All year round, scuba diving is a popular activity. It is basically defined as the act of entering the water and remaining below its surface to explore, work, or simply just have fun. There are several famous scuba diving spots all over the world. Scuba diving isn’t limited to the oceans, however. Many divers dive into other forms of water, such as lakes, ponds and rivers.
Scuba refers to the tank containing air that divers carry with them to enable them to breathe underwater. As we discussed earlier, the word scuba stands for “self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus.”
For centuries, people have been fascinated by the life found underwater. In fact, there is an estimated six million active divers around the world. Commercial, cave, wreck and military diving are just a few purposes for diving. The most popular of which is sport or recreational diving.
However, before you go diving, there are several issues to be considered. Scuba diving is a potentially hazardous sport. Thus, you need to look at a few of its physiological concepts to help familiarize yourself.
Diving requires special training, especially when you plan to go more than 130 feet below the surface. Due to the water pressure, you would find yourself experiencing decompression sickness and air embolisms.
Also, it would be helpful to know that a person tends to consume more air the deeper he goes underwater. It follows that with the same amount of air, divers at a shallower depth last longer. Also, air consumption varies per person, depending on their diving experience, general relaxation and physical fitness. Also, those who have a healthier lifestyle, which means less alcohol and tobacco intake, expect to last longer underwater.
Scuba diving dangers primarily stem from the physiological hazards encountered. Unlike aquatic animals that have gills to extract oxygen from the water, humans need external devices to breathe underwater. Thus, it is important to strictly follow the procedures learned during scuba diving certification process. You should never attempt to dive beyond your abilities and experience.
To breathe comfortably underwater, it takes more than good supply of air. You need to consider the pressure exerted by water onto your chest and lungs. That means, you should be able to exert enough pressure when inhaling to counter the surrounding temperature, or else, you might not be able to safely inflate your lungs.
Fortunately, there are modern devices such as valve regulators to ensure that the diver can breathe naturally and almost effortlessly underwater, regardless of depth. You won’t be using your nose in inhalation since it is usually encapsulated in a diving mask. However, you don’t need to worry since inhaling from the regulator’s mouthpiece will come out spontaneously.
It is also important to ascend or descend slowly, to give your body enough time to equalize the pressure. Sudden changes in water pressure can be very harmful. A significant difference from the pressure outside and inside the diver can cause severe injuries, referred to as barotraumas.
Staying too long in great depths then ascending very quickly causes bends or decompression sickness. The deeper you dive underwater, the denser the air you breathe, which allows you to breathe nitrogen more than safe amount. Nitrogen forms tiny bubbles on your tissues and bloodstream. If these bubbles stay trapped inside your body, they could burst and cause extreme pain.
Another fatal pressure related injury is air embolism. When you ascend too quickly, the gases in your bloodstream will form a large bubble, which can impede the flow of blood to your brain. To allow excess air to escape from the body, a diver should ascend slowly enough.
To avoid these risks, you must be able to calculate how long you can safely stay at a certain depth and how long you should dive again. Of course, there is also the risk of running out of air and breathing contaminated air when underwater. Scuba diving certification courses should teach you how to avoid these and what to do should a fellow diver experience such problems.
So before you explore the underwater world, make sure you have passed a scuba diving certification. This will allow you to do unsupervised dives, refill your air tanks and buy scuba diving gadgets. Of course, when you go scuba diving, make sure that you have somebody with you who can assist you if something goes wrong.
Tags: Scuba Diving
Stamps ‘r us: know their grade and condition
Collecting stamps is a worthwhile if not a very lucrative hobby. But more than simply gathering them, it is just as important that their condition and grade be well determined by its collector.
Serious stamp collecting requires discipline and sufficient knowledge thereby allowing the collector to save appropriate money and time to build a strong and sufficient collection.
Believe it or not, there are available catalogs that provide an outline of a stamp’s relationship between its grade and value. Even modern-day technology such as the internet offers no respite from sound stamp descriptions since some stamp faults could very well escape the eye of the scanner.
Basically, the grading and condition of a stamp is the same for all stamp collectors in any part of the world.
So how does a stamp get to make that all-elusive grade?
What is a grade?
First things first, a grade involves centering, gum and cancels. It basically describes the design of the stamp and just how well the design is located right in the middle and in between the stamp’s perforations.
The stamp must be looked at both vertically and horizontally on the stamp paper.
The grading of stamps is similar to how a grade will be given out in an exam in schools, such as: excellent or poor.
The grades
A stamp that has been given a “superb” grade basically means that it is perfect and possesses the qualities that are the finest.
A grade that says “extremely fine” basically means that the stamp is almost close to perfection. It also means that the design is centered well. The margins are even around the stamp.
Cancels present in such a stamp are hardly perceptible and are generally neat. The condition of the stamp is bright; it possesses a rich color and is clean. Although most stamps made early on are seldom, if not never, seen in such a condition.
Stamps that are given the grade of “very fine” are centered well. It is also balanced and the margins are appropriate, though not even. Just as the previous grade, the stamp possesses no undesirable faults. Believe it or not, it is this grade that is usually used in many stamp catalogs.
A stamp that has been given a grade of fine or very fine means that it has a design that is a little off-center. The general condition of the stamp is that it has no such faults.
Meanwhile, a stamp that has been given the grade of fine is where the design could be found as not centered, both vertically as well as horizontally. However, the stamp’s general condition is that it possesses no faults.
A stamp that has been given the grade of average or good mean that its design is not centered.
There are no available tears or spots that are thin. Stamps that are given such a grade are collected less.
A stamp that has been given the grade of poor means that the design is not centered and the found perforations extend into the stamp’s design. The cancellation marks are also heavy, thick, blurred and smeared. Stamps with such a grade are generally not suited to be collected.
What are the conditions of the stamp?
A stamp’s condition is the basic description of its obvious characteristics, such as the stamp paper used, the ink, or the gum.
A stamp that has been given the condition of positive generally means that the stamp is clear, and has a crisp impression of its printing. It also has colors that are rich and fresh.
However, faults may be considered when there is any part that has been damaged, altered or modified. The color of the stamp may also be stained. In such cases, any attempt to clean it up may just as well result to the color being changed permanently. The stamp may also be considered as having faults if the paper has some holes, or maybe torn, or has creases or stains.
All in all, a perfect stamp may or may not be that hard to find. What is definite is that what one seeks one shall definitely find. Though it could take numerous and stamps upon stamps of searching, it is definitely out there.
Tags: Stamp Collecting
While jobs can rarely be found without using the internet and its multitude of job search engines, there is a sense of awareness that job applicants have to have in order to successfully use these websites. Protecting yourself from harassment and identity theft is important when you have personal information posted on a public website.
Remember that when you allow anyone to see your resume that ANYONE can see it. Your phone number is often on your résumé; if you don’t want it to be made public, you should consider making your résumé private and only sending it to out, not allowing just any employer to see it. Also, set up a new email address to put on your résumé. Often junk email is part of the internet job search process, so prevent your regular email from getting full by having all job search emails go to a special address.
Tags: Employment, Search Engine
Scuba Diving, while fun, has its share of hazards like any outdoor sport. Knowing how to recognize and deal with potential problems before (or when) they occur can make the difference between life and death when you’re under water. Here are a few safety precautions to take, as well as some of the things that can happen that you should look out for.
Plan Contingencies for Every Emergency – there’s that law good old Murphy made, that “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. While a seemingly pessimistic and cynical statement, it actually helps sometimes to take this approach, especially when planning for emergencies. Take enough gear to handle all the potential problems that you’ll encounter, and have back up means of getting external help on hand in case something arises that you weren’t prepared for.
Decompression Injuries: DCS – know how to recognize the symptoms of these two maladies. They will require treatment in an emergency decompression chamber. They are: Decompression sickness, or DCS, and Cerebral arterial gas embolism, or CAGE. DCS occurs because the body forms air pockets in it when utilizing compressed air, as well as because it is subject to increased external pressure from the water. DCS occurs because the nitrogen in a person’s air supply, unlike oxygen, is NOT used up and absorbed by the body, and the increased levels of nitrogen, unless controlled by a device on the breathing apparatus called a regulator, collects air pockets in the body. These create a cramping sensation, nausea, and lightheadedness, and a physical sensation referred to by divers as The Bends. DCS usually occurs on an overly fast descent, as the body and the regulator can’t compensate fast enough for the increased water pressure.
Decompression Injuries CAGE – Cerebral arterial gas embolism occurs more often as a result of an uncontrolled rapid ascent, as opposed to the bends that hit divers due to a fast descent. This manifests as sharp pains in the body, especially in the sinuses, head, and in the lung area. This is a very serious condition that can be potentially fatal. CAGE is caused when the rapid ascent of the diver causes air bubbles similar to those formed during DCS, only this time the air pressure changes that trigger the bubbles in the body are due to a sudden lessening of the water pressure surrounding the body. This causes the trapped air to have a higher pressure volume than the surrounding atmosphere. In effect, the diver is an unopened can of soda that got shaken real good underwater, and once he leaves the water, it’s the same effect as opening the can…
Injuries – the injuries that can occur from decompression range from the merely bothersome, like nausea, sharp pains, and cramps, to more serious matters. One of the most potentially damaging is trapped air bubbles reaching the heart or the cerebral system. As some of you may have seen on television, there are episodes where a villain kills a sleeping victim in a hospital by injecting air into their dextrose. The air bubbles formed in the veins cause cardiac arrest when they hit the heart, or a stroke when they hit the brain. This is a true fact, and the air bubbles causes by decompression may have this effect, if large enough. This is one of the major reasons why controlled ascents and descent rates are so vital to safe diving.
Other Potential Maladies – aside from decompression sickness, which is the most common and severe type of injury incurred by divers, other maladies are mostly atmospheric in cause. Hypothermia is caused by dives in extremely cold water, or by diving with a wetsuit that doesn’t provide enough heat insulation. Dehydration also occurs on a dive, surprisingly. Be sure to drink lots of water before you go. Asphyxiation occurs, on the other hand, if the air supply used is flawed and doesn’t give the body adequate oxygen to function.
Scuba Lifesaving – Take up a first aid class that will allow you to recognize the signs of the conditions given above, and also teaches you emergency measures to be used in those events. Don’t rely on text based or verbal descriptions make sure that the first aid course gives you full, hands on training in dealing with these injuries. Also keep your first aid kit handy and well stocked on your dives, and always have a means to call for help from others, including a radio transmitter, cellular telephone, and even signal flares. While seemingly bulky and unnecessary, these items can mean the difference between life and death.
Tags: Scuba Diving
Are you a fresh graduate and planning to look for a job? Did you just recently quit your job and are looking for greener pastures? Are you unemployed and have little experience regarding ways to secure a job? Whatever your situation may be, it would be to your advantage to study the following tips:
Check your resume for mistakes
Before submitting your resume to a prospective employer, check your it for corrections at least three times before handing it over. After researching about the job position, it is critical that you format your resume to match the needs of the company. For example, if you are applying for an accounting job, you should put in detail your accounting experience on your resume. Typographical and grammatical errors are serious no-no’s. It is also ideal to keep the length of the resume’ to at least a page and a half long.
Taking the interview challenge
A survey conducted by a staffing and consulting firm based in California which corresponded with 1,400 chief financial officers concluded that candidates for employment made most of their mistakes on their interviews. Some of the mistakes they made include:
• Arriving late
• Having little knowledge about the company
• Having little knowledge about the position applied for
• Having a superiority complex
• Behaving arrogantly
The body language of the applicant must also denote that he is confident yet not overpowering. He must maintain eye contact, have a strong handshake, and avoid looking defensive by the act of crossing the arms. Wearing the right clothes is crucial for projecting a confident stance. As they say, it is better to go to an interview over-dressed than being under-dressed.
Answer questions smartly
A common mistake of interviewees is that they tend to get tense and forget the questions that are given to them, which has the effect that they are not prepared for the interview. It is important to research the company and the position applied for to prevent being side-tracked during the interview. If you do not know the answer to the questions being asked, it is better to admit you don’t know the answer to the question and add that you can research about it. Look for the skills or expertise that the company is looking for so that when interview day comes and the interviewer asks about your strengths and core competencies, you will be able to match it to what they need.
Getting the necessary referrals
Having a referral from one of the company employees can go a long way toward landing an interview. A typical company may receive job applications in the hundreds and usually 35% to 60% of all job vacancies are filled by referrals. The odds of getting hired when you have a referral are very high if you have another 200 to 500 applicants vying for the same position. If you do not know anyone from the company that may give you a referral, it is a good idea to network the alumni of your college or university, trade groups, social networks, and professional associations. Remember, having a referral greatly increases your chances of getting the position.
Online application
With the current trend of technology and its merging with business processes, more and more companies are now requiring prospective applicants to submit their application online. Thus, first impressions are relayed not by your first appearance but by the quality and content of your e-mail. E-mails regarding job application should be polished and well-articulated. When applying on-line, use the following tips:
Complete your sentences and do not abbreviate
Employers do not like when you send them application letters that seem to be too casual. It is important to make a letter that is both formal and well written. This gives a good impression regarding your capabilities and skills.
Get directly to the point
When writing an application letter, you must be concise and straightforward. Do not put a story on the letter just to get the attention of the employer, chances are he or she will just get irritated with you and this only reduces your chances of getting hired.
Consider potential issues that may hinder you from getting the job
You may find instances wherein there is a lot of need for a job but the requirements for the position may entail training programs that may bar you from getting the position due to its highly competitive nature. Some require a lot of experience even at least 3 years of work experience. Some may have no barriers to entry but the job itself may entail a very routine work flow.
Getting the job you want may be a challenge but never lose hope. It is better to wait a while and get a job that you will enjoy rather than get a job as soon as possible but ending up dissatisfied and unhappy. Make the right decision then act on it.
Tags: Job Hunting
Phishing is an Internet term used for a certain kind of modern crime performed over the Internet. It basically involves people masquerading as something harmless, like a bill collector or online survey taker, in an attempt to gather sensitive information and/or insert harmful programs like worms, spyware, and viruses into your computer.
More often than not, children are the biggest security breach in this case. While adults have often been victims of phishers as well, children are often in a greater area of danger because of their inexperience and lack of knowledge. As in the old days, teaching your children to defend themselves is one of the best things you can do to avoid this problem.
Here are a few things to do:
1) Explain Phishing to Your Kids – let your children know about phishing. Explain to them that people CAN pretend to be your business associates or government representatives online, and that they should NEVER give out any information to someone they don’t know.
2) Drill Your Children in Anti Phishing Procedures – aside from refusing to give information, treat this as you would the old case of what you teach your children to do when approached by strangers: that they should contact you if you’re available, or play safe and run away (go offline and disconnect the Internet) if the stranger is persistent. Also remember that phishers can come in many forms, even over something as harmless seeming as an online game.
3) Install Simple Firewalls and a Computer Activity Monitor – these two programs are essential. While they may not prevent the actual act of a person getting information from your kids via phishing, they provide their own security measures as well. Firewalls insure that, in case your children accept a harmless seeming survey form, no viruses or worms get inserted into your PC. Also, in the event that a phisher manages to get information from your kids, a system activity monitor program will allow you to trace what happened while you were gone, so that you can forward the recorded information over to your local police if you wish to have them investigate what happened.
4) Know and Teach your Children about Alternate Phishing Methods – Phishing does not simply involve people trying to access your information by contacting you and your children online. There are other, more indirect methods that they can employ, so make sure your children (and you yourself!) keep aware of the following:
Link Name Manipulation – this is a common trick used by some phishers. They take the name of a famous and trustworthy site and alter it’s name slightly to appear, at a casual glance, like the original site. A common trick used is to substitute a small letter “L” for a capital “i” in the name, or to replace a capital “o” with a zero “0″. Aside from these simple naming tricks, placing an extension at the end or middle of a URL, like say, sitename.com.realname.com, is another common way of masking a hidden site. These sites will often sport a front page that looks almost exactly like the home page of the site they’re mimicking, and as soon as you enter your user name and password, the phishers will have it on file and you’re in trouble.
Phone Phishing – sometimes, in an offer to “validate” themselves, phishers will offer to call the victim’s home to “prove” that they exist and have a “physical office” (As if you could see that over a phone! You’d be surprised at the number of people who fall for this though). As above, remind your children that this does NOT prove anything, and they should avoid any offers of such contact. Under no circumstances are they to give the home number, and if the caller already knows it and calls but you have caller ID, have them take the number down on paper for the authorities.
5) Anti Phishing Programs – there are a few licensed anti phishing programs that interact with most major firewalls. Get the latest one. These will have the names and locations of known phishing sites, as well as the programs commonly used by phishers to build their sites. These licensed programs also update themselves from their own secure websites on a constant basis to keep up to date with any changes and new information. This added security acts like a firewall or antivirus program but is dedicated to blocking, detecting, and tracing phishers.
Tags: Internet
In the lightning fast World Wide Web, today’s job applicant has to do more than just look in the local newspaper for job openings. Most employers don’t list in newspapers anymore, and instead have switched to advertising their job postings online. So the job applicant’s search has become an internet search.
Job search engines like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com are great because they allow you to find exactly what job you are looking for. Simply enter your application information and upload your resume. You can choose to have your resume available for public view or you can send it only to companies with openings that interest you. The sites also have detailed descriptions of the open positions so you can determine whether or not you will fit the offered job. Savvy searchers must be wary of unnamed companies, and companies that are national and do not have local branches. These often are “work from home” scams, or will require you to pay money to sell a product.
Tags: Employment, Search Engine
In the previous chapter we discussed the different trees and the types of woods they produce. If you really want your work to be perfect, you must have the perfect wood for the job. You can only do that if you are capable of choosing it yourself. You can’t depend on others to do this for you because it is you who knows what you plan to do with it.
So, here are some tips that you can use when you are choosing wood in the lumber store.
1. Know the different classes and types of wood
As you learned previously there are many woods to choose from, all with unique characteristics. However, not all woods will cater to your needs and requirements.
- On wood classes
You have learned that there are two classes of wood, defined by the kind of trees from which they came from. So, we have hardwood and softwood.
Hardwoods belong to the group of plants that we call angiosperms. These are flower-bearing plants that have broad leaves. On the other hand, softwoods, or conifers, belong to the gymnosperm plant groups. They don’t have flowers, but they bear seeds.
These aren’t the only things that set them apart. Constitution-wise, hardwood produces more attractive lumber because of the patterns produced by the various types vertically aligned cells. This is the reason why most hardwoods are used as materials in furniture and decorative items.
Softwood, on the other hand is used as framework in structures, and as flooring material. Contrary to its name, most of the softwoods are harder and stronger than hardwoods.
- On wood grades – Here is where we deviate from the generalities you have already learned.
While woods can be classified into two classes (hardwood and softwood) within those two classes they are additionally classified into two grades, select and common.
Select lumbers are excellent types of wood that are almost 100% free of blemishes. These are used when there is a high need for a beautiful finish and appearance. Expect to pay a premium for the select grade.
Common grade lumbers are woods that have appearance flaws and are basically used in general projects and in construction.
- Let’s add to our discussion on the different wood types
There are different types of wood that are best suited to your specific project. There are also types which will make the job more difficult for you because of certain limitations. That is why you must know these wood types and their special characteristics and flaws.
- Pines can be stained in a variety of colors. That is why it is preferred to be used in indoor projects. It is also ideal for cabinet making because it can easily be cut and sanded, plus it offers stability and durability.
- Poplars don’t have many pores so it is ideal for work that needs painting to give that very smooth look.
- Birch wood isn’t that easy to use since it is difficult to drive nails on its surface. It also produces an uneven tone when stained.
- Spruces are lightweight, so it is used in travel vehicles like ships and aircraft.
- Cedars have a sweet taste, so it is advisable to use it in lining closets and building storage chests.
- Redwoods are naturally resistant to decaying. That is why it is a commendable wood type to be used in outdoor furniture, fences, and other damp areas.
- There are also chemically treated types of lumber that offer better protection from decaying due to water exposure making these types of wood best for outdoor work like fences.
- Cherries, oak, maple, and the likes have really nice grain patterns that can be used as accents in woodworks.
- Rosewoods are used in creating musical instruments such as pianos because of the high polish finish and its reddish color.
2. Be aware of the deformations and defects of the wood.
You must be aware of the deformations that can affect the quality of work that you will produce from the wood. You have to closely examine if the wood has the following:
- Physical deformities such as twisting, cupping, bending, and crooking that will affect the shape and stability of the work;
- Cosmetic flaws such as knots and checks.
- Splits that must be cut off immediately since it will widen as long as it is present in the wood.
Armed with this information, it will be easy for you to choose the right wood for the task at hand.
Tags: Woodworking
One of the most exciting ways to collect stamp is to process them while they are still attached to envelopes. It’s a little like detective work, and doing so is pretty fun and exciting. However, if you are careless in processing your stamps from the envelopes, you could very well damage them. And you know what they say, damaged stamps are worthless stamps.
If you are one of the countless stamp collectors that derive much pleasure from soaking and mounting stamps yourself, you will want to learn the proper way of processing stamps.
First of all, you have to collect all the envelopes with their stamps attached. Some of this mail will come from your mailbox. The others you can collect form neighbors and friends – having a foreign correspondence won’t hurt (plus they use stamps not readily available from where you’re from. But at least be sincere with your correspondence!). We discussed numerous ways to obtain stamps previously.
You may then want to sort or organized them before and after soaking. Get your tools ready for the soaking and mounting process – your stamp tongs, scissors, and a saucer with lukewarm water, towels, and such.
Now, take an envelope and cut the envelope around the area around the stamp. Make sure you leave enough space so that it is easier to handle the stamp. You can then place the stamp along with the paper it is stuck too – reasonable trimmed by your earlier action – on the saucer of water. Make sure you put the stamp in with its front facing up. If possible avoid having the stamp getting damp on the face.
Also, avoid putting too many stamps in the saucer at the same time. The purpose of soaking the stamps is so that the stamp gum dissolves. However, the gum also can cause the stamps in the saucer to stick to each other if they are not properly spaced.
Make sure you use lukewarm water. Hot water can cause the color of the stamp to spread or stain. Now, place the stamps on a towel face-down. Use a pair of stamp tongs to separate the envelope paper from the stamps. Although using a newspaper is fine, try avoiding paper that has colored ink on it as may stain the stamp.
Let the stamps dry. It may take a while and they may end up curled and wrinkled. Do not fear, however, since the next step will take care of that problem. When the stamps are completely dry, place them flat in any book. Telephone directories do well for this. Just make sure the book does not have colored ink to stain the stamp. This step should take a few days. Make sure, that you remove them immediately as paper contains acid that could damage your stamp.
When you are ready to store your stamps, you will need a stamp album. This is where you store your stamps and should be the centerpiece among your tools. A good stamp album protects your stamps against chemicals, the elements, dust and dirt. This is probably the piece of equipment you will want to invest a better deal of money in. Shop around and compare products well before choosing a stamp album for purchase.
A good album will allow for the stamps to be laid flat and safe from damage. Use stamp tongs to deal when placing the stamps in your album.
For stamps which you will not place in your album – duplicates, or those that you plan to give away, use glassine envelopes. Glassine envelopes are great way to keep stamps temporarily. They also serve as transit storage for your stamps – a place to put them before mounting them in your collection. Avoid using paper envelopes as they have a high acid content that could very well damage your stamps. These envelopes also make a great container when mailing or giving stamps to other people.
In all, stamp collecting can be a fascinating experience for those who do it properly. As you build your stamp soaking, and mounting skills, you will better appreciate the beauty and the history of stamps. You may, as you go on, opt to purchase more specialized tools and equipment to keep your stamp collection in tip-top shape. But in any case, the knowledge of these basic stamp processing skills is integral to any stamp collector’s hobby efforts.
Tags: Stamp Collecting
Scuba diving is a sport that many people indulge in, and it is a fun experience for almost anyone, except perhaps those who can’t swim and are terrified of water. It isn’t without it’s risks, however, and like any outdoor hobby or sport, injuries can be sustained, sometimes even fatal ones, by under trained or poorly equipped divers. For the novices out there, here are a few preparatory steps that you must take and some information you need to make sure that you can enjoy your first dive in safety.
Certification and Training – take up a course that actually gives you certification to scuba dive. If you’re just doing scuba for kicks however, like maybe just renting gear out at a beach resort while on vacation, then make sure you are accompanied by one a professional instructor when you do your dive. Also, keep in mind that scuba divers must have skills in swimming and snorkeling as prerequisites for scuba diving. If you’re not proficient in both of these areas, it’s best to try them out first before doing something as serious and complex as scuba.
Equipment Checks – make sure that your equipment is in proper working order. As stated earlier, get proper training before doing a dive. Part of any good scuba instructional course includes the care and maintenance of equipment, as well as spotting potential weaknesses in equipment that can lead to it’s failure underwater. Many divers have suffered accidents during dives due to faulty airlines, but aside from that be sure to check the rest of your equipment just as thoroughly, down to your compass and first aid kit.
First Aid – you’ll need special training in treating underwater injuries, as well as the ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of common maladies incurred by divers, which include hypothermia, decompression sickness, and in hot weather, heat stoke and dehydration. Make sure your first aid kit is well stocked before the dive.
Know Ascents and Descents – part of diving successfully is to keep a pressure gauge and depth gauge that monitors water pressure around you and the depth you’re at. Water pressure increases drastically the deeper you go, and divers can sometimes suffer dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and muscle cramps from descending too quickly. On the opposite note, even with a good, controlled descent, a rapid ascent can also lead to system shock and trauma if the diver just suddenly dumps his diving weights and rockets to the surface. The body won’t be able to adjust to the sudden lack of pressure, especially once the diver leaves the water.
Buddy Diving – never dive alone if you’re a novice. Always have a more experienced and trained diver with you. Keep your buddy in sight at all times, and be sure to follow his or her lead once the dive begins. Do NOT go off on your own, no matter how safe the surrounding waters seem to you. Tempting as it may sound for the adventurous, even if you and a friend take the same scuba course at the same time, remember that he or she does NOT count as a diving buddy if you’re both novices. There’s nothing more dangerous in any outdoor exploratory sport than a pair of people blundering around in a dangerous environment.
Communication – learn the hand signals used underwater by divers to communicate. Even with a high tech open face scuba mask that has an integral communication radio, these hand signals are a must for any diver. For one, your radio may break down and run out of batteries. For another, you might run into a cute girl on your dive that is not wearing a communication system.
Navigation – know how to navigate underwater. The training course that you take should include the recognition and use of simple tools like an underwater compass, as well as more advanced things like using underwater floater buoys and line markers that will allow you to backtrack to your starting point once you’re done with your dive. Losing sight of your buddy and getting lost underwater is scary, take my word for it, and having the capability to backtrack and meet up at a predetermined rendezvous point takes a load off your mind if this happens.
Tags: Scuba Diving