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The 8 Most Common Scuba Diving Questions

Scuba diving gives you a unique way to face your challenges and transform your life in new ways.  It's normal to have questions whenever you begin an activity like scuba diving lessons.  Here are the answers to many questions people commonly have.

• Q:  I've heard something about diving after flying or that I have to wait.  What's the scoop on that?
  A:  It's important to know about this if you're diving while traveling.  While you can go scuba diving right after flying, you cannot fly right after scuba diving.  You increase your risk of decompression sickness if you don't wait for a long enough time to fly after diving.  Here are the current flying after diving guidelines:
  
  The Flying After Diving Workshop held in May 2002, in Durham, North Carolina, USA, produced some new flying after diving recommendations. They apply both to Recreational Dive Planner and dive computer guided dives and are important for anyone considering dive travel.
  
  Recent experimental trials indicate the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) decreases as the preflight surface interval increases. Based on these studies, the Workshop reached the following consensus recommendations.

  For Dives within the No-Decompression Limits
  - Single dives - a minimum preflight surface interval of 12 hours is suggested.
  - Repetitive dives and/or Multi-day dives - a minimum preflight surface interval of 18 hours is suggested.
  
  For Dives requiring Decompression Stops - A minimum preflight surface interval greater than 18 hours is suggested.
  
  Flying after diving recommendations need not be considered for flights to ambient/cabin pressure less than 600 meters/2000 feet.

Everything is easy if you know what to do.  Leave the dive site better than you found it.
Pick up litter and leave only bubbles

Don't feed the Sharks.  Feeding marine wildlife puts both animals and people in danger.

• Q:  My ears hurt when I go to the bottom of a swimming pool or when I dive down snorkeling.  Will that keep me from becoming a scuba diver?
  A:  No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses.  The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure on your ears.  Our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears - you just need to learn how.
   

• Q:  Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking preclude someone from diving?
  A:  Not necessarily.  Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function, heart function or other may alter a person's individual risk.  Physicians can consult with the Diver Alert Network (DAN) as necessary when approving someone for diving.
   

• Q:  What are the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
  A:  Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the counter preventatives.
   

• Q:  What about sharks?
  A:  When you're lucky, you get to see a shark.  Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very, very rare and with respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behavior.  Most of the time, if you see a shark it's passing through and a relatively rare sight to enjoy.
   

• Q:  Do women have special concerns regarding diving?
  A:  Aside from pregnancy, no.  Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation is that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.  Menstruation is not normally a concern.
   

• Q:  How deep do you go?
  A:  With the necessary training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 40 metres/130 feet.  Beginning divers stay in shallower water.
   

• Q:  What happens if I use up all my air?
  A:  That's not likely because you have a gage that tells you how much air you have at all times.  If you run out of air, your buddy has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to share a single air supply while swimming to the surface.  There are also other options you'll learn in training.
   

• Q:  What if I feel claustrophobic?
  A:  Although wearing a lot of equipment may seem awkward, many people find the "weightlessness" of scuba diving relaxing.  Your instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each of the progressive skills of your scuba diving lessons.
   

Play the game of life, and live it for all your worth.  Its the only game in town, and the only way to lose is to not play.


Sea Urchins on a scuba dive in Waikiki