DAN Online Seminars ...
In the latest issue of Diver Alert, published by DAN, there was an article telling about their Online Seminars, which are free to all members of DAN. If you are a diver and carry DAN Accident Insurance, you are a member. To access member benefits you need to register (FREE) and provide a User Name and Password. This month it told about a seminar on Ears and Equalization. It takes about an hour to complete. Throughout the seminar there will be one question at end of each section. At the end, there is a 10-question test. You must make 70 to pass. If you pass, there is a link that will print out a Certificate with your name on it. It is very informative information that will benefit all divers, new and old. Click here for link to online seminars.
Packing for a Liveaboard ...
CLOTHING. Don't stress over what to wear on board. Swimsuits, shorts and T-shirts will be all you need. It is also a good idea to bring a light jacket or sweatshirt and sweatpants - nights at sea can be a little cool from the breeze off the water and interior air-conditioning can be cool after a long day of diving.
EXTRA EXPOSURE PROTECTION. When you are diving four and five dives a day, you will lose body heat and get colder. You might consider a thicker suit than usual (3mm for Caribbean). If you tend to get cold underwater, add a beanie, shorty, and/or vest to add layers for extra warmth on the last dives of the day.
SAVE-A-DIVE KIT. Spares you might need are also a good idea - extra computer batteries, regulator mouthpiece, fin straps, o-rings ... if you dive enough, eventually something will break.
SAFETY SIGNALING EQUIPMENT. Whistle, air powered alert horn, signal mirror, safety sausage and battery-powered signal lights ... some type of signaling device is always a good thing to have in case you ever need it!
BATTERIES AND CHARGERS FOR ALL ELECTRONICS - cameras, dive computers, flashlights and toys. A travel-size power strip is useful also. More and more divers are shooting underwater digital photography and that requires charging lots of batteries. Some of the newer refitted liveaboards have allowed for extra charging stations, but it won't hurt to slip one in your checked luggage.
TOILETRIES. Bring shampoo, sunblock (environmentally friendly would be good), soap and something for headaches, seasickness, diarrhea and congestion meds, and of course an ample supply of any prescription medications. Remember the TSA rules on liquids and gels carried on - everything should fit in a quart Ziploc bag and each individual container cannot be over 3 ounces. Have this readily accessible to pull out before going through the checkpoints!
CARRYON TIPS. It is always a good idea to carry your regulator, mask, dive computer, swimsuit, T-shirt and shorts on the plane with you! Unfortunately luggage does not always arrive with you! On liveaboards, it is also a good idea to arrive the day before boarding in case your luggage is delayed.
TIPPING. Crews working on liveaboards often do double and sometimes triple duty. They are constanly working filling your tanks, making your beds, cooking, etc. Be sure and allow at least 10 percent of your total charter trip price for tips. They deserve it! (Example: If your trip runs $1700, allow $170 for tipping.)
GENERAL TRAVEL TIP. Make a copy of your passport and carry it someplace separate. You can also keep a copy in an email account that is easily accessible (youraddress@yahoo.com).
Why Buy Gear ...
Scuba diving, like many recreational activities, is equipment intensive. Recreational diving has grown from an obscure sport practiced by a small band of youthful and athletic adventurers into an activity enjoyed by millions around the world in all kinds of water. Increasingly sophisticated and reliable equipment, and the training to use it properly, are largely responsible for that growth.
Whether an item of dive gear is considered essential or desirable, each was conceived and developed to satisfy a definite need and perform a specific function. From regulator to gauges, mask to fins, and buoyancy compensator to wet suit, recreational scuba equipment is purposeful, interesting to use, and a big contributor to the overall fascination and attraction of diving.
Acquiring your own dive equipment is a major factor in the enjoyment of the sport. Sure, you can rent gear at many dive destinations, but do you really want to rely on the availability of much-used rental equipment for your personal safety and enjoyment of diving?
Owning your own dive gear has many advantages. As a beginning Open Water certification student, you can speed your learning curve and progress quickly into the open-water environment by purchasing and using a basic dive equipment package - regulator and BC in addition to mask, snorkel, and fins. Learning how to scuba dive involves a lot more than learning how to breathe through a regulator underwater. You learn the art of buoyancy control, the subtleties of swimming and streamlining, and a host of other skills. Acquiring these skills quickly and comfortably has a lot to do with the equipment you use in training. If the BC is too small, you will struggle with it, which interferes with your learning. Fit and comfort are the prime criteria in selecting most items of dive gear, and in achieving maximum safety and pleasure underwater. The best way to ensure that your gear fits correctly and comfortably is to wear your own.
Even if loaner or rental equipment fits well, it may not be right for you because of particular features - or lack of them. Features are what distinguish one item of dive gear from another. When you buy your own gear, you evaluate and choose the features you need and appreciate. The process is fun, adds greatly to your knowledge of diving, and ensures that the gear you dive with does what you want it to, the way you want it to.
You will know how to operate it properly and care for it responsibly. You will know the condition of your gear, where it has been, and who has been using it. That familiarity contributes to the highest level of safety, which in turn gives you peace of mind.
Other less obvious but still important benefits accrue from owning dive gear. Buying gear deepens your relationship with your dive shop. That shop is your conduit to diving. It offers training opportunities, arranges trips, keeps you in contact with other divers, and services and supports your equipment. Having your own equipment also marks you as a serious, committed diver, and it encourages you to dive regularly, to stay involved in the sport.
The bottom line on equipment ownership: It's the way to achieve maximum enjoyment of diving. Part of the commitment you are making to learn to dive should include acquiring your own dive gear. It's an excellent investment in yourself and in your future diving adventures.