Diving Guide by Big Ocean Divers

Diving is an enjoyable sport provided you keep some things in mind. The first step into the world of diving has to be the right one. That sets the stage for everything else.

• Fully certified and accredited school – This is the most important first step in your diving journey. You need to find a diving school that is completely certified and is accredited by the right organisations. The divers should be certified and up to date on their requirements as well. They must also know how to administer first-aid and help in times of a medical situation. It also helps if the diving school can help you become a certified diver or instructor. This will smooth things for you in any dive site in the world.

• Positive impact on the environment – Your diving school is a farce if it doesn’t care deeply for the environment. It needs to be committed to an eco-friendly approach to diving, focussing on a near zero carbon footprint and a keen interest in the preservation of marine life and the sea. While the north of Zanzibar has the more popular dive sites, the south-east has beautiful, un-crowded diving sites. Both offer a great learning experience in the understanding of the ocean and its environs.

• Safety first – A good diving school knows that safety comes first, second and always. Safety not only for the divers but also for instructors. Keeping this in mind, the equipment they let you use, and rent should be top notch and regularly checked. The diving school should also tell you what to do in times of emergency. Proper training is the key to good diving. This can happen if the school keeps its batches small and contained. This will allow for long stretches of dive time and personal attention from the instructor.

• Water temperatures and attire – Zanzibar has near perfect warm waters that make diving an enjoyable experience. Currents do get strong in places so always do your homework and find out what site works best for you. Depending on the temperature of the water, you should choose the thickness of your wetsuit. It can be long or short.

• Right conditions – Your diving school should be able to train you differently, depending on the conditions your experience grants to you. The instructor needs to caution you about rough currents, overhangs, sharp drops in walls and the possible dangers that some aquatic life can pose. In drift diving, the diver is moved from one place to another with just the movement of the ocean, the current or the river. It comes with its own dangers, including losing control of how far you travel. Explaining the conditions will tell the diver what to expect anywhere he or she dives.