Aloha!

Look out!  Stay Safe when Scuba Diving

It doesn't matter how much you can afford to spend on your Hawaii scuba vacation if you don't have the confidence and skills you need to stay safe and have fun.  Below are a few tips you can follow.

• Stay healthy and fit for diving.  Eat right, exercise regularly and get adequate rest.

• Have approval for diving from a physician who has given you a thorough medical examination, and have one every two years.

• Be recently trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Maintain your dive skills by diving as often as you can.

• Get an orientation to new diving locations, conditions or activities.

• Always have and use all the equipment needed for the conditions and environment.

• Have your scuba equipment serviced annually and inspected regularly.

• Dive only when feeling well, both physically and mentally.

• Know the dive site and evaluate the conditions.

• Refrain from alcohol, smoking or dangerous drugs before or immediately after diving.

• Plan your dives with your buddy and dive your plan.

• Always conduct a pre-dive safety check; BCD, weights, releases, air, fins and mask.

• Be prepared for emergencies.

• Display the appropriate local dive flag and stay near it.

• Begin dives against the current, or take this into consideration.

• Equalize pressure during descents early and often.

• Be alert for possible problems and avoid them.

• Pace yourself, breathe properly.

• In an emergency, stop, think, get control and then take action.

• Ascend carefully and correctly.

• Stop diving when you're cold or tired.

• Stay out of overhead environments unless you're properly trained and equipped

• Be an active diver.  Dive frequently to maintain your proficiency.

• Build your experience and capabilities gradually under safe conditions.

• Keep a dive log.

• Don't lend your equipment to untrained persons.  Never attempt to teach another person how to dive; leave instruction to trained professionals.

• Continue your diver education.  Remember that a good diver never stops learning.

Gain the Confidence you want, to help make your scuba diving the most fun time you can remember.

Good boating behavior respects all marine life.

Florida, Hawaii, and other states have banned shark feeding, and people are learning that a real marine wildlife experience is one that doesn't change the habits and behaviors of the creatures they're swimming with or observing.  Now wasn't that fun?