New to Diving

[svt_gEEk]

Hello everyone. I just have recently gotten an interest in starting scuba diving. I know of a scuba certification class that will be offered at my university in the fall and I plan on taking it. What are some things that I need to know about scuba diving before I get into it? How dangerous is it? and what if I don't like sharks, lol. Also I'm big into watersports and just bought a wetsuit for that and was wondering if it would be sufficient for scuba diving. It is a Jetpilot Storm 4/3mm full suit. Thanks in advance!

 

[DandyDon]

Hello everyone. I just have recently gotten an interest in starting scuba diving. I know of a scuba certification class that will be offered at my university in the fall and I plan on taking it. What are some things that I need to know about scuba diving before I get into it? How dangerous is it? and what if I don't like sharks, lol. Also I'm big into watersports and just bought a wetsuit for that and was wondering if it would be sufficient for scuba diving. It is a Jetpilot Storm 4/3mm full suit. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to SB! College scuba classes tend to be more thorough than regular classes, plus it's probably cheaper that way. Go for it.

Scuba has the potential for being dangerous, but we try to manage the risks at a minimum. If you don't like sharks, then it's fine - as they are very rare on scuba dives, certainly not much of a threat on scuba. They're generally surface feeders which rarely bite swimmers or surfers. The most dangerous part of most dive trips in the ground transportation; wear your seat belts.

I don't know the wetsuit brand, where you are or where you'll be diving. Always good to put locations in profiles here. A 4/3 long jumpsuit sounds like quite a bit of protection for southern US waters, etc.

Do you have to provide your own mask, snorkel, fins? If so, research those forums here, buy those soon, and practice snorkeling - a great way to get used to swimming with a mask and fins, breathing thru a mouthpiece. Move on the free dives with equalizing, but avoid SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT by staying down no more than a minute at a time.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Scuba diving is addicting. Once you start, you won't be able to stop.

Scuba diving can be HIGHLY dangerous or no more dangerous than walking across town. It depends on what kind of diving you do and where you dive.

If I happen to see a shark when I'm diving, I feel very fortunate. Sharks don't, as a general rule, want anything to do with scuba divers.

Your 4/3 suit will probably be fine, depending on the water temperatures that you're going to be diving in.

Good luck!

 

[Kray_Z]

what univerisity do you go to? also the wetsuit should do fine but it depends on where you live. as far as sharks and danger go... danger is an issue in anything you do, saftey is something you apply to what you are doing in order to do what you want while minimizing danger. the class will teach you how to do it safely and if you follow your instructors IMO diving is safer than driving because it is a more controlled evironment(for what you will be doing) because you inspect and check out your gear and dive with a buddy for a back up. as far as sharks go.. i have yet to see one but its(once again) all in where you dive.. if you dont like sharks and aren't looking for them, then you proably will not find any. gl and have fun the worst that can happen by taking the class is that you will credits(at least i did) for your degree and a certification that you can use anytime down the road

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Read this board, anything and everything you need to know about scuba is on here. Boyle's Law is extremely important to a scuba diver among many other things. Make sure to check out the diving medicine section of the board as well in case you have any medical issues or take any regular medications. How dangerous is it? You will be the biggest factor in the answer to this question. While injury or death can happen to divers who do everything right that's not the norm, most accidents/fatalities are a result of diver error. Pay attention in your class, master the skills you are shown, understand that problems that occur underwater must be solved underwater and practice that from day 1, no standing up because you are freaking out. Stop, take a few slow deep breaths, relax and solve the problem underwater. Panic kills divers, diving is mostly a mind exercise and you must be in control of your actions and reactions. Dive within the limits of your training, dive often and seek out additional training that will increase your skill level and broaden your comfort envelope. If you don't like sharks don't dive with them and don't go spearfishing, sharks are beautiful and graceful and seeing one on a regular dive is relatively rare and a special treat. Those who want to dive with sharks usually have to go on special "shark diving" excursions where food is used to attract them. Scubaboard is a great place to start your diving adventure. Fill out your profile so we know a bit about you and have a general idea about where you are, it will help us answer the questions you are bound to have in the future.
Enjoy your research!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[boomo26]

That wetsuit should be fine for about 70 degrees or high depends on where you are located. Sharks are not a problem, like said above they like the people on the top of the water not the ones under that blow out a bunch of bubbles. The main that is dangerous about scuba diving is your nitrogen level, if you dive very deep more then say 100 feet and several dives in a row, you will have to use your dive tables, or to make it easier get a computer. It is not dangerous, but like everything else just pay attention to the signs. You will love it I got certified about 8 months ago and can't get enough of it.

Boomo

 

[svt_gEEk]

Thanks for the quick replies! Sorry about not giving my location, I thought I had that in my profile, oh well. I'm located in northern Mississippi and if I do get into diving I will plan on diving around the florida panhandle and MS/AL coast most of the time with occasional trips to the keys and carribean.

About the sharks, that makes me feel a little better knowing they are a rarity because I'd probably panic if I saw one on one of my first ocean dives. After I get used to the fact that they're not after me I'll probably want to see some. I'll continue to read up on things around here and expand my knowledge. Thanks again!

 

[Code Monkey]

Welcome to diving! My family started diving about 6 years ago and we just love it -- hopefully, you will too!

What are some things that I need to know about scuba diving before I get into it?

You'll get all the basics from the class. Don't hold your breath, check your gauges frequently, look at all the pretty fish. 8o) You'll want to get some sort of diving insurance like that provided by the Diver's Alert Network (aka, DAN).

Also of note: it can be *very* addictive 8o)

How dangerous is it?

It's not. I think there are about 80 diving deaths a year, worldwide, but most of those seem to break down into:

1. people diving beyond their certification level,
2. panic, and
3. heart attacks by people who would have probably had them topside had they not been diving.

So, do what your class tells you. Stay under 60' to begin with and go no deeper than 10' deeper than your deepest dive. Stay out of caves and wrecks. Work on your buoyancy control before you dive on a site where the floor is deeper than 100'. And you probably want to get some safety gear (safety sausage, whistle, signal mirror) just in case -- these are cheap insurance.

and what if I don't like sharks, lol.

There were 4 deaths by shark attack worldwide in 2005. That includes divers, swimmers, spearfishermen, surfers, everything. Besides, you'll have to work to find sharks because they're skittish (sp?) around people. Once you see one, though, you'll fall in love -- they're beautiful creatures, really.

Also I'm big into watersports and just bought a wetsuit for that and was wondering if it would be sufficient for scuba diving. It is a Jetpilot Storm 4/3mm full suit.

Depends on where you dive. My wife and I like to dive in 84 degree water when we can so that we don't have to wear a wetsuit at all! When we dive locally, though (Southern California) we can get cold in our 7mil semi-dry suits. It's all about where you dive and your tolerance for being cold.

 

[Kray_Z]

oh well the panhandle is a suitable match for your 4/3 in the ocean.. if you start doing spring or longer dives then you might want a little more but give it a try and have fun!

 

[Jake]

Even if you don't want to dive where you live, it's a great idea to get your cert if you find yourself on vacation in some gorgeous part of the world.

You asked about sharks, and everyone's answered that already. Let me answer the question a little differently: there is a lot of sea life that will startle you the first time you see it. Sheep crab, a local inhabitant, still scare the bejesus out of me when I sweep across them with my light on night dives, and big animals are always a little disconcerting when you chance upon them; curious seals have stopped many a diver's heart more than once!

If you do come across a big shark, play it safe and you'll be fine. As someone else has said, consider yourself very lucky, but do be very careful. I've only seen a handful of very small sharks here off of SoCal, and they truly are some of the most gorgeous animals in the ocean.