Scuba Diving

Does any one have any tips, or advice about surface diving? I am going to be training to be a life guard, but I can’t really do the surface dive good yet. I do fine just jumping in, but a surface dive is required also.
No offence, but you can’t get a running start on a surface dive, you’re already in water that’s over your head..

Use a pike position to start. Bring your feet straight up and pull yourself in with a powerful breaststroke pull and then add a flutter kick. (don’t forget to take a good breath first.)

I’m interested in finally taking the plunge to sign up for a certification class. There’s only 3 or 4 dive shops in my area that offer training, but could use some guidance on what to ask to make sure I’m getting my $$$ worth. I’m looking for specific questions about you would recommend I ask about certification, equipment rental, what’s I should expect to be included in the training in terms of equipment, and anything else that I have no clue to look for. Thanks!!!!!

the one i took they had all of the stuff there that you needed. there was the classroom/pool training and the two or three seperate trips to a couple springs to dive

Hey well i got 2 new budgies yesterday so this is like their 2nd day in my home and i was wondering how many days until i could hand train them? How many days until i could let them out of their cage? They are already big im not sure of there age but they have a long tale and kinda big already and they live in the same cage i have seen them kiss lately. Also why does the female budgie dive into her food bowl and kicks out alot of her food? Will it be hard hand training them both?

most likely when they start to chirp.
that is when they are happy and settled in.
in case they get too high and it it cage time i suggest using a net with all the hard bits padded.

How long does it take to train for recreational scuba diving? I’m interested in seeing coral reefs and some interesting marine life.
Also, if anyone has any advice/tips on schools in Toronto that would be great.
ps. I have average swimming skills

Thank you!

It can take as little as a week to however long it will take you to do. It’s your schedule and the dive shop’s that you need to work with. In Ontario, ( I live just north of Toronto), you won’t get it done in under a week. No way..no how. Ain’t happening. Part of your course involves doing pool dives. If the shop has their own pool, not an issue but if they have to schedule a pool session at a public pool that may extend your course time while a spot opens up.
There are also a couple of alternative methods to learning. PADI ( professional association of dive instructors) offers an online course (for your academics) as well a what’s called a referral course. The referral works this way. You do your academics and pool skills work here at a PADI shop. There’s only one thing left and that’s your actual open water dives to complete the certification. You can have that part of the course transferred to a holiday destination that has a PADI shop. ( They are everywhere) You do your two dives in warm water and are certified. I’m not a big fan of this, but thought I’d mention it as another option for you. I’m not a big fan because your going to learn more here as well as be in a little more challenging environment. There won’t be any surprises if you decide to dive Ontario waters ever, as opposed to not learning here and being surprised…just when you thought you knew it all. Cold water taught divers are a little more experienced than warm only divers. There’s a little more to know that’s not taught in a warm water environment. By the way, don’t let the terms cold and warm throw you. You’ll be just as warm here as you would down south because we wear appropriate exposure protection. You simply dress for the temperature. Nobody turns blue.

As for local dive shops that can help you out. A lot depends on where in the GTA you are, so I’ll name a few all over.

Scuba 2000. Thornhill. This place is like a puppy mill for divers. Not my cup of tea but it’s up to you ultimately who you want to learn with.

Aqua Sub Scuba. Richmond Hill. The owner’s name is Norbert..good guy..good shop, good training.

Colt Creek Diving: Newmarket on Eagle Street. This is the shop I use. I use it..I must like it. I know all the Instructors there..all top notch and have wreck dived with all of them. The owner’s name is Brad.

The Dive Shop: Newmarket on Davis Drive. The owner’s name is Jim. Good shop, unsure about the Instructors however.

Upper Canada Scuba: Scarborough. I don’t know anyone from this shop. You’re on your own there but it’s always worth it to visit them and see if you’re comfortable with them.

Aquarius Scuba: Dundas & Scarlett road area. I’ve never met anyone from this shop so I can’t advise.

I’ll toss one in here from the Barrie area just in case and that’s Tim’s Diving Supplies. Good shop, good instruction and they have their own training pool.

I just started working with a friend at this dive bar, and it’s pay under the table. She’s training me, and gave me $30 for the first day, which was about five hours. I’m not getting any tips yet, which is fine, because I just started, but how long should I be in training before I start asking for a cut of the tips?

You should be getting tips from your customers now.

That is a hard one? some instructors say a wks worth but if you prove more than able you can be allowed to do a jump without being tandem after just 2days? hope this is helpful .

oh please try base jumping when your more advanced? its enthralling

Your recruiter has not informed you?
The career adviser at AFEES did not explain it to you?
Why do I think you are NOT going there?

Your recruiter has not informed you?
The career adviser at AFEES did not explain it to you?
Why do I think you are NOT going there?

I have tried many times to dive and I either do a belly flop or I get scared and I put my knees up. How do you dive, and how do I train myself to not get scared when I’m in the air?

If you’re really having trouble diving off your feet, you can practice by diving off your knees. Put your knees on the edge of the pool and put your feet flexed behind you with your bottom of your toes on the deck (otherwise you’ll scrape your feet). Then make you arms into a straight, streamlined point and have your body dive in the water by rolling your back. It feels really funny, but it helps.

When you dive on your feet, start off by doing a little jump or no jump so that you don’t go very high or far. Make sure to tuck your head underneath your arms before you hit the water. If you keep belly flopping, make sure your head is down and aim your hands further down and less further out.

As for not getting scared in the air, you’ll just have to practice until you get used to it. Don’t dive from high places until you’re comfortable diving from the pool deck or starting block. (And even then, it’ll still be scary to dive from diving boards. I’ve been swimming – and diving off starting blocks for 10 years and I still was scared to dive off a 3m diving board.)

I was watching this documentary video of Navy SEAL training because I am interested in being a SEAL when I am older,and one part was controlled breathing while coming up from the bottom of the 50ft. dive tower. They came down in this platform like thing that had a half sphere shape around there heads. I am just wandering if that is so they can breathe on the way down. Cuz to me it looked like water would be able to get in. Also, I think that it would be a long time of holding your breath.

Thanks.

Yup, its called a "dive bell", without getting all scientific, the principle is the same as lowering an upside cup into water, a pocket of air becomes trapped inside. The dive bell can move but is usually located at 25 feet from top to bottom. The objective is to release air continuously but gradually out of your lungs as you make your buoyant ascent so your lungs have time to stabilize with the increase/decrease of pressure as you rise/fall. You must make sure you equalize your ears as you rise as well, this can be done by pinching your nose and "blowing" air out through your ears, or by "yawning" but keeping your mouth closed, if someone doesn’t equalize it could lead to an air embolism or even blowing out an ear drum. Good luck.