people prefer to learn how to dive in a tropical location, but you will definitely be a more confident diver if there are some challenges during your course and the dives afterwards. However, an Open Water Dive course should always offer you a safe environment in which you become familiar with the new surroundings.

What is next?

After you have finished your Open Water Dive course you are ready to do some more diving. It is only the beginning. An experienced diver is a good diver. Especially in the beginning it is easy to forget the important things you have learned during your course. By the way, it is perfectly fine not to feel confident to do a certain dive until you have more experience. Always dive safe with people you trust.

If you decide you want to learn more skills it is always possible to do more courses. You can do a few more courses and become a dive instructor or you might be interested in more technical challenges and do deep, cave or wreck diving, learn to use different gas mixtures so you can go deeper for longer or do a course in dive gear maintenance. It is a great passion and once you are converted you will find that there are so many people that are already certified SCUBA divers, plenty of websites to visit (of course especially www.underwater.com.au) and lots more money to spend.

So what are you waiting for ... just dive it!

Photos by Tim Hochgrebe from PLANULA Video Productions in Byron Bay

So you want to be a SCUBA Diving Instructor?

I have worked as an instructor for about 6 years. I absolutely love it. So I thought I would be able to shed a bit of light on the subject for anyone who is interested in becoming one themselves.

To qualify as an open water instructor you need to be open water, advanced, and rescue diver. Then once completing a dive master course you can do your open water instructor course. It will all cost you about AU$4500 dollars (not including your own equipment, which can be another AU$2000) and on top of that you need 100 logged dives. You need to pass a medical and have a current first aid certificate. So almost anyone can do it. (requirements might vary between different certifying agencies - Ed.) However it is probably a good idea to do a few dives before you decide this is your life's calling as it can be quite different to what you imagine. It took me about 4 years of diving, and 400 dives to become an instructor. As an instructor we only show our students the good bits about diving.

There are many myths about the job of a diving instructor. Students often say to me on those beautiful, sunny days: ' Wow! You've got the best job in the world.' My reply usually is: 'The good days are great, the bad days can be very very hard work.' Fortunately for me the good days outshine the bad by far. I believe this is because I do it for what I consider to be the right reasons for me. I do it for the fish. If you want to become a diving instructor have a think about what your reasons for doing it would be.

Don't do it for the glamour and prestige because there really isn't any. Sure your students may adore and admire you endlessly, but the novelty wears off quick when you realize your fellow instructor (who closely resembles Jabba the Hut) also receives the same affections.

Definitely don't do it for the pay. Getting minimum wage isn't so bad, but having to pay for your insurance and membership costs can come to AU$800 a year, and that's not even including you equipment. So in other words it costs a lot to be an instructor and you wont make a lot of money back. On top of that it's pretty competitive to get the work, it's fairly casual and unpredictable hours when you do. The hours can be long usually staring at 6:30am and finishing at 5pm.The responsibilities are huge. Your student's lives are in your hands. This is not to be taken lightly.

Another responsibility often over looked by instructors is to be a good role model, in and out of the water. Set a good example of how to treat our oceans. Don't throw your cigarette butts on the ground, and speak up when someone else does. I myself don't eat any seafood, in my opinion fish are friends not food and I can't even open a can of tuna without crying. Educate yourself on the marine life and marine park operations in your area. It is not wise to harass marine life or feed them, especially if you have a group of 8 impressionable new divers with you. They may copy your every move for the rest of their diving career. You are their diving guru.

Diving a lot can be physically exhausting as well. You can't party as much as you think. Sure I used to party a lot when I first started instructing. It soon became quite difficult to tell my students not to party much the night before diving when I was turning up for work obviously after being out all night. If you are a smoker you may find it hypocritical to tell your students they shouldn't smoke before diving. If anything serious did go down, you'd be under scrutiny, drug tests, you name it. Keeping yourself in relatively good shape is a good idea too. You'll end up dragging students around a lot of the time.

It tends to be a male dominated industry so you'll have to be able to politely put up with a lot of ego and adrenaline, which can be a bit difficult sometimes being a woman. Far too many times I have worked with male instructors who think they are out on a shag fest, taking advantage of girls who are in a vulnerable environment, and obviously are placing a lot of trust in them. It is down right unprofessional and this should not be a reason for becoming an instructor.

I myself have always really loved fish, at 18 I went to uni studying fish, then realised to study them you have to kill them, this didn't go over very well with me. I left uni to travel, deciding I could get a job playing with the fish instead. I wanted to get people to appreciate fish and the beauty of the underwater world. The highlight of my job is introducing students to the fish. So without boasting too much about how much fun it can be I'll go through the aspects of my job I like best. Working outdoors is great, even if it's rainy, (you get wet anyway,) and it's great exercise. You'll have a fabulous tan even in the middle of winter. I love teaching and working with and meeting so many different people from so many different parts of the world. It's inspiring and hilarious. I will never forget the time my Japanese student asked me if it was time to put on his 'water pants'. One of my colleague travelled Europe staying with all of the students he had kept in touch with over the years. Its possible to travel and work, incorporating something you love while earning a living. The scuba diving where I work is fantastic, you get to know the fish quite personally . I've even managed to kiss one on the lips. In the winter you can hear whales singing under the water. I've taught movie and rock stars how to dive. I get to see dolphins on a regular basis. Most of the crew I work with are like-minded and lots of fun. Some days I would do my job for free. One of the highlights of my so far 6 year career would have to be taking 3 intro divers down to about 12m and seeing a 10 m humpback whale swim past us. One of those intros was so nervous at the surface before the dive I really had to convince her to go, holding hands the whole dive.

Here is a run down of what you will need to be a great instructor: You need to have enthusiasm, even on those cold, rainy, 5m vis days, you'll need patience and empathy, you'll have to be able to walk your talk, and have superb communication skills. Remember a lot of the time you will not be able to talk to your students, you may have to guess what they are feeling underwater and reassure them without saying a word. Get a lot of diving experience, in a lot of different types of diving environments. Before you sign up ask yourself: 'Am I completely comfortable with myself underwater in any circumstance?'. Once an instructor you will be taking people diving who are stressed out, squeezing your hand so tight it turns blue. They will throw up on you, they will be learning how to dive because they want to get over their fear of the ocean, they may be the complete opposite of a very nervous person and off from you the first chance they get, they may drop their weight belt and shoot to the surface while holding their breath, another may inflate their BC to ascend. They could all be in the same class. You need to be organized and confident. Another skill good to have is the ability to sell dive gear. Diveshops will love you if you are able to advice your students and other divers visiting the shop on what dive gear to purchase. Besides you can earn a commission

Do it for the right reasons. Do it because you love scuba diving more than anything else, do it because you love teaching and don't mind having a huge amount of responsibility. If you are properly trained and prepared it could be your dream job.

Australian Sea Lions

On board the 'Princess II', we were approx 2 hrs south of Port Lincoln in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia heading out to the Neptune Islands for a little shark spotting. This was our second attempt in 6 months to get to the Neptune Islands.

On an earlier trip in February 2008, with the team from Rodney Fox Great White Shark Expeditions, we had ventured only 2 hrs out to sea when the 'Princess II' experienced problems and unfortunately forced our immediate return back to Port Lincoln. The boat required some extensive work to repair a problem with oil lines and so our much-awaited trip had to be cancelled and our team of 4 were offered a return trip at a later date.

So here we were, back on the boat in July 2008 ... this time we were looking good, riding in smooth seas with light winds and a beautiful clear sunny day ahead of us ... and we were ready to catch our first glimpses of Great White Sharks.

It was around midday, when Andrew Fox suggested that conditions were perfect for a brief stop over at Hopkins Island and take a dive with Australian Sea Lions. Of course, all 12 guests on the boat met this suggestion with much enthusiasm and in no time we were geared up and ready - some were diving and some were snorkelling. Our brief was uncomplicated, but very specific ... "We will send somebody over to attract the attention of the sea lions. When they come over to you, they will try to draw you away from the bay and around the corner of the island. Hold your ground and don't let them lead you astray ... they will come back to you. Photographers note: the sea lions will position themselves between you and the sun. This is a defence strategy, which could make it difficult to photograph the sea lions".

Geared up, air on; I backward rolled over the side of the inflatable boat. I was still fiddling with my strobe arms on the seabed at 4 mtrs, extending them fully out when I was 'buzzed' by the first of many sea lions.

Wow ... they were everywhere - above, below and around us. 'Buzzing' me from top to bottom, I didn't know where to look next. These guys seemed to be just as excited to see us as we were to see them ... and in their state of excitement, they were looping, swimming in figure 8's and constantly on the move and I felt myself spinning around and around trying to catch a glimpse and lock focus on these beautiful animals.

Well sure enough, they tried to lead us out of the bay. The other divers followed.

Remembering Andrew's words during our brief, I held my ground ... but only to be left all alone - with no divers around me and certainly no sea lions. Where had they gone? Should I have followed them? But didn't Andrew say "Don't let them lead you away from the bay"?

I did stay all alone for what seemed an eternity (maybe 3 - 4 minutes) and thank god I did because just as was indicated in our dive brief, the sea lions came back and I had them all to myself.

However this time their excitement was more contained and they came back with an intriguing curiosity, wanting to check me out as much as I was wanting to observe them in their natural habitat.

The Australian Sea Lion is a species of sea lion that breeds only on the south and west coasts of Australia. These animals are fascinating. Their inquisitive nature almost gives them a human like quality.

One look into a sea lion's eyes and you gain a sense of emotional connection that is not experienced with other animals.

Once this heartfelt connection is made, it is impossible to have anything but complete admiration for them.

We were on a shark expedition to cage dive with Great White Sharks off the Neptune Islands ... and this opportunity came as a complete and unexpected surprise. This brief stop over at Hopkins Island turns out to be one of the most exciting dives I have had the pleasure to experience.The rest of the trip, i.e. the cage diving with Great White Sharks, well that's another story for some other time ... needless to say we have been invited back on another 'gratis' return trip to Neptune Islands ... perhaps it will be a case of '3rd time lucky'.

But as for the sea lions, I would do this trip all over again just for these absolutely fascinating animals. They are simply amazing ... not to mention adorable ...

And a little cheeky as well ...God love 'em!

Having a Jelly Good Time

Our recent Malaysia itinerary included a 2-day 2-night stunt to Redang Island in the North East of peninsular Malaysia; escaping the Australian cold for a few days and getting some dives in.

With me was young Matthew Weiss from DivePhotoGuide and we were both looking forward to a few days away after the long hard days of MIDE (Malaysia International Dive Expo) booth duties. Little did we know that the resort that had been arranged for us was massive. From arriving at Terrenganu airport we were numbered, slotted into rows, moved onto bus, then boat, then tractor ... then numbered again and then joining about 500 other resort guests for buffet lunch before we were allowed to check-in.

I did consider just ignoring this part or the trip in the write-up but from a divers point of view there were a few lessons to be learned and I believe these need to be shared. The resort offered snorkel trips twice a day and all you had to do was hire the gear from the resort and the boat trip was free. Which meant that 200 people went onto 5 or 6 boats all with life vests on and out to snorkel.

Fins are not allowed when snorkeling the marine reserves of Terenganu Marine Park as the past has showed massive amounts of coral damage by snorkellers standing and walking on the fragile coral reef. We decided to give this event a miss and go with the resort owned dive centre on a more intimate dive trip the next morning that had only 10 people on it. I had brought no dive gear at all apart from my trusted 'Nemo' and I was fitted in shorty and some reasonably decent gear. At that point the fact there might be some jellyfish was mentioned, but we shouldn't worry about that - so we didn't.

Out at the dive site we got ready and entered the water at what was going to be a 20-metre 40-minute dive and on entering the water I could see swarms of jellies with their long tentacles with red spots. The dive guides did not seem to be to perturbed about the fact and we started our descent through the jungle of jellies ... me trying to avoid getting touched by the nasty looking tentacles. At this point I should mention that the dive guides / instructors were wearing full wetsuits, hoods and gloves ... which I guess should have made me suspicious.

I survived for over 30 minutes without getting hit and Matt who had his own full wetsuit looked worried, but kept diving too. When the unavoidable finally happened I could not believe the pain ... one jelly had managed to hit my left leg and ankle (the booties I got were low-cut ankle free booties...).

We were still at 20 meters at that time and looking above me the dense jungle of jellyfish seemed impenetrable. How would we ever get back to the surface was what went through my head again and again. Then I heard Matt screaming underwater ... he got hit on his hand and looked in immense pain. I signaled the dive guide I was going up and tried to make my way through the jungle ... the well-protected guides tried to keep the jellies at bay with their steel pointers ... at some stage I grabbed the pointer from one of the guides and tried myself to keep my unprotected body parts tentacle free.

I somehow magically survived the ascent and safety stop without further damage, but the pain from my leg and ankle was quite strong. Then I heard Matt scream again ... he was hit again on his hand during the safety stop. We climbed onboard cursing and looking at our battle scars. We found the second group (which was a group of Open Water students) had their dive aborted by their instructor... which in hindsight seemed like the ONLY reasonable thing to do. After soaking my leg in a bottle of stinggoes (bless Australian technology ...) the pain temporarily subsided. Matt didn't stop cursing; his hand had swollen up more than my leg at that stage.

We cancelled our second dive for that day ....

Later that day I had a chat to the dive centre staff about the incident, but heard no excuses or apologies for the fact I was put into a shorty wetsuit through a see of very painful jelly tentacles ... very disappointing.

Why do I write all this? I don't want to mention the name of the resort of the dive centre but I believe it should suffice to say that wherever we go diving, we will encounter excellent, good and not so good dive centres ... and some are terrible.

We should be able to trust the local knowledge of any dive centre to make decisions of where to go and who to take, but we can't. In this situation despite 20 years of diving experience, I trusted the dive centre staff to make the right decision on continuing the dive or aborting it. Seeing the sea of jellies I thought to myself if we continue through this, the stings can't be that bad and I followed ... I should have known better.

Four days later my legs are still covered in red itchy spots ... but I will survive. Who knows, some other diver might have panicked at 20 metres after being stung, and the result might have been a more tragic one. Would that be negligent behavior of the dive center ... or would the waivers we signed save them from any consequences, who knows?

All that said, this shouldn't deter anyone from visiting Redang or any of the other islands of Terranganu. The island is beautiful and I was told the diving is actually excellent normally. The jellyfish we were told had been around for 2 weeks only and it was 'the first time we ever see them here in Redang ...'

Sports Massage - An Introduction

by: Richard Lane

Sports Massage - An Introduction Copyright 2005 Richard Lane Many therapists offer Sports Massage on their “Massage Menu” yet few understand what Sports Massage is about. When a client comes in requesting a Sports Massage, some therapists merely react by going in deep. Sports Massage is so much more. Whilst Sports Massage does have some aims in common with other forms of massage therapy, the usual experience in conventional massage is to aim to restore the normal function when someone is injured. But in sport there is no ‘normal’ and athletes are always looking to improve and gain a competitive edge. Most athletes aim to reach a level of performance they can never achieve. A Sports Massage therapist has great potential to assist the athlete to become better, rather than merely normal. In striving to be better, the athlete attempts to systematically increase the level of training and thereby subjecting the body to gradual and controlled overuse. This overuse can often create imbalances and problems in the soft tissues, which if ignored may become chronic. Clearly this may hinder the athlete’s performance and/or rate of improvement. Sports Massage can become a key ingredient in an athlete’s success and this is why top competitors incorporate it as an integral part of their training regime. So what is Sports Massage? McGillicuddy(1) defines Sports Massage as “the specific application of massage techniques, hydrotherapy protocols, range of motion/flexibility protocol and strength-training principles utilized to achieve a specific goal when treating athletes”. He considers that there are three principles that are vital to understanding what type of Sports Massage to apply to an athlete at any given time. These principles are:  Timing  Technique and  Intent The timing of Sports Massage is related to when the massage is applied, is it pre-event or post-event, during a maintenance period or possibly post-injury when rehabilitation is required. The technique refers to what massage/stretching/strengthening methods the therapists employs to attempt to achieve the intent, the desired outcome. The intent of pre-event massage is to warm up the muscles and to get blood flowing through the muscles. The massage techniques generally used are petrissage, vibration, percussion, compression, muscle broadening strokes, etc. With post-event massage, the intent is assist in the recovery process by increasing venous and lymphatic circulation to assist with removal of metabolic by-products and thereby decreasing muscle soreness so that the athlete can return to full training faster. The massage techniques would include effleurage, compression, petrissage, passive movements and light stretching. The intent of maintenance massage is to keep the athletes muscles and tissue in optimum condition and is generally scheduled at a regular frequency (be it weekly or fortnightly), closely married to the athlete’s training program. Thus Sports Massage is not about going deep nor it is learning one technique. The requirement for the therapist is to apply the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time, which takes education, skill and experience. (1) M. McGillicuddy. “Three Key Principles of Sports Massage”. MassageToday.com May 2003, Volume03 Issue 05. ---------------------------------------------------- Richard Lane is a qualified remedial and sports massage therapist, with a mobile massage practice in Sydney's Inner West (www.innerwestmassage.com.au or info@innerwestmassage.com.au). Health fund rebates. ATMS 13020

Richard Lane is a qualified remedial and sports massage therapist, with a mobile massage practice in Sydney's Inner West (www.innerwestmassage.com.au or info@innerwestmassage.com.au). Health fund rebates. ATMS 13020 Contact him at http://www.innerwestmassage.com.au