Text by Sol Foo
You are now certified to scuba dive. What are your next steps? Here are some signposts to point you in the right direction.
IMPROVE SKILLS
Just like any sport, the better you are at it, the greater the enjoyment. And the best way to get the most out of your dives is to do more dives, level up your skills and stay aware of the environment you are in.
Dive Agencies
There are so many to choose from and they basically teach the same skills. Try sticking with the same agency if you plan on continuing your dive education. That way, you’ll be able to find records of your certifications in one place. But you can always switch at any point, as the agencies will recognise your previous certifications.
As you advance up the scuba diving ladder, you’ll discover and learn more skills to practise and master. However, don’t be in a rush to obtain the highest qualification possible. There are so many marine environments to experience and enjoy. Log those dives, hone those skills, meet other divers, try diving in muck, drifting with the current, and doing negative descents, among others. You’ll find your skills are constantly put to the test.
A student going through some scuba drills in open water
Stay Open to Advice and Guidance
Be open to guidance and advice, and you’ll learn a lot more than just taking a course. I know divers who only have the basic, entry-level certification, but they’ve logged thousands of dives and travelled to various destinations. On top of that, they are better divers than some I know who have a divemaster certification, logged fewer than 100 dives and only dived in one or two places.
Divers doing a safety stop on the anchor line
Going Professional
If diving is going to be your career choice, make sure you do your research, perfect your skills and stay the course. The choice of agency doesn’t really matter here. For me, the instructor trainers are key to your own success. You don’t want to pay the dollars just so you have bragging rights as an instructor. Training as one is hard work and takes dedication. The lifestyle is very attractive if you love the sun, sand and sea, but remember, you have lives in your hands, and you want to make sure you have excellent training to keep your charges safe, and pass on good habits and practices.
A technical diver on twin tanks
Transitioning to Tek
Some of you might be more inclined to seek your adventures and challenge your skills as a diver beyond recreational limits. Tek diving is a whole new level of courses that require high-level skill mastery and discipline. Selecting a good role model and mentor is crucial to your development as a technical diver.
EQUIPMENT
You are a newly-minted scuba diver, and love it so much that you want to make this a regular thing. Then you should consider purchasing your own personal gear, and boy, you’ll be spoiled for choice! There are several advantages to having your own equipment, the main ones being comfort and familiarity. If you’re on a budget, I would recommend getting these three main items first – a mask, wetsuit and fins.
MASKS
The variety of masks on the market are almost as diverse as the fish you’ll find on a reef, and cater to different face shapes and sizes. There are many tips on the Internet about how to pick the correct mask, but I’m also very sure people at dive shops will be able to help with that. Take your time and explore the options you have, try the different brands and see which ones you are most comfortable with. It’s always best if you get to try it in the water first, but that is usually quite hard to accomplish because dive shops don’t offer that service. The best way is to make friends when you go diving, look at the equipment other divers have and ask (very nicely) if you can try it. Many divers I know will always oblige, because as a veteran diver, I’ve certainly gone through my fair share of equipment until I found the right ones.
WETSUITS
A wetsuit that fits well provides optimal insulation and protection from the environment. You can have one custom made or buy one off the rack. Materials and insulation technology have also improved drastically over the years. You can definitely rent them at most dive destinations and liveaboards, but divers who use them generally don’t tend to take care of them, or the wetsuit is worn so much, there’s not much insulation left. In addition, it’s not easy for resorts and liveaboards to store a wide range of sizes, so an ill-fitting wetsuit is not going to be very effective anyway.
FINS
Like masks, it is hard to try before you buy. Continue to read reviews, consult your dive buddies, and borrow different ones to try. Then you’ll have to make a decision about what type to buy – open-heel or full-foot fins. It all depends on the type of diving you hope to do. If you choose the former, you’ll need a pair of booties, too. But this type of fins is more versatile – you can do shore dives comfortably and use them with drysuits. Using full-foot fins are easier to pack, very convenient on liveaboards, easier to don and doff, and very suitable for diving in warmer, tropical waters.
OTHER GEAR
Your next important purchases are big-ticket items like a dive computer. Again, there are so many brands and types. If you are considering going the tek way, pick one that can calculate multiple gases. Buoyancy compensators (BCDs) and regulators would be next on the list. Truly consider how frequently you will go diving in a year. You don’t want to buy these and only have it collecting dust in the closet and taking up space. In addition, you’ll have to service them annually to keep them in tip-top shape. If you do more than one trip a year, it’s worth considering getting your own. Otherwise, you would be better off just renting. There are many other gadgets and gizmos you can add to your dive bag as well, but wait till you really get into the sport, as you also have to deal with additional weight and baggage when you travel.
TRAVEL
As a new diver with under 50 logged dives, there are really not many places you can go. I suggest doing an advanced open water course before attempting to go to places with strong currents or limited visibility. Increasing your skill level increases your comfort level, and ability to handle different water conditions.
A diver with excellent buoyancy photographing the coral reef in Anilao, Philippines
Matching the Destination with Your Skill Level
It also depends on the kind of encounter you want. Macro lovers will travel to destinations like the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia, Anilao or Puerto Galera in the Philippines, or Malaysia. This usually involves diving close to the substrate the critters live in. Your buoyanc really matters here. You want to avoid stirring up the sediment, or touching the rocks and corals when you get up close. Divers who like the big stuff usually have to contend with currents that can be quite challenging for the inexperienced.
Divers doing the giant stride off a liveaboard in the Similans, Thailand
Go with a Group
For a start, sign up for trips with a dive centre. They organise groups and itineraries that will include the highlights of that destination. Report your experience in advance, and the resorts and liveaboards are always happy to accommodate newer divers and assign guides that will keep a special eye out for you, or take you to a site more suited to your skill level. Another plus is that you’ll expand your circle of dive buddies you can travel with on other adventures.
Safety
Safety is always – and never – an issue. No dive operation will ever say they are unsafe.
So, no matter how safe the operations are, things can always happen. The onus is on you to exercise safe diving practices. Listen to dive briefings and the guides. And remember, be considerate, look out for each other, be respectful of the environment and don’t dive beyond your limits. You are not the only one who paid for a dive holiday. If something happens to you, especially on a liveaboard, the rest of the group forfeits their holiday, too, because the boat will have to return to port as the crew arranges for a medical evacuation.
Selecting Your Dive Operators
If you go with a dive centre, the dive leader will make all the arrangements. But if you are confident enough to plan your own holiday, or take up a trip at a dive convention (like ADEX), ask questions and be specific about your needs. Be open about your dive experience, so that the operators make sure you are well looked after.
If things still don’t go your way even after you’ve made meticulous plans, take a deep breath, adapt and try to make the best of it. As in life, not everything will go to plan – at least you’ll have a story to share with your dive buddies.
Operators are people, too, and they have a business to run. Many will bend over backwards to ensure you make happy memories. In the event you encounter an unpleasant situation, stay objective, be understanding and learn how to plan a better trip next time.
A New World
The amazing thing about scuba diving is that you are constantly learning and improving, even if you have logged thousands of dives. You can dive the same site hundreds of times but each experience is always different. When you become more confident in your skills and become more comfortable in the water, you will start to notice the life around you, and that’s where the magic begins and addiction starts to set in. You’ll thirst for more and think about where your next trip will be. You might even want to start picking up a camera, but that opens up a black hole to a whole other dimension!
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