Scuba Diving

What about first time you go scuba diving and the recommended depth?

Both of the above answers are wrong. On completion of the initial PADI Open Water certification you are allowed under PADI rules to dive to a maximum depth of 18metres/60 feet. To dive deeper then the PADI Advanced Diver course trains you to 40metres/140 feet.

I am going scuba diving in a month and need to take some underwater photos. I am considering buying a hard plastic case for a digital camera which run around $250. Or I am thinking about trying these soft plastic cases that run around $30. Has anyone used either of these before? Did the photos turn out okay? I will be going in shallow water, probably no deeper than 60 feet. Do you think I need an extra flash to take good pictures?
Thanks.

You get what you pay for. It’s your camera. Personally I’d spend whatever it takes to keep that camera safe and able to take decent shots.
As for a flash, you’ll probably find that you’ll want to put a piece of tape over the flash if there’s no option for turning it off. Most of the time, a flash will produce back scatter in images ( looks like a snow storm) as the light from the flash hits suspended particles in the water and bounces back. If your camera and housing allow it, the use of what’s called a strobe will be better. It’s a type of flash that’s mounted and pointed off to the side, reducing back scatter.

Does any body know where I can find a private diving instructor, Lancashire area.

The best bet is probably to phone PADI in Bristol.

Graham Owen 07736 358 624
e-mail: graham.owen@padi.co.uk

Every time I wear my scuba diving goggles, the pressure of the goggles against my skin causes an indentation to form accross the skin of my forehead. It goes away in a few hours, but will eventually lead to forehead wrinkles?

Get a scuba pro to check out your mask…sounds like it is not fitting you correctly. Could be sizing, could be that the mask just does not work with you. This problem will definetly NOT cause wrinkles. Wrinkles on the forehead region are caused by a shrinking amount of collagen and gravity ( aging ). Keep blowing those scuba bubbles…living a joyful life makes you gorgeous!!

I’ve taken the Scuba Diving written test twice and can’t pass. Any tips to help. I am terrible in math.

Math shouldn’t be an issue if you made it past grade 6. As for tables, I believe they let you use an ERDP now on the exam ( I’m not in favor of that, but I don’t make the rules).
Most of the questions on the exam are common sense or included in your manual, so there should be no issue there either. If you read the manual, did the quizzes, you should pass the exam. If it’s the tables that are bogging you down, they actually require little math at all. If there’s math, it’s a multiple dive day and you’re simply using addition. Most of it is just taking known information to discover unknown information. If you’re unsure of the steps involved, that’s what you paid your Instructor for…ask him/her.

I have long hair and am wondering what other scuba divers do with it when diving in a wetsuit. A braid with a tie would hurt, being squeezed in the wetsuit down my spine. A bun or ponytail in my hood is also uncomfortable.. not to be complaining about all the options.. but are there any more long hair options while scuba diving?

If you are wearing a hood, the I would say just brush it back and let the hood hold it down. Since the neck of the hood gets tucked into the wetsuit, tuck in the hair as well. Before you zip up the hood, look down which will pull the hair up some in the back to give you some "slack".

Another option is to braid two pigtails starting behind each ear. Instead of letting them hand down your back, bring them over the shoulders, and use the hood to help hold them there.

My wife and other female divers use these two options, but none of them have hair that is longer than the middle of their back.

It may seem like a stupid question, considering the bowling part of it, but i’m trying to prove someone wrong.

If you know the fishing death, can you clearify if its a certain type of fishing? If you can please.

I’ve looked it up a bunch, all i got was some probably inaccurate scuba diving averages.

Scuba deaths per year average about 90 worldwide.

Over 600 people die each year while fishing in the US alone.

The average number of deaths per year while bowling is 2. The figure does not include deaths due to natural causes while bowling, deaths due to fights while bowling, or deaths due to bowling equipment while not bowling. Bowling doesn’t make you live longer, it only makes it seem longer.

I went scuba diving last night and my period started up this morning. I just finished up my period about a week and a half ago. Does anyone know what is going on? I am not having sex, so it is definitely not pregnancy. Any useful comments would be appreciated.

I was going to say no, but now I think about it, could a pressure change cause that? Something to think about.

If not, it could just be a coincidence, it could be early because of other factors like stress or perhaps it’s another sort of bleeding? Maybe see your doctor?

I went scuba diving last night and my period started up this morning. I just finished up my period about a week and a half ago. Does anyone know what is going on? I am not having sex, so it is definitely not pregnancy. Any useful comments would be appreciated.

I was going to say no, but now I think about it, could a pressure change cause that? Something to think about.

If not, it could just be a coincidence, it could be early because of other factors like stress or perhaps it’s another sort of bleeding? Maybe see your doctor?

I’m based in London and have just got my PADI Openwater Diver Cert. I’m keen for me and a buddy to go on a diving break – but don’t know the best way to go about it. Are there any London clubs that organise such trips (either in or outside the UK) or any holiday companies that specialise in diving jaunts? Or is it better to get a standard hoilday to a scuba resort (i.e. Sharm El Sheikh) and organise the dive trip when I’m there?

You can get some really good bargains in Egypt on the Red Sea coast at this time of year. There are several diving holiday organisations which arrange trips. I have used Tony Backhurst Scuba (web site at www.scuba.co.uk) many times. They cater for both experienced & inexperienced divers. You could even go for your Advanced Open Water cert whilst you are there as this consists mainly of experience dives with only a tiny bit of additional bookwork- practical stuff rather than theory. Personally, I would arrange my diving before going to be sure you can get booked in. You can also chat to them here about the sort of diving you want to do etc etc before you go. There are many many other places you can go around the world but Egypt is pretty jacked up for divers with some very good prices too. The groups going there are mainly divers so the airlines etc are very familiar with diving equipment luggage etc. If you want to go as part of a bigger group then best to contact your local dive centres- or the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) has clubs just about everywhere-their web site is www.bsac.com & you will be able to get details of all the clubs in your area.