How not to get lost in unfamiliar waters

How not to get lost in unfamiliar waters

http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/kak-ne-poteryatsya-v-neznakomykh-vodakh/

Fear to lose and not find the way back to the boat is the most common phobia of divers – beginners which makes it impossible to enjoy diving completely. In such situations people usually start to panic that only make worse. What can we do to avoid being in trouble? Experts in Ahla-diving company identify several key points which allow to navigate with confidence even in unfamiliar waters for those who first buys diving tours.

The first rule which will allow you to feel confident during dive is to know underwaters’ landscape basic features. You can do this with the help of map which you can find on dive site or by using drain and compass. It is important to choose notable landmarks such as coral reefs, caves, etc.

Very important rule for newcomers is to plan the root. It helps not only to be more confident in case if the diver falls behind the group but also allows to see the most interesting places. You can use a marked stone or even spare equipment as a guideline for the start point.

Another piece of advice that experienced divers often give is to exclude the rush. You need to stop and look around before you start moving or each time you change the direction. You can also mark your position on the map that shows the best dive sites. Such breaks help to focus and minimize the risk of getting lost.

In case if the diver is still lost the first thing he needs to do is to relax. Compass and marked points will help you to return quickly to the start point. In an extreme case you can float but don’t forget about safety rules.

Scuba Diving and healthy back – it’s real!

Diving can be traumatic, especially if  you do not follow the rules. You need to lift and carry heavy equipment all the time because it is impossible to dive without it. It can be dangerous for your back. You must protect your spine – firstly you have no additional one and secondly many injuries are insidious and appear only after years when it is almost impossible to cure them. In your power to take care of your back today – follow simple set of security measures and you will avoid many problems.

Healthy back is real for diver.

We should mention that it is not gonna be easy, but if you make enough effort you will be able to enjoy diving and maintain a healthy back.  In order to reduce the risk of injury to a minimum you need to do the following:

• enfold your equipment – the whole weight of equipment can be located on one side, which entails uneven load. Carry tanks and equipment holding them across the chest with both hands.
• Ask your colleagues to help you. Diving is a collective sport and it is more comfortable and safe not only to dive together but also to wear equipment. It is better to wear BCD when you are sitting and on two hands at once. So when you get up you carry the load on legs.
• Torsional loads are especially dangerous for the back.
• You should not dcarry heavy equipment on outstretched hands.
• Keep yourself in good shape.
• If you have to lift weights in spurts because of the great heft it is better to ask your buddy to help you.
• Climb on board fluently and holding the handrails.

And of course make a test dive under guidance of instructor in order to understand how to avoid mistakes.AHLA DIVE

Diving for kids: where to start and what to look at

Diving with kids together – it is great common pastime. Thus parents can turn their hobby into a family hobby. However adults should make sure that diving is comfortable for their kids in order the kid really wanted this hobby to be the passion of his life.

Introduction to diving

If parents decide to take their child to diving for kids they must make every effort so that the child really became interested in this idea. You can show them pictures taken while diving in the Red Sea, describe your feelings. It is very important not to push on the kid in order he decided to engage in this sport by himself.

Choosing a professional club

It is important that the training took place in the professional diving center. Pools where divers train are happy to accept young athletes and experienced instructors teach everything you need. Thus there are all conditions in Ahla-diving club to make activities for kids exiting. Special programs are developed for different groups which take into account physical features of each age. Instructors follow the safety measures during classes.

Parents’ psychological support

Family support is very important for children especially during early stages of studying. It is important to make kids sure that all their efforts will be rewarded. Also you need to encourage the kid, praise his success and support him in case of failure. It is good to tell the kid how you learned to dive. Such stories can help him to cope with self-doubts and give strength and desire to continue training.http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/Diving-for-kids-where-to-start-and-what-to-look-at/

Kids’ diving: features of psychological preparation

If you decided to attach your kid to the wonderful world of diving you should start with the psychological preparation. At first you should show your child your own underwater pictures and watch documentary about diving – all this is aimed at to generate kids’ interest. Most of the children are quickly enough involved to a new and unusual experience. At this moment you can start diving training.
Next step involves introduction to equipment and first dive. For such experience fits pool where divers train. You can come closer with your kid to consider the equipment and even ask permission to touch it. A professional diving center can take to learn kids from 8 years. Sure much depends on the child his emotional and psychological maturity.
Before diving with equipment it is better to offer your id usual swimming with mask and snorkeling. This will help to cope with psychological barrier of dipping face into water. Ability to use snorkeling will help the kid to control his breathing. One of the important component in diving are fins. Only after they are mastered, you can move on to the next stage of learning. The professional instructor can estimate whether the kid is ready. For children diving includes not only physical training but also the ability of young diver to listen and understand the instructions of the coach and not to be afraid and not to panic in new unusual conditions. All these demands are the key to safety on the water. An important aspect is personal interest of the kid and a lack of phobias. Experienced instructor can help to overcome the fear of the dive and uncertainty on the water. As a rule kids’ programs include a lot of game points that help the kid to relax and to join the underwater world painlessly.

Original article: http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/detskiy-dayving-osobennosti-psikhologicheskoy-podg/

Diving – is it for chosen one or entertainment?

It argued that only trained people like athletes, swimmers or military could be engaged in diving. According this kind of sport seems to be difficult, dangerous and boring. This myth appeared ten years ago while diving really engaged only specially trained people, such as commandos, parachutists and athletes. But now everything has changed. In our time this sport has become of the forces of each thanks to effective system for training and development of diving. Nowadays, the underwater world of the seas and oceans is available to people of all ages – from kids to elderly.

Try to plunge into the world of scuba diving and you will see how many amazing feelings it will bring you. Under water you will discover a new world of weightlessness and ease. You will be able to observe the life of underwater inhabitants – plants and animals. And the water will hang over you lie an unusual dark green sky. Neither traveling to other countries, nor flight or even space can give you such specific feelings. So why are you still closed to new joyful experience?

Is it hard to learn diving? May be it is…but it is much more difficult to ride a bike. It’s gonna take you more than a week to learn bicycling but you need only 5 days to get international certificate in diving and you are free to dive safely and wander the underwater world. Of course you won’t be alone in this. You will always be accompanied by instructor who will insure you against all possible surprises.

Is it dangerous to dive? This is also a myth. Any shark is not going to attack if you don’t threaten it. All beg fish avoid people, instead you will be able to admire bright colorful fish for hours.

You probably already knew that nowadays diving has become a fascinating entertainment instead of heavy sports. Don’t miss an opportunity to get acquainted with underwater treasures. They are waiting for you!

Original article: http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/dayving---sport-dlya-izbrannykh-ili-razvlechenie/

Buddy check in 30 seconds [Part 2]

This is the second part of the article devoted to buddy check.

W – Weights

Put your attention whether your partner has a weight belt or not. If he uses an integrate-weights system check whether packages are inserted and fixed in the right pockets.

R – Releases

Get acquainted with the condition of all your partners’ buckles. It is necessary to check whether they are fastened and tightened. Remember to check the tank strap. Do not miss belayer belt of the tank valve.

A - Air

You have to know for sure that the tank valve is opened or not. Hold the pressure gauge in one hand and regulator in the other. Start forced oxygen supply by pressing the appropriate button. If the gauge arrow retains the position – everything is fine. But if it is moving it means that the valve is closed. And you know that you can’t dive with closed valve under any circumstances.

F – Final check

Conduct a final check of the diver and insure in good condition of his “dress”: that the hoses are not bent or crossed, whether the pressure gauge hose is under the left hand and the spare second stage hose is under the right hand. Are they fixed enough? The spare second stage could be removed without any problems. Let your partner examine the state of the pressure gauge. There is no problem to readout if it is in proper gear. Your partner should take his computer, fins, mask and other equipment that he needs during this dive. And finally “OK”. It means you are ready to go.

Under water look at your partner once again. If you see a leak of oxygen you have to stop the dive and solve the problem with a leak.

Mutual check let you know not only whether your partner is properly equipped but also let you see different types of equipment. It is very useful because in which case you already know what to do with your partners’ equipment.

 It is very important for each of the divers to observe safety and prescribed short course of diving. Yours’ and your partners’ health depends on your vigilance.

Original article: http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/baddi-chek-za-30-sekund--vtoraya-chast-/

Buddy check in 30 seconds [ Introduction]

Buddy check in 30 seconds [ Introduction]

Nowadays diving is no longer occupation for the chosen one and all those who are attracted to the sea element can do it. Unfortunately not each course includes all the details of safe diving. A lot of amateurs while diving just forget about important steps that must be completed before going underwater. But in vain – the most important things in any business are safety standards, especially when you deal with the depths.

This article discusses mutual equipment check [Buddy check] which can be done just in 30 seconds. So lets take first things first.

Primarily diver comes to the place where he plans to dive. After that usually everybody discuss upcoming underwater journey, then divide into pairs and wear scuba sets. Although everything seems to be ready, if not one “but”. It is necessary  to check what could be the problem – typically diving courses include the information how to do that. You should read this article very carefully if your instructor did not tell you anything about “buddy check” and also conclude the level of professionalism of that person.

Diver must stand in front of his team-mate. In what order to check partners’ equipment? It’s easy to remember – just hammer into your head one sentence “Big White Rabbits Are Fluffy” as you might guess it is important to remember the order of the first letters – BWRAF.

B – BCD

You need to inflate BCD in order to check each valve that release air. Most often there are three valves – one is located near the inflator: it can be activated by pushing the button, the other two will be opened by pulling the rope.

There are also new trends that we can meet increasingly. It is about the upper emergency valve which is located at the opposite end of the inflator protective hose and also works on the principle of tension.

When the valve is opened it must release air. In case when it happens arbitrarily or it doesn’t happen at all you ought to remove equipment and examine the valves. Often the problem is an accumulated dirt or sea salt.

With other steps of the buddy check you can get acquainted in the second part of the article.

Original original article: http://ahla-dive.com/eng/blog/baddi-chek-za-30-sekund--vtoraya-chast-/