If bobbing along at the bottom of the ocean is on your bucket list, then scuba is the hobby for you. However, as well as amazing underwater sites, flora, and fauna, safety also needs to be at the forefront of your mind. To that end, before you launch yourself into the open ocean, there are some very important things you need to do! Read on to find out what they are and how to keep yourself safe, underwater. 

Get good at swimming in open water 

The first thing you need to do before going scuba diving is to get used to swimming in open water. Indeed, many people have never swum in the ocean, a river, or a lake before they try scuba diving, and it is an activity that can take a while to get used to. Also being unfamiliar with open water swimming can make your first few sessions of scuba diving even more challenging than they need to be. To that end, getting some practice in first is the best option. 

Of course, as with any time of swimming, the prime concern in open water swimming is always safety. That means checking the tides and currents before you enter the water, avoiding swallowing water where possible, and never swimming alone. 

Invest in the right gear 

Another way that you can prepare for scuba diving is to make sure you have the right kit. This is because the kit is crucial for your safety when diving. For example, a wetsuit like the ones you will see at Dip ‘N Dive, will help keep you warm while underwater, meaning you can safely spend more time below the surface. 

While dive boots will ensure the bottom of your feet are protected from the sharp danger of hidden sea life or coral reefs. 

Take a course from a qualified instructor 

Lastly, before you go scuba diving you need to take a course from a qualified instructor. Indeed, there are so many advantages to taking a course, the first being that you won’t be able to rent the gear you need without having the documentation that proves you have gone through your initial training. 

Safe water 

Secondly, dive schools run their sessions in safe shallow water, which can help you build up your confidence slowly. Not to mention that if you do get into any difficulties it’s much safer and easier to rectify them in this way.  

Work on your fin control 

Also, diving courses allow you to build the vital skills to dive safely in the open water, including fin control which helps you avoid collisions with aquatic life or other divers. You also need time to develop good fin control so you can efficiently propel yourself forward to view things of interest and upwards when your dive time is up. 

Learn how to check your gear 

Finally, a dive school course will educate you on the crucial skill of how to properly check your gear. Indeed, being able to correctly check your heart before you dive can mean the difference between life and death, and no one should be diving without having gone through this training beforehand.