Joanna James
Scuba diving is one of the safest ways to enjoy the paradise that lies beneath the water. Here are 10 facts about scuba diving that most people don't know about.
As per the statistics from Divers Alert Network (DAN), there has been only 1 death reported for 211,864 dives in 2010. That's way less than the 126,626 deaths reported due to marathons. As a matter of fact, the deaths related to scuba diving are less than deaths reported due to golfing, car accidents, skydiving and playing soccer. Scuba diving is definitely a sport you should try more than once!
One of the main reasons why people are scared to go scuba diving is being eaten shark. But the truth is far from it; only 10 people die of being attacked by sharks every year. Comparatively, 150 per year die after being hit by falling coconuts!
Another reason why people don't want to try scuba diving are the because of stories and rumours they hear from their friends about physical injuries. As per most doctors and emergency medical staff who work in close proximity to dive sites, this sort of injury is a common occurrence. Wet surfaces, heavy equipment and barefooted people don't mix that well, so going through some sort of accident is part of the experience.
The current record for the deepest dive at a depth of 1000 feet is held by Ahmed Gabr, an Egyptian who is also ex-Egypt Special Forces. While the descent took only 12 minutes to complete, the ascent to the surface took 15 hours as safety precautions must be followed when ascending from deep dives to avoid injuries
James Cameron, the director of the iconic film 'Titanic spent more time on the ship than the crew, the captain and the passengers. He spent 462 hours, split among 33 divers on the wreckage site of the Titanic as groundwork for the movie.
Scuba divers use wets suits to keep their body warm and afloat. Fins are sometimes worn with the wetsuit to help scuba divers move forward and change directions underwater.
Most expert scuba divers bring their own gear when visiting dive sites. Divers can also rent their equipment from one of the many resorts similar to Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi that claims to be the best Resort in Maldives to go scuba diving.
The word SCUBA or 'Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus' is an acronym given to an apparatus that allows divers breath underwater without the need of a supply of air on the surface of the water. This apparatus was invented during World War 2 by the United States Special Forces.
As weird as this sounds, it's effective and will save you a ton of trouble. Soap detergent can be used as a substitute if spitting in your mask grosses you out.
Courses to certify yourself as a qualified diver are quite costly but if you're truly passionate about the sport the tips and tricks that you learn through this certification are priceless.
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