My point here is to emphasize value in continuing education and diving with the supervision of a scuba instructor. As you head out on your journey of scuba diving you will gain more experience and knowledge under the wing of a scuba instructor. Just like anything else, the lesson is so much greater with a mentor than striking it out on your own. The scuba instructor will provide you insight that would take you hundreds of dives to get a good handle on. Plus, the scuba instructor will share their own stories with you. Everyone loves stories that we can relate to.

There are things from each course you will take with you on your own dives. I guarantee that with most of the dives you are on will be able to implement something from each course you take, beyond the open water class. This could be from tying a knot on a shipwreck that you learned in your search and recovery class. Maybe you are in the middle of the quarry and you were ‘turned around’ due to the excitement of an underwater object and you grab your compass to take a reading to get back to shore. Or maybe you are out in the beautiful ocean on vacation and you see a newer diver go through stages from excited to worried way to fast. Without letting things go too far that will create some type of injury you make an approach to help the diver with what they need without making the diver’s worry noticeable. You would have never be able to do this without taking the rescue diver class after your Advanced Open Water class. Who would have guessed you needed anything you learned?

Now you can see some of the value of continuing on in classes you know you will enjoy. You never know you just might enjoy the challenge that comes with these classes and move yourself through the Professional ranks like I did. Others will just continue learning and becoming a more confident diver. That is something you cannot put a price tag on. You can enjoy years of endless excitement and relaxation.

Butch Zemar “Scuba Butch” is a scuba instructor that has been diving for over 15 years with well over 2,000 dives. He teaches entry level divers as well as instructors at a heated pool in Chicago. Trainers from around the nation come to train in Chicago, so why not train with the best? “Scuba is a romance and entertainment business. We increase communication and relationships through the enjoyment of recreational activities. Visit http://www.ScubaButch.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Butch_Zemar

It is important to ensure there is a reserve of breathable compressed gases in the tank. The amount to reserve depends on the risk of the diving trip. When scuba tanks need to be refilled scuba air compressors are used. The filling process must be done very carefully as filling too fast can result in heightened pressure and heating which turns to low pressure after cooling. Fill speed is usually at the rate of 1 bar per second to keep the tanks from this risk.

The compression process removes water from the gas to keep it dry for both safety and the life of the scuba tank. A special filtration process is used to for keeping the air pure, especially given the dangerous oil lubricants that must be used to operate the scuba air compressors. Oil lubricants and filtration systems are available through retailers like Sullair. Several other companies offer air compressing machine parts such as air filters and pumps. These companies include Emglo and Coleman/Sanborn. Campbell Hausfeld offer a full line of compressors and Frick carries compressor packages.

Often times, scuba air compressors and air compressors get connected to what is called a bank. The bank consists of high pressure storage cylinders that are automatically filled during times when the compressor is not in use. When the compressor’s use is needed at peak times, the reserves allow the compressor to quickly fill tanks without the slowdown of the compressor process. Because scuba compression can be high in pressure but low in volume, scuba air compressors can be used as banks to store large amounts of compressed air during times of low demand during the day.

Read more about air compressors at: http://hubpages.com/hub/diesel-powered-air-compressors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Gorski

I arrived late September and, after a night in Bali, checked-in for my morning flight to Labuan Bajo, Flores. Such flights mean you can concentrate all your dive time within the park, instead of spending 2 or 3 days getting to and from Bali and diving (in my opinion) inferior sites. The flight with IAT was on a little twin propeller plane which, to my eternal relief, handled the flight well and was a steady as any jet. On board were a mix of locals, divers and other tourists gazing down as we soared over the ever-changing coastline and shimmering seas. I was glad to see my face amongst them, kissing the tortoise shell.

On arrival at Labuan Bajo’s little airport, I was met by a representative of Seven Seas who took us the 15 minutes from the airport to the jetty. The guests introduced themselves in the minibus and chatted excitedly about what the next few days had in store for this group of disparate individuals, united only by a shared love of the underwater world.

The first sight of our home for the next few days was impressive. Standing tall and proud in the harbour was this elegant, burgundy schooner. A beautiful Indonesian sailing ship with a pronounced bow, belying the hull’s original cargo purpose. The crew, all clad in Seven Seas burgundy t-shirts, helped us on board and greeted us with smiles and welcome drinks. We were shown to our cabins below deck. I had a cabin with twin beds and, as with all, an en-suite bathroom of a standard you would be lucky to find in a hotel, complete with excellent piping hot power shower.

We set off from Labuan Bajo for our itinerary around the northern section of the Komodo National Park. I had memories of the Southern section on a previous trip where water temperatures had dropped to the teens. However, I was pleased that on this trip we would be diving mostly in the north. The diving, as promised, was excellent. The one thing that seems to stand out in Komodo is the sheer colour of the reefs. Where else can you find such a riot of yellow, blue, green, red, brown and pink all in the one spot?

The Diving in Komodo

Of course diving Komodo is such a varied experience that it cannot really be said to be about one thing. There are also great numbers of fish in the right spots. One of my favourite dives was ‘Fishbowl’ where, in addition to shark and ray sightings and myriad little reef fish, there were also big numbers of snapper, sweetlips, trevally and fusiliers. When such fish biomass is set against the vibrant hues of Komodo’s reefs surely there are few other locations which offer so much.

Night dives are another feature of Komodo which must be emphasised. One evening we slipped away on the Seven Seas’ excellent tender (which has the type of simple but effective seating arrangement that should be copied by all dive tenders) to a spot above a dive site known as ‘Spanish Dancer’. In the dark of night a fantastic number of nocturnal creatures were scuttling and slithering over the reef, including highlights such as slipper lobsters (my first sighting) and of course the eponymous Spanish Dancers, whose mid-water dance illuminated by our spotlights provided a breathtaking moment.

Pillarsteen was another highlight for me given its incredible topography with all manner of caves, swim-throughs and chimneys. This felt like a real adventure with the divemaster leading the way into seemingly dead-end fissures in the rock only to be followed by a snake of excited divers emerging out of the other side into the sunlight. As a change from focusing on all the colour and fish, Pillarsteen proved a very popular addition to our cruise.
Komodo Dragons

A land excursion near Komodo Island

Of course if you mention the word Komodo to most people, the first image they will have in their mind is that of the legendary dragon. Seven Seas’ Komodo trips include a day’s visit to the island where you can get up close with these enormous reptiles. We chose the 2 hour walk option, which took us inland away from the ranger station and onto higher ground, in search of dragons in a more natural habitat. Walking along through the dry sparse vegetation onto viewpoints from where you can gaze all around, and know that you are standing on Komodo Island, is a special thought. Sadly we did not see any large dragons on our trek. However on the way back we did spot a few juveniles scurrying around in the undergrowth. The island itself is a popular spot with divers and non-divers alike so you are likely to meet other travellers there. If you are on board the Seven Seas you can expect to see plenty of jealous glances into the bay when other people realise you are on the large proud burgundy sailing ship standing head and shoulders above the other vessels at anchor.

The Ambience

Mark Heighes, one of the owners and one of Indonesia’s best known characters in the diving community, was our cruise director and throughout the trip kept us entertained with funny stories and also engaged us with interesting information about the park and the efforts to preserve its environment.

Every night we would sit around after one of the tasty and varied meals that we were treated with, and chat about all manner of subjects. The guests were such a mixed bunch that mercifully we were spared the 24 hour diving chat and instead covered vast range of topics. On a couple of occasions we elected to pop on a DVD and all lounged in the saloon enjoying a movie on the flat screen TV and surround sound.

Possibly the best aspect of the Seven Seas is the amount of space. The A/C saloon is large and comfortable and in addition to the table and benches in the middle of the main deck, there is a lot of space on the upper deck. Above the saloon is an open sundeck area with sun loungers and tables and chairs, as well as cushioned sofa beds. In the aft section of the upper deck is a fully-covered lounging area with sofa beds in the trademark burgundy. It all adds up to comfort galore; and to couple the comfort and space above water with the variety and wonder of Komodo National Park below water, truly is a great combination.

Small Things that Make a Big Difference

Perhaps one difference between cruises on the Seven Seas and those with other Komodo liveaboards is that guests are encouraged to explore the islands rather than spending all their free time on deck. We had a trek over an uninhabited island with spectacular views and a gorgeous beach, where the sand is a few shades more red than its more famous neighbour, ‘Pink (sometimes Red) Beach’. Some guests also went of for relaxing sunset kayak excursions which make magical photo opportunities. One day while moored in a quiet bay, a dugong surfaced for breath near the boat,which was followed by a kayak trip for further interaction. Dugongs however only play when they want to and this time it seems we weren’t invited.

On the trip back to Labuan Bajo as we chilled out with cold beers and the setting sun cast a pink glow over the water, dolphins cavorted in our wake and I found myself more in love with Komodo than ever, and sad to be bidding it farewell.

For anyone with a love of scuba diving or an interest in nature, then this one area with Komodo dragons, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins and innumerable delightful fish and reefs, has an allure that can only be resisted for so long.

I know I will be back one day. Perhaps not for some time but I must surely revisit the magical place that is Komodo.

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world’s most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Macaulay

Characteristically no wider than 450m, the Ribbon Reefs are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and are covered in colourful corals that attract a plethora of reef life big and small, with sandy gullies separating them, themselves containing interesting critters.

The Ribbon Reefs are generally quite shallow, coming up to as high as 5 metres below the surface from a sandy bottom that is between 15-20 metres below the surface. With great visibility year round and mostly calm sea surfaces, they are the staple of many liveaboards and provide fascinating Australia scuba diving opportunities for all levels of diver.

Highlights

One of the most famous Great Barrier Reef dive sites and a spectacle to behold, Cod Hole, as the name suggests, is a dive site famous for cod. Giant potato cod to be exact. What makes this site special is that the giant potato cod are virtually domesticated thanks to 2 decades of being fed by divemasters. There’s something special about a 60 kg fish swimming right up to you for a nibble from your hand. During feeding time everyone joins the action as coral trout, sweetlips, triggerfish and trevally also try to muscle in on the action.

Steve’s Bommie is a bit of a legendary dive site. The ballade of Steve varies according to who’s telling the story, but the common thread is that Steve loved this bommie, came to an untimely end and had the bommie named after him. A memorial plaque can be seen at 25m where most divers start on this site. Legends aside, Steve’s Bommie features a wealth of schooling action, big fish and macro life. Cruising barracudas, whitetip reef sharks and possibly even minke whales will leave you wanting to look everywhere at once.

The Temple of Doom is another peculiarly named Ribbon Reef dive site. Aside from macro action on the bommie itself, pelagic fish are a constant and you’ll have to ration your time between the reef and the blue. Shark sightings are common as are large rays and bluefin trevally of the 70 cm plus variety.

Diving Season

Due to Queensland’s tropical climate, any time of the year is a good time to dive the Ribbon Reefs. Water temperatures fluctuate between 22°C in winter and 29°C during summer. Visibility is good year round, with best vis from September to November.

During the wet summer months rainfall is moderate but usually limited to early mornings and later afternoons. The dry winter months see little rain. Surface conditions are always calm, but can become moderate during winter.

Reef Summary

Good for: Underwater photography, large animals, reef life and health and small animals
Not so good for: Wreck dives
Depth: 5 — 30m
Visibility: 10 — 30m
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm, moderate in winter
Water temperature: 22 — 29 °C
Experience level: Beginner — advanced
Number of dive sites: about 25
Distance: 140 km north of Cairns
Access: Australian liveaboard
Recommended length of stay: 1 week

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world’s most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Macaulay

Everyone knows, or should know, where to draw the line when it comes to what level of interaction with the marine environment is acceptable. The majority of divers know that they are visitors in another realm and try to observe without molestation. Sadly not all. There are would-be heroes who organise dive trips with a group of their adoring fans/customers and then proceed to give the worst possible example of how human beings should behave underwater.

I saw an American trip leader in Fiji chase an octopus into a hole and proceed to jam his pointer in every fissure in the rock to force the hiding creature out. Several desperate puffs of ink and a panicky retreat ensued. He then proceeded to collect shells and even give the “OK” or otherwise to his disciples regarding their choice of mollusks.

At one point he swam quite near me and threw to me, in the style of a basketball pass, a cushion star, only to be disappointed when I failed to receive it. Instead I responded with a hand signal that might have looked like the initial movements of ’scissor, paper, stone’. I am not sure whether this particular primate felt the need to entertain his gang so much that all his etiquette went out the window, or he simply didn’t give a toss in the first place. In any circumstance, the hands-on diver will cause much upset.

An honourable mention here must go to the underwater photographer for whom the relentless pursuit of that awesome picture comes at the expense of the marine environment. All photographers are guilty of this sin to some extent and it is not necessarily the inexperienced who are the most to blame. It may not be fashionable to say it, but photographers damage reefs! Many claim somewhat arrogantly that the consciousness-raising their images inspire among the great unwashed masses results in a net environmental benefit, but this excuse just doesn’t wash. The fact remains that many divers have witnessed more contact, interference and damage to the reefs by the sprawling limbs and equipment of role model photographers than the occasional stray fin kick of an open water diver.

I have been to resorts that ban gloves yet cater exceptionally well to photographers. To me that is a nonsense of the highest order. Yes, some may abuse the use of gloves but they are often worn for the same reason the rest of the body is covered: warmth and protection. There are times when currents require some form of holding on to a piece of rock, or a line or various other occasions when you may have to use your fingers, which are often softened and tender. Yet the mention of gloves leaves many in a state of apoplexy, whereas someone bearing a bus-size amount of hi-tech photographic equipment and almost certain to damage the reef, is given the red carpet treatment.

There seems to be such an atmosphere of ‘niceness’ in diving that people would often rather just let it go than cause any upset by giving voice to their woes. Indeed discretion is normally the better part of valour when diving with the same strangers several days in a row on your liveaboard holiday. What joy it is to be able to vent one’s splenetic juices from the safety of the keyboard!

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world’s most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Macaulay

If you are considering learning to dive you may be wondering what it entails and what sort of skills you will have to learn, here are 5 of the skills that you will learn and that are essential to your safe diving future.

Skill number 1 Mask Clearing

Your mask is there to provide an air space for your eyes to work properly. If your mask fills up with water, or even if it comes off altogether, this should not be more than a minor inconvenience. During your course you will be shown how to quickly and easily clear water from your mask even it is completely flooded. You will also be taught how to remove and replace your mask underwater and even how to surface safely without a mask.

Skill number 2 Regulator Retrieval

Your regulator provides you with the air that you breath underwater. It is possible for your regulator to become dislodged, perhaps by a careless fin kick from another diver, and knowing how to easily retrieve it, no matter where it ends up, is simply a matter of the correct techniques that will be covered during your course.

Skill number 3 Out Of Air

Running out of air is not something that should ever need to happen barring equipment failures. Nevertheless you still need to know how to deal with an out of air situation should one arise. You will be taught skills including how to share air with another diver and also how to make a controlled emergency swimming ascent.

Skill number 4 Buoyancy Control

Diving should be effortless. A sense of weightlessness should enable you to position yourself wherever you want to be in the water column. In order to achieve this you will need to understand how to control your buoyancy. This will start with how to weight yourself properly and go on to cover how to use your Buoyancy Compensator (BC or BCD) and your own breathing to change you buoyancy underwater.

Skill number 5 Keep Breathing

OK, this one is more of a rule than a skill and it is one of the most important rules in SCUBA diving. You should keep breathing all of the time. Holding your breath while diving is dangerous as, if you should ascend while holding your breath, the expanding air in your lungs can cause injury. As it is possible to ascend without always being aware of it the rule of never hold your breath is a wise one.

There are other skills that you will learn including things about your equipment, how to ascend safely, how to calculate how much time you can spend underwater, how to navigate and more.

Visit us at http://www.infoSCUBA.com

If you are interested in SCUBA diving, want to know more about the basics, want to read equipment reviews or find out more about some of the greatest dive sites in the world.

Come to http://www.infoSCUBA.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ralph_Goldsmith

Here, in no particular order, are 5 places where this is possible and some of the highlights you can expect.

Number 1 the Bahamas

The shark highlight here has to be one of the organised shark feeds that allow you to have a remarkable encounter with a number of sharks all in one place. Caribbean reef sharks are the usual fish to be found in these shark encounters. Not the biggest or most aggressive by any means but when you have 20 or 30 of them swimming around you… Wow!

Number 2 the Maldives

There are some dives in the Maldives where sharks are just about guaranteed. White Tip and Black Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef and Silvertip sharks are all pretty easy to spot while diving in the Maldives. Some of the islands in the Maldives even have shallow lagoons that are used as nurseries by some of the local reef shark population. You may be able to snorkel with baby Black Tip Reef Sharks in less than a metre of water. How cool is that?

Number 3 Elphinstone Reef (Red Sea)

Elhinstone is best known for the opportunity to dive with the Oceanic White Tip Shark. The Oceanic White Tip is a large and powerful predator. All sharks need to be treated with respect but the Oceanic White Tip is justifiably considered one of the more dangerous sharks to be in the water with. Use common sense and obey some simple rules and you will be in for the experience of a lifetime.

Number 4 South Africa

Here you have the opportunity to experience the shark of most peoples’ nightmares. The Great White shark. This magnificent animal was the start of the film Jaws (sorry to all the human actors but it’s true) and in South Africa you can cage dive with these big powerful fish. Who remembers the line from the film? “you go in the cage, cage goes in the water, shark’s in the water.”

Number 5 Djibouti

Djibouti is a country on the Horn of Africa and here there is one of the best places in the world to encounter Whale Sharks. These gentle giants are the largest living fish in the oceans today and they can be seen year round in Djibouti, although they are more prevalent from October to February.

So, if you love sharks, if you want to get up close and personal, there a 5 places where you can.

If you are interested in SCUBA diving, want to know more about the basics, want to read equipment reviews or find out more about some of the greatest dive sites in the world then visit us at http://www.infoSCUBA.com.

If you love sharks, or you know someone who loves sharks, then come and look at what’s on offer at http://www.giftsforsharklovers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ralph_Goldsmith

Wetsuit – The Cressi Junior Wetsuit is an excellent piece of equipment aimed at the junior diver. From the name you can see that it is aimed at the junior diver rather than just being a smaller version of an adult’s wetsuit. If shouts comfort throughout, with a diagonal zip, sealed and zipped cuffs, an integrated hood, reinforced knee pads and a shape that is designed for easy kitting up and removal. This should easily keep your little one warm for a decent length of dive!

Mask – Take a look at the Cressi Piumetta Mask if you are looking for a mask for children. Whilst not aimed solely at children, its features make it highly suitable for them. The skirt edge is soft and easily adapts to most faces shapes and sizes whilst the small inner volume means that it does not take much effort to clear the mask underwater. No excuse for not learning that exercise then! There are side buckles to quickly and easily adjust the headband for a comfortable fit of this mask made of soft transparent silicone.

BCD – Escaping the Cressi theme, the Aqua Lung Wave BCD is a basic entry level BCD that is available in a variety of sizes from Junior through to adult Extra Large. Although it is primarily an adult’s BCD, the junior sizes and the simplicity of the BCD make it an excellent piece of equipment for the child diver. With excellent customer reviews and easy to use controls, this is a must for any young beginner diver (or any older beginner diver) and well worth looking at for kitting out children.

Fins – Although there is still lots of other pieces of equipment to look at, the last major piece of equipment that a child might want is probably their own fins. The problem with fins is that if you try to use fins that are too big for your leg muscles you will tire or get cramp, too small and you are working to hard. But the Cressi Rondine Pro Light are often recommended for the child diver, being available in sizes from extra small through to extra large. This is another piece of Cressi equipment that always receives excellent reviews, so a good one to look at for the children.

Of course, later on the child might want their own regs and gauges, knives, torches, diving computers and a lot more. But one step at a time!

Keith Lunt own http://www.godiving.org. If you want to know more about diving, then call into our scuba diving blog. Happy diving!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Lunt

Before you purchase any scuba diving gear and equipment, it is important that you make sure everything fits properly and comfortable. A wetsuit is that is too small or too big, or a diving mask that does not fit snugly can definitely make your dive less than pleasant. So when choosing your diving mask, you have to make sure it stays properly in place and you can see effectively behind the mask. Your snorkel should appropriately fit with the diving mask on, and it should be on your left side.

Next up, we will know more about the fins and the diving suit. Keep in mind that some fins require you to wear booties. Now you will want to look for either a drysuit or a wetsuit. A good diving suit should allow you to move freely, but at the same time should fit snugly against your body.

These are a few essential scuba diving gear. Next up, let us learn more about more complex scuba equipment. Along with your scuba diving gear, you will want to have a buoyancy control device or BCD. You will be needing this device as well as the regulator, air cylinder and weight system. The regulator is vital to your gear as this is the device that makes it possible for you to breathe underwater.

Each diving regulator should come equipped with a spare oxygen valve, commonly known as the octopus. When choosing scuba gear, you will want to look for a reliable brand, as your gear determines the safety and quality of your diving experience.

Last is the diving cylinder. You will want to get familiar with the cylinders weight and breathing capacity. You may also want to consider including a dive flag and float to your list of scuba gear, as some dive sites require these. After choosing the appropriate scuba gear, you can now start your undersea adventures and explore wonders beneath the oceans surface.

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