The Five Ws
Scuba diving
is a complex sport and cannot be fully understood in one lesson. Before taking
your first scuba class, you should have a firm comprehension of the five Ws (who,
what, where, when, and why) of scuba diving.
Who can dive?
Just about anyone can become a diver. Scuba diving is an equal opportunity sport
open to men, women and children of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
handicap or familial status. However, there are a few limitations on age and health
for safety purposes. Here is a quick breakdown of criteria:
- Age
Anyone 15 years old or older can become an Open Water Diver. Children between
the ages of 10 and 15 can receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification. At
the age of 15 they can upgrade to a regular Open Water Diver certification.
There are programs available for younger children that will help prepare
them for certification such as the Bubblemakers, Scuba rangers, and SASY.
- Fitness
In general, anyone in good average health who meets
the age requirement can participate. As a safety measure, a routine medical questionnaire
must be completed. If anything on the questionnaire indicates a risky condition,
you should get a medical checkup to make sure it's acceptable to dive. Some conditions
to watch out for include but are not limited to neurological, cardiovascular,
pulmonary, gastrointestinal, metabolic and endocrinological, orthopedic, hematological,
pregnancy, behavioral health issues, and ear and sinus problems. When in doubt,
Divers Alert Network can answer health questions.
What do divers do?
Scuba divers do more than check out the fish. Depending on your interests, you
can specialize in a skill for your own pleasure or make diving a career option.
Scuba diving can be broken down into four groups: recreational, commercial, scientific,
and military.
- Recreational
This is the largest group of
divers – those who dive for the fun of it. Once you get your certification, you
can further your diving education by specializing in a skill. Some specializations
include altitude diving, night diving, fish identification, search and recovery,
underwater photography or videography, equipment specialist, cavern diving, wreck
diving, ice diving, and technical diving specialties. Careers include divemasters
and instructors; instructor trainers and examiners; resort, dive center and live-aboard
personnel; journalists, photographers and cinematographers; leaders of scuba training
and certification agencies; sales and marketing professionals.
- Commercial
Commercial divers usually, but not always, work for diving contractors. They build
underwater structures and oil platforms; salvage ships and treasures; construct
and maintain boats, bridges, docks, dams, nuclear power plants and coastal structures;
conduct engineering and scientific surveys and inspections; operate and maintain
complex remote operated vehicles (ROVs), air and gas supplies, and life-support
systems; provide hyperbaric first-aid and diving emergency medical care.
- Scientific
Scientific diving is different from recreational diving
and commercial diving in many ways. Scientific diving is carried out exclusively
for research purposes, or in support of research activities that involve marine
life, the ocean, underwater archaeology, etc.
- Military
Military
divers perform tasks such as underwater ship repair, salvage, and construction,
as well as dive medicine. Specialized diving divisions include explosives ordnance
disposal and combatant divers.
Where do divers dive?
Scuba
divers dive wherever there is water: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, quarries, waterways,
canals, mines, springs, abandoned oilrigs, and old missile silos.
When
is the best time to dive?
Any time of year is a good time to dive. Just
because it is fall or winter, it doesn’t mean you can’t dive. There are many cold
water and ice divers out there. You can take specialty courses to prepare you
for cold water diving. If you are a warm water fan, take a vacation to a tropical
island and enjoy.
Why do people scuba dive?
There is no one
simple answer to this question. People dive for their own personal reasons, which
can include an appreciation for the ocean, an interest in marine life, or just
for the thrill of the ride.
Things for scuba Diving
Mask
Fins
Buoyancy Control Device
Regulator
Cylinder
Exposure Suit
Submersible Pressure Gauge
Alternate Air source
Compass
Dive
Computer
Whistle
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