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5 Extra Things To Remember On Every Dive
Three Classic Hikes AbroadPaul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country" If you've .....
Dont leave the dock without it
When you pack your gear bag, your checklist probably includes
the usual gear and emergency equipment, mask, fins, regulator
and one of those kits with a few extra o-rings, neoprene patches
and regulator mouthpieces. Here are a few extra things that you
can throw into your gear bag that will make your dive more
comfortable, confident, and safe. Citrus beverages When I
surface, the first thing I want to do is get the taste of ocean
out of my mouth. As much as I appreciate the smell of the sea
Glow Stick Party IdeasGlow sticks are a great way to light up any party and are fun to enjoy by individuals of all ..... and the salty air, Im not so enthusiastic about having it on my
tongue. Water is refreshing, but I find that I can drink a few
liters of bottled water and still taste the remnants of the sea
in my mouth.
After experimenting with dozens of beverage candidates, I find
that Five Alive is hands-down the best cure for oceanmouth.
Other citrus juices are good, but none are quite as effective as
Five Alive. The better ones were those that contain acidic
juices like pineapple and grapefruit.
The juice serves another purpose: rehydration. It seems
counterintuitive that spending an hour submerged in water can
cause dehydration, but its true. The air in your tanks is very
dry necessarily so, since moisture in a tank will rust it from
the inside. Just breathing in that dry air for an hour will
silently dehydrate you. Drink something when you get back to the
boat and you can avoid the symptoms of dehydration such as
headache, nausea and dizziness. Long-sleeved rashgard or cotton
shirt Did you know that the chemicals in sunscreen are poisonous
to reef-dwelling marine life? You need to protect your skin from
the harmful effects of UV radiation, but you dont want to
slather on the SPF lotion before your dive. Cover up the old
fashioned way with a cotton shirt or a long-sleeved rashguard.
Laminated Dive Table Chart Are you dependent on your computer?
Go back and review your certification training and learn how to
calculate your residual nitrogen using tables. Computers are
great tools, but it behooves every diver to remember how to
manage their nitrogen levels without gadgetry. A dry bag A dry
bag neednt be anything fancy inexpensive bags with resealable
flaps are available at most camping or marine supply stores.
They dont need to be watertight to 100 ft since you leave
them on the boat in your gear bag. My favorite is a bright
yellow, rubber bag with a top that folds over three times and
tucks into itself for an easy watertight seal. Many divers on a
budget will use a variety of disposable resealable freezer bags.
In my dry bag, I keep:
Tissues a necessity. After purging my mask a few times, my
sinuses get rebellious. Cotton Swabs some gentle attention to
get the water out of my ears. A photocopy of my identification
& passport just in case Band-aids because I stub my toes on
boats Everything that was in my pockets Before donning my
wetsuit, my dry bag (by virtue of its sealability) is a good
place to keep a cell phone, camera, wallet, jewelry, car keys,
etc. Tell someone where you are going and who youre with. Make
this a habit, so you dont need to be concerned when an
emergency arises.
First, make sure the dive operator knows who you are, where you
are staying, and who to contact in case of an emergency. If you
are injured during a dive, the dive operators might whisk you
directly to the nearest hospital, medical clinic or
decompression chamber. If the medical staff cant determine your
identity, it can complicate your medical attention.
Second, tell someone who isnt diving with you where you are
going. That could be others in your party, the hotel concierge,
or a phone call to a relative back home. Tell them the name of
the dive shop, your destination, the departure time and
estimated return time for your dive excursion. If you know it,
include the names of the boat, its captain, and divemaster. If
you are traveling alone or diving in a group, write the
information down and leave it with the hotel office. If your
hotel is near a popular diving spot, they will be used to that
sort of thing.
About the author:
Ian Scott is an experienced diver and freelance writer for
http://www.thescubaguide.com a site that offers information
every scuba
enthusiast can use. Information on scuba masks,
buying scuba
gear and more.
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