What you should know about Scuba Diving and Flying

A simple rule that is sometimes overlooked even by experienced scuba divers. It is mentioned in almost all the scuba diving courses that it is not a good idea to scuba dive after flying or the opposite, fly right after scuba dive.

It does not matter if you took a two hour flight to a Caribbean island or a 20-hour flight to Phuket, Thailand; during flights your body suffers dehydration and it is affected by changes in pressure. To get a sense on how pressure works on your body, next time you are in an airplane try this: before the airplane takes off remove your shoes, then after a while (typically when the seatbelt sign goes off), try to wear your shoes again…sometimes you can’t.

NOAA’s Scuba Diving Manual has tables showing a ‘rough’ recommendation in terms of length of time that you will have to wait to dive or fly. As a general rule, most of the instructors and scuba related institutions recommend a 24-hour waiting period after flying. There are more accurate calculations based on some key elements of scuba diving (mix, time and depth), but I have never tried to do an accurate calculation.

The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has very interesting books and publications related to this topic, I think anyone interested in become a scuba diver should read the book titled “Diving Physiology in Plain English” by Dr. Jolie Bookspan. I am sure this book will help you to answer any simple or complex question related to diving physiology (The study of how the body works underwater).

Some divers and instructors say that if you do not wait for certain period before diving you increase your risk for decompression sickness. I think that statement makes sense, I am not a doctor but I try to be informed, according to Divers Alert Network most of the accidents occur in the first day of a multi day dive trip, is that a coincidence? Of course not!

Sometimes we (me included) are so obsessed and tempted to jump into the water on the very first day of our dive trip that we try to convince ourselves that there is no risk involved by doing that. The bad thing is that in case of emergency we do not have many choices underwater.

Remember, as soon as you arrive to your destination: rehydrate, get some rest and wait 24 hours prior to enjoy your scuba diving time!

Shoo Shark Shoo

Two weeks ago the company Shark Shield made the public announcement of their new electronic shark deterrent systems product line. These devices are the next generation in shark attack prevention systems based on the not so old PODs (Protective Oceanic Device) designed to be used by scuba divers, snorkelers and surfers.

The unit, according to the manufacturer creates an elliptical field that surrounds the user with an electric shield up to eight meters in diameter. I think this is a neat mechanism to prevent shark attacks. The Shark Shield will only deter sharks, rays and skates; it will not affect any other animals so, you can enjoy underwater photography or underwater video without disturbing the star of your movie or picture. By the way, it will not scare any seahorses or jellyfishes! :-)

The Shark Shield uses three-dimensional electronic waves that create muscular spasms and discomfort in the Ampullae of Lorenzini, one of the main the sensing organs of the sharks. These sensors are capable of detecting with accuracy electric fields, voltage and temperature in the water. What an incredible technology, no? I am referring to the shark’s sensors!

For almost US$600, this device can save you from one the worst underwater nightmares: a shark attack. An increasing number of companies and divers are buying this protective system for work or recreational purposes. Prevention and safety are good things, but also is good to know that a representative of the manufacturer said that the device worked 90% of the time repelling sharks, but it is not very effective when sharks are in an extremely agitated state.

In any case, there is always risk involved when diving with sharks.

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Scuba Diving and Fitness

Frequently, some of my friends and people interested in scuba diving asked me if it is ok to scuba dive if you are overweight or not the best fan of moving a single muscle. I am not a doctor or sports trainer to make an assessment if they are in good shape or not, so I always avoid saying yes or no. I am convinced that scuba diving, as any other sport, requires that you have at least some degree of physical preparation.

I have found that there is the erroneous idea that it doesn’t matter your physical condition to practice scuba diving or snorkeling. We, novice and experienced scuba divers, spend a lot of time researching scuba diving equipment, until we find the best design, technology and security features. And all this is ok, if we think that these are accessories that will support the scuba diving engine, our body.

In general terms, my recommendation is to establish a simple but effective workout routine, something achievable. For a beginner scuba diver, I will say start at the treadmill, after some weeks switch to running and then swimming. For somebody who is used to do some kind of exercise, maybe a combination of running, swimming and light weightlifting. For veteran divers who do some kind of exercise on a regular basis, on top of all these suggested training options, I will suggest some days only for abs and legs combined with stretching. After some weeks, you will notice that you feel great and your scuba diving experience is better now, the reason: your body is in better shape. You can dive more time; consume less oxygen and move faster than ever in the water, and…you will have less calf cramps for sure!

Be aware that these are only general ideas; always consult a professional prior to start any training program.

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Scuba Diving - UNDERWATER TALKING

A quick update on my latest post related to scuba diving with hammerhead sharks at Cocos Island (Coco Island, Costa Rica). This video will give any diver a good idea on what to expect to see during the immersion. Don't be scared by the number, because during day hours it is very common to see schools of sharks formed by more than one hundred sharks. Enjoy!

I don't know if you notice the underwater communication equipment that these divers are using. I know they are professional divers and underwater video makers (probably using expensive underwater communications equipment), but my point here is that these devices are very useful in any situation.

Ocean Technology Systems (OTS) offers a product for sport divers called Buddy Phone®, the technical name of these devices is 'Ultrasonic Transceivers' or 'Underwater Communications Equipment'; another option is the one produced by Divelink. In my humble opinion Ocean Reef offers the best of the best, the Neptune Space product line...dream equipment not for the average sport diver.

Scuba Diving Exotic Place – Coco Island and Costa Rica

The Coco Island is located at 373 miles (600km) southwest of Cabo Blanco in the Pacific Ocean. The official name in Spanish is “Isla del Coco” and is also referred as “Cocos Island”. The Coco Island is a National Park where you can find more that two hundred species of fish, more than fifteen coral types, and what I consider the main attraction, more than ten types of sharks, from including hammerheads to whale sharks.

Have you ever seen a wall of fish? These living walls are formed by schools of fish. The Coco Island is one amazing place where you can scuba dive and at the same time see something unique, like a large group of hammerhead sharks, the Coco Island offers not only great scuba diving spots but also a variety of above the water activities for your after scuba hours.

Another interesting thing about Costa Rica is that you have access to endless diving spots in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, some of the best places for scuba diving are: Murcielago Islands, Coco Beach, Samara, Cabo Blanco, Montezuma, Tortuga Island, Quepos, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.

In general, Costa Rica’s beaches are quiet places, but just in case you decide to swim instead of scuba dive, you have to be careful at the following beaches: Bonita, Cahuita National Park (Costa Rica’s most beautiful coral reef), and Barranca, since there are no lifeguards and these beaches have strong rip currents (riptides). Remember if you get trapped in a rip current, do not fight it, your best option to get out of this situation is to swim parallel to the shoreline.

Scuba Diving Exotic Place – Phi Phi Leh Island, Thailand

If you are planning to travel to Thailand for your next scuba diving vacation, the movie “The Beach” will give you a sneak peak of what you will see. A combination of beautiful ocean views and exotic islands is the perfect place for a relaxing scuba diving adventure.
Some of the best spots for scuba diving in the Phi Phi Leh Island are:

Sea Lake, Maya Bay, Camel Rock, Hin Klang and Hin Phae. Hin Phae is one of the best places to see sharks; there is a large group of Blacktip reef sharks in that area. The only thing is that if you are scuba diving you won’t see these sharks closely, since they don’t like the noise from your regulator (bubbles). My recommendation, practice snorkeling at this spot and enjoy the experience of diving with (friendly) sharks.

To get to the Phi Phi Islands you can take boats from Phuket or Krabi. It is very advisable to book you hotel or lodging in advance since it is more likely that you will have to stay overnight.

Scuba Diving Exotic Place – The Amalfi Coast – Naples, Italy

In the bay of Conca dei Marini, part of the Amalfi Coast, you will find one of the best scuba diving spots in the area: Capo di Conca. This is the ‘gate’ to a spectacular cliff for scuba diving or underwater photography; you can dive into a cave located at 35 meters deep where you will find thousands of red shrimps and sponges. Also, it is very common to see octopuses, moray eels and seahorses during the scuba immersion.

Another recommended scuba diving spot in the Amalfi Coast is the “Li Galli” Island (Isola Galli), here you will find an incredible underwater scenario for scuba diving. There are boats from Praiano and Positano, but your scuba diving experience for sure will better if you pre-arrange a tour with any of the local scuba dive shops. The island is for rental also, but unless you are millionaire…don’t even ask the price!

And if you are around the area, don’t miss the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) located in Capri, the only think I am not sure if it is allowed to dive in the grotto (I didn’t see anyone diving while I was there), I don’t think you want to fight with the boat rowers!! As far as I know, the only allowed access to the grotto is by boat…and by permit (?) Tip: Keep your head down! Ischia, Capri and Procida are located in the Gulf of Naples, Italy.

In all the Amalfi Coast there are very good (and reliable) scuba diving equipment rental companies.

As a personal note, if you are traveling to Europe one of the best web sites to get some accurate Hotel reviews is Venere (http://www.venere.com). I did all my reservations using their system and works fine, but you have to consider that some of the hotels or bed and breakfast don’t have online reservation, so you will have to wait a couple of days to get a confirmation of the reservation.

Scuba Diving Equipment – Are you ready in case you RUN OUT of AIR?

While recreational scuba diving has a significant lower rate of accidents than other sports, emergencies happen and you should be prepared. But maybe you think that you will never run out of air because you have a gauge and you check it frequently...well, that is not completely true, because in the underwater world you have an infinite number of factors that can affect your diving experience.

Even the most experienced diver has faced in his life some kind of emergency or air related incident. In case you are wondering, how somebody can reach the point where he or she doesn’t have air?, some of the main reasons why people run out of air while scuba diving are generally due to failure in equipment (o-ring, gauge, tank, regulator, octopus, etc.) or external factors like diving in cold water, against or in a current, being trapped in a fishing net or under a rock.

In any case, you will need an additional or alternate source of air, or that could become your last diving experience. There are many options and techniques (like buddy breathing, octopus, pony bottles, etc) to overcome the problem of air shortage, but I will highly recommend you to consider buying a Spare Air system. I am not affiliated with any manufacturer, but it simply makes sense!

When you are shopping around for these kinds of scuba diving systems the key question is: What is your life worth?

Air is precious, especially when you are at 70 or 80 ft.

Scuba Diving – Five Places where you can find a Dive Buddy

Here are some ideas on where to look when searching for a Dive Buddy:

Scuba Diving Stores, usually you will find a message board, some of this ads are from new divers or divers looking for a dive buddy. If you are new to the area or city, ask the salespeople if they can recommend you to get in touch with somebody in particular.

“Find a Dive Buddy” specialized web sites: Divebuddy (http://www.divebuddy.com/) is a good place to start; this neat web site will let you search scuba divers by country, city, skills, dive experience, certification, etc. If you are based in the UK, try UK Divers (http://www.ukdivers.com) they have a forum for scuba divers looking for a dive buddy.

Scuba Diving Excursion Day, in most countries or cities you will find that there are travel agencies specialized in Diving Excursions and charters. Your best option is to book a day trip, but remember to tell them that you will need a dive buddy. If you think that the person you just met will be a good dive buddy, ask if it is possible to go to scuba dive some other day and exchange contact information.

Yellow Pages, yes! Yellow pages…old resource but still effective. Go to http://www.yellowpages.com or the local equivalent abroad and search for “scuba” in a particular city or browse the index if you are using the paper-based version. This is a real international resource; all the countries in the world have a Yellow Page book. Don’t forget to call the local scuba association.

Certification web sites usually have a section where scuba divers can publish their profile and location.

In my opinion the scuba diving certification web sites are the best place to find dive buddies.
But always remember, as in anything, nobody can guarantee that your new buddy is the best diver in the world. On a security note, be careful and ask for references if you are going to dive with somebody for the first time. The best dive buddy is always somebody who is trusted by somebody you know. So, ask your friends first.

And, your last option…google this “dive buddy finder” or “dive buddy” + location, for example “dive buddy California” (do not search with quotes).

Good Luck!

Do you know any other way to find a dive buddy?

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling with Sea Lions in Peru

I did both, Scuba Diving and Snorkeling, many years ago and I can tell you that were awesome experiences! The younger sea lions are friendly and playful animals, while the older are not that friendly, they are not dangerous but a hit could hurt you if they decide to ‘play’ with you, considering the size of this animals, length 8’ 6” and weight 1000 lbs.

As scuba divers, sometimes we look for some kind of interactivity while diving, this is the perfect time to try to do something and get a response. If you have nightmares about sharks biting you, try scuba diving with sea lions! These animals, as I mentioned like to play with the new element in the water, you, the scuba diver. So, don’t be scared if you see one of them coming at lightning speed, for sure he wants to play with you. As a side note, they eat fish, squid, and octopus mainly; and will bite only if provoked. Never try to approach a beached sea lion.

There are many places in the world where you can try this. I did scuba diving and snorkeling during some day trips to Palomino Islands and San Lorenzo Island, the largest island in front of the coast of Lima, Peru’s capital.

My recommendation is that if you are going to practice scuba diving for the first time around this animals or any animal (except crabs, starfishes and seahorsesJ) always, always go with somebody that is familiar with the area and the behavior of the animals.

San Lorenzo Island and Palomino islands location: Lima, Peru
Latitude = -12.1092, Longitude = -77.1927
Lat = 12 degrees, 6.5 minutes South
Long = 77 degrees, 11.6 minutes West

If you are interested, once you are in Lima, Peru you can call or visit some travel agencies in the financial District of San Isidro or in the touristic district of Miraflores, for sure they will help you to book guided tours or boats with scuba diving equipment. If you know very well the Callao port area, you can go directly to the Callao port or La Punta and try to get a boat, I do not recommend this option, but it is up to you.

Do you have any similar scuba diving or snorkeling experiences with animals?