Four Ways to Refresh Your Scuba Skills, Before A Dive Trip

As a scuba diver, staying too long between dives can make you forget a few basics and essentials. That’s why it is important to take time to refresh and hone your skills.

Let’s take a look at 4 simple ways you can refresh your scuba skills before your next dive trip.

Read some more of that scuba theory

Your first scuba diving lesson must have included a lesson on density and pressure. And it went something like this…

The more we descend in the water, the higher the pressure. The weight affects our bodies and internal organs especially our internal air spaces.

To counter the effects of the pressure, scuba divers need to equalize the pressure inside our bodies with the pressure outside. To do this, pinch your nose and blow air out.

The pressure may also push your mask closer to your face. Simply blow into the mask with your nose.

And our bodies aren’t the only ones affected by the increased pressure. The air inside the tank also gets compressed. This means you will be taking in more air than you would at greater depths.

When you finally decide to ascend, the air molecules will expand. You will need to release some of the air from the BCD.

Assembling the gear

Ensure you can remember how to correctly set up your gear. You can enlist the help of your dive instructor.

Standing behind your tank is the first step. Make sure that the air valve is facing away. Next, add the BCD. It should ensure that the air valve is now at the back of your head.

Next, remove the dust cap on the regulator and attach one end, the correct end to the front of the tank.

Ensure the regulator’s finger is tightened around the valve. Take your low-pressure hose and fasten it to the BCD inflators regulator.

The pressure gauge should face away from you, you can now open your tank.

Refresh a few more skills

Before moving on to the next step, it’s important to remain conversant with 3 more activities. These are:

Clearing the mask
Sharing the alternative air source
Clearing the regulator

Refresh your hand signals and signs

You will likely receive a briefing from your dive master. It will mainly involve the depth of your dive and the duration. Other information may include any features that you are likely going to find during your dive as well as some hand signals.

After you have made all the 4 refreshers, you are now ready to take the plunge. However, make sure you are confident and in case you find out that you are not, do not hesitate to take a refresher course.

During the course you will hone your skills on cleaning, breathing as well as recovering. Clearing the water from your mask is another important skill that you will need learn.