Divers must be prepared for the sport of diving. Here are some guidelines to keep in your mind as you begin diving. Find out about the risks of back injuries, and how to prepare yourself for the sport. You can also read the PADI and SSI dive statements. It can be a thrilling and rewarding experience if you follow the rules.
Diverse diving as a sport
Diverse divers are a popular activity for many reasons. Diverse diving can be a therapeutic and enjoyable experience for many thanks to the abundance of fish and weightlessness. You don't have to be a professional diver to dive.
USA Diving's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, comprised of athletes, coaches, and thought leaders, will work to promote diversity in the sport. It will prioritize the inclusion of diverse athletes and staff and provide growth opportunities for diverse staff.
Preparation for diving, a sport
Divers are more than just a hobby. It's a competitive sport. The skills required to compete are a combination of a variety of skills. To qualify for the competition, divers will have to do somersaults or twists. There are many different ways to prepare yourself for a meet.
The first thing you should do is to practice. Diving requires a lot of energy, and one hour of diving burns around 500 calories, or the equivalent of 50 minutes of jogging or cycling. Avoid diving with an empty stomach and avoid eating fatty foods. Dehydration can occur during diving, so it is crucial to drink plenty. Diving also alters physiological functions in your body, and can lead to lowered blood pressure, increased heart rate and an irresistible urge to "pee."
Dangers of back injuries
A back injury is one of the most dangerous injuries you can sustain while diving. Your body enters the water at 15 feet per sec, so any impact on an object, obstruction, or other object can cause injury to spinal cord tissue. Also, your neck or spine could be bent too far which can result in nerve injury and damage to ligaments.
You can decrease your chance of getting a back injury depending on how severe your injury is. Adjust your weight distribution carefully. The pressure on your lower back can be decreased by placing your heavier weights near the front part of your weight belt. Alternatively, you can also consider placing the weights on the tank itself or in a pocket in your BCD.
PADI and SSSI diving certifications
You will likely be able find several training agencies if your goal is to learn to dive. Choosing one over the other comes down to personal preference, and your first agency choice could shape the rest of your diving career. For example, if your current dive center is SSI affiliated, you might consider switching to a PADI member. If you have BSAC-certified friends, you will want to learn from them.
Although SSI has seen steady growth in the past few years, it will take many more years to reach the same size as PADI. It has however made an important push into the online certification market. It now offers an app which allows divers to log their dives, access course materials and view their certifications. The app is very similar to PADI Dive Explorer, however there are some differences.