Padi Professional Diver
Go Pro, Live the Dream!
Padi Instructor Course Cyprus, becoming a professional diver is a dream for many! Maybe you are sitting back home now, thinking about how you can live and work in tropical destinations all around the world? Easy Divers can help you make the move!!
It’s the next step after you have been an Instructor for some time.
Studying For Your PADI Instructor Course
Start your training with Easy Divers Padi Diving Centre and take the plunge into a new career.
Start today – Go Pro!
- So, what does it takes to become a professional diver? First, you need to be dedicated to what you are about to become. A PADI dive professional is a service-minded and open-minded person who puts his/her student first.
- The job is sometimes hard with long hours and problems that occurs. However, the reward is ten fold. The smile on your students face, when they finally succeed a skill, the experience when they understand the recreational dive planner or the enjoyment and pride giving your first student his/hers a PADI scuba diving certificate.
This is just the beginning? Did we forget to tell you that you can work all over the world either a dive resorts, dive centres or liveaboards. After becoming a PADI pro-diver the world is open to you and it is only you who set the limits how far you will go.
Ocean Pollution
Ocean Pollution: Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans
The United Nations Environment Programme – Or ‘UNEP’ as they are often known, is trying to urge people to eliminate microplastics from the world’s oceans, while also aiming to put an end to the excessive and wasteful use of single-use plastics such as bottles, plastic bags and much more. All of which can be extremely harmful to aquatic life, as well as the environment. Many people don’t know this, but around 80% of all litter within the world’s oceans is made up of plastic. Recent reports suggest that as much as 51 trillion microplastic (Yes, trillion) particles currently pollute our oceans – meaning there are around 400-500 times more microplastic particles in the oceans than there are stars in the Milky Way (Estimated at between 150-250 billion).
The oceans make up almost 70% of Earth’s surface, and despite this we’re still a LONG way from understanding our oceans, with 80% of all the world’s oceans, unmapped, unobserved and unexplored. Yet, as a species we’re already managing to destroy them.
Recently, a £20 million project has been launched, aiming to rid the ocean of plastic waste by using a 2,000ft long barrier (Nicknamed ‘Wilson’ or ‘System 001’) to herd the plastic and help remove it. The aim of this project currently is aimed at fighting The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is the largest accumulation of plastic within the world’s oceans and is roughly 3 times the size of France – Located between Hawaii and California. However, this project has recently hit a snag, with plastic actually exiting the system once it is collected, meaning the company have had to go back to the drawing board to create something new and eliminate this problem.
But why should we leave it to others to fix when many of us are just as (if not more) to blame than those currently working to clean it up. Well, we’re not suggesting you spend £20 million in order to try and make a difference (While that would of course help), but with some simple lifestyle changes you could make a bigger difference than you realise. Ditch plastic water bottles, in favour of BPA free, stainless steel drink bottles, such as these, stop using single-use plastic carrier bags, and just generally think about small ways you can make a difference by removing plastic from your life.
Check out this info graphic from Direct Packaging Solutions to see the extent of damage we’ve manage to cause to our oceans.
Guest Contribution, Ocean Pollution: Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans by Declan Darbyshire
Drone Footage
Drone Footage from Easy Divers in Cyprus. Drone video of dive sites in cyprus.
Kids Diving Equipment
Holiday Life is all about family. For scuba divers, there are few things more enjoyable than watching the blush of discovery light up the face of a son or daughter upon seeing their first sea lion, turtle, moray eel or starfish in their natural habitat. Easy Divers Cyprus caters for all shapes and sizes of people who would like to take their first dives underwater. Children are specially catered for with our small size range of kids diving equipment specifically for their size.
For kids to be able to fully enjoy these life-altering sea diving experiences, they must be properly kitted out with safe with dependable dive equipment and snorkel gear. This doesn’t mean simply strapping them into an extra-small adult BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), or padding the foot pocket of a full-sized diving fins to accommodate their tiny feet. On the contrary, to be completely comfortable, safe and happy in the water, kids need gear that’s been built specifically for them, gear they can truly call their own.
SCUBAPRO Diving Equipment offers a complete line of snorkeling and diving equipment for adults and kids diving equipment. This scuba gear is made from the best quality materials and produced according to all legal european and local requirements. But most importantly, this gear has been specially designed to address the unique fit and performance needs of children.
At Easy Divers Cyprus wh a a full range of snorkelling and diving equipment specifically for children. Our equipment like scuba diving regulators feature smaller mouthpieces and shorter hoses as well as compact first stage regulators and lightweight second stages. BCDs offer a wide range of adjustment that can expand as the child grows, plus the inflator hose is shorter and there’s the option of adding an integrated weight system.
Kids wetsuits are built with X-Foam neoprene, which is low in harmful materials yet soft and pliable so they are comfortable and easy to put on and take off. Wetsuits also come in child-oriented sizes.
SCUBAPRO Masks and Fins are all made to high quality standards. It’s all designed to allow children to be safe and comfortable in the water so they can focus on having fun.
We will make sure when you visit Easy Divers Scuba Diving Shop in Protaras, that you are shown only the best snorkeling gear and scuba diving equipment that is available on the market.
Easy Divers Cyprus can learn you more about equipment with the PADI Touch. Learn from your phone or tablet, Padi eLearning.
PADI Equipment Specialist Course
Plastic Pollution
Plastic Pollution
The Impact on our oceans and what we can do about it.
Reading time: 12 mins
Plastic Pollution: The Problem
Litter in the environment is an ongoing problem, but arguably one of the most pressing environmental challenges that we are faced with today is marine plastic debris. The two common sources marine debris originates from are:
1, land-based, which includes litter from beach-goers, as well as debris that has either blown into the ocean or been washed in with stormwater runoff; and
2, ocean-based, which includes garbage disposed at sea by ships and boats, as well as fishing debris, such as plastic strapping from bait boxes, discarded fishing line or nets, and derelict fishing gear.
While discarded fishing gear takes its toll on the marine environment by entangling marine life and destroying coral reefs, it only comprises an estimated 20% of all marine debris – a staggering 80% of all marine debris stems from land-based sources.
How Much Plastic is in the Ocean?
A study published in 2017 estimated between 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enters the oceans via rivers annually, with peak months being between May and October. The top 20 contributing rivers, which according to the report are mostly found in Asia, contribute around 67% of all plastics flowing into the ocean from rivers around the world.
The demand for plastic has increased dramatically over the last 70 years. According to Plastic Ocean, 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally every year. Half of that plastic is used for disposable items that will only be used once. As a result, more than 8 million tons of discarded plastic ends up in our oceans every single year. Once it is there it doesn’t readily go away. The Worldwatch Institute estimates that the average American or European person typically uses 100 kilograms of plastic every year, most of which consists of packaging, and while it is estimated that Asians currently only use an average of 20 kilograms per person, this is expected to rise due to economic growth in the region.
Plastic Pollution Facts & Figures
10-20 million
Tons of plastic ends up in our oceans every year, according to a report released by the Worldwatch Institute in 2015.
5.25 trillion
estimated number of plastic particles currently floating around in world’s oceans.
$13 billion
number of estimated losses per year associated with marine plastic debris due to the negative impact on marine ecosystems.
How Does Plastic Breakdown?
One of the characteristics that make plastic so popular for use in a wide range of industries is that it is extremely durable and long-lasting. However, this trait also makes it persist in the environment.
Plastics are photodegradable – meaning that they break down into smaller and smaller pieces when exposed to sunlight. Because the temperature they are exposed to in the ocean is much lower than that on land, the breakdown process takes much longer in the marine environment.
But while plastic debris is slowly breaking down in the ocean, more and more plastic is being tossed or washed into the sea – at a rate far faster than what it is breaking down.
Consequently, there is a LOT of plastic in the ocean – it comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes, and is found floating on the surface, suspended in the water column or littering the ocean floor, and eventually washes up on beaches around the world, wreaking havoc with marine life in all these ecosystems.
According to Greenpeace’s report Plastic Debris in the World’s Oceans: “At least 267 different species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris including seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales, and fish. The scale of contamination of the marine environment by plastic debris is vast. It is found floating in all the world’s oceans, everywhere from polar regions to the equator.”
“If we are doubling what we are putting into the ocean on a ten-year basis, there’s no way to keep up… It would be as if you were vacuuming your living room, and I’m standing in the doorway with a bag of dust and a fan. You can constantly keep vacuuming, but you could never catch up.”
– Chris Wilcox, an ecologist at CSIRO so aptly explains in an interview with National Geographic.
5 Gyres – The Oceans Garbage Patches
Large volumes of this plastic tend to accumulate within five oceanic ‘garbage patches’, also known as 5 gyres, located in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The largest of these is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which stretches across the Pacific Ocean between Japan and North America, with the greatest concentration of garbage lying in the stretch of ocean between California and Hawaii where scientists estimate concentrations of plastic to be around 480,000 pieces per square kilometre.
Single Use Plastic – the Majority of Marine Waste
Plastics and polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) comprise 90% of all marine debris, with food and beverage containers being one of the most common items found in ocean and coastal surveys. According to the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup 2017 Report, if all the plastic bottles collected during the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup were stacked they would have stood 372 times higher than Dubai’s towering Burj Khalifa (828 meters high); all the plastic straws collected off beaches around the world would have stood 145 times higher than the One World Trade Center in New York City (541 meters); while all the plastic utensils collected would have stood 82 times higher than the Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers (452 meters), and all the cigarette lighters collected would have stood 10 times higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris (324 meters).
Beach Pollution: Beach Cleanup Findings
012345012k Plastic Grocery Bags
01234.0123m Plastic Lids
01234k Plastic Straws & Stirrers
0123.01234k Glass Beverage Bottles
01.012345678m Cigarette Butts
01.012345m Plastic Beverage Bottles
01234567800k Plastic Bottle Caps
0123456700k Food Wrappers
What are Microplastics?
These tiny pieces of plastic, which scientists refer to as microplastic, are now recognized as a major threat to wildlife and to human health. Scientific research surveys have revealed that microplastics are widespread throughout the world’s oceans, and are having a negative impact on marine life, as well as the health of humans who rely on seafood as a staple protein source. Polystyrene beads and plastic pellets are not easily digested so tend to accumulate in the digestive tract of marine animals who consume them. This can result in the animal feeling full, causing it to stop feeding, leading to emaciation and ultimately death from starvation, or it can cause an intestinal blockage that can also be fatal. When a predator feeds on a fish that has a gut full of undigested polystyrene or plastic, this is passed on to the predator who in most cases will also have problems digesting it.
The Health Impact on our Wildlife
The below photo shows all of the pieces of plastic that were removed from the stomach of a single north fulmar, a seabird, during a necropsy at the National Wildlife Health Lab. (Photo Credit: Carol Meteyer, USGS). How does this happen?
- Plastic packaging is lightweight, so it is easily blown or washed into rivers where it is carried to the sea, or it may blow directly into the sea if not safely stowed by beach users
- Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, and because it readily floats it is often mistaken for food by surface feeding animals, including fish and seabirds
- Marine turtles ingest plastic bags which they mistake for jellyfish, and small items such as gas lighters or plastic pellets in various stages of decomposition are mistaken for food by seabirds and marine animals
- Seabirds have been known to feed these plastic pellets to their chicks, resulting in the death of the chicks, which ultimately can cause population numbers of affected species to decrease if fewer and fewer chicks are being successfully raised
Furthermore, plastics and polystyrene are made up of toxic chemicals, including petroleum, which may be released as the gastric juices try to digest it, and are absorbed into the body tissue. These toxins also leach into the water column as plastics break down, contaminating filter feeding organisms who ingest the water while feeding. But the problems don’t end there. Plastics are known to accumulate persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT that are known to disrupt the endocrine system and affect development, at concentrations of a hundred thousand to a million times greater than naturally found in seawater. These contaminants are stored in the body fat and organs of animals and are passed on to predators that feed on them, becoming more concentrated in the tissues of organisms higher up the food chain.
- The unaltered stomach contents of a dead albatross chick photographed on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific in September 2009 include plastic marine debris fed the chick by its parents. (Photo Credit: Chris Jordan/US Fish & Wildlife Services)
- Canadian fisherman Adam Turnbull fished a pike from the Saskatchewan River, belted with a plastic Powerade wrapper ring. The fish most likely swam through the ring when she was smaller and the ring has cut into her flesh as she has grown. (Photo Credit: Adam Turnbull)
- Lots and lots of different plastic types just in this picture of a small part of the beach. Different kinds of plastic are predominant, a lot of it originating from shipping and fisheries, but also from plain household garbage. (Photo Credit: Bo Eide)
Long living top predators continue to accumulate more and more toxins in their systems over time. Studies have revealed that marine top predators, such as killer whales and polar bears, are amongst the most contaminated animals on Earth. These contaminants reduce fertility and breeding success, and compromise the affected animal’s immune system, making them more vulnerable to disease and infection.
Potential Solutions
We need to tackle the problem of marine debris head on. It’s not just an issue for environmentally conscious, it is an issue that ultimately affects human health. Man is a top predator that feeds on a variety of ocean fish, shellfish and other marine species. We face the same risks as the killer whale and polar bear. While any plastic or polystyrene pellets that may have been clogging the gut of the fish that is nicely presented on our dinner plate have been long removed, the toxic contaminants originating from that debris remain stored in the flesh we are about to eat. Food for thought indeed.
Eliminating Plastic at Source
Clearly, this is a mammoth problem and one that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. One obvious solution is to switch from plastic and polystyrene packaging to environmentally friendly alternatives, such as compostable plant fiber packaging made from natural materials that readily break down in the environment without causing any harm, and which contain no harmful chemicals. Many cities and countries around the world have implemented stricter legislation with regard to plastic shopping bags, with some banning them outright. Perhaps we need to do the same for plastic bottles, straws, etc. Consumers should be proactive and opt for reusable and/or refillable containers rather than disposable packaging wherever possible. This will not only save suppliers, and by extension shoppers, money, it will also benefit the environment and everything that is dependent on the environment for survival.
Single Use Plastic Alternatives & How You Can Help
Slow Down
Say No To Straws
Reusable Coffee Cups
Plastic Recycling Initiatives
Because it is so tough and durable, plastic can be reused or it can be recycled. Popular musician and environmental advocate, Pharrell Williams, is the co-owner of G-Star RAW, a sustainable clothing brand that recently launched the ‘RAW for the Oceans’ collection that recycles single use plastic containers collected from beaches all over the world into stylish apparel. The ‘RAW for the Oceans’ fashion line has collaborated with Bionic Yarn, another company that Williams is both a partner and Creative Director of, which uses recycled ocean plastics to make sustainable clothing yarn. This creative approach provides a sustainable resource — there is plenty of plastic in the sea — while at the same time tackles the humungous problem of ocean plastics by putting this practically unlimited resource to good use.
Philanthropist, environmental advocate, and entrepreneur, Richard Branson, has proposed that we implement a deposit refund system for plastic bottles. Offering an incentive for users to return plastic bottles for recycling makes absolute sense, especially these are one of the most prolific items found on beaches around the world.
While reducing or eliminating plastic packaging may help to stem the flow of plastics at the source, we still need to take steps to prevent plastic that is already in the environment from flowing into the ocean, and to clean up the vast amount of plastic littering beaches around the world, as well as the plastic currently swirling around ocean gyres.
Beach Cleanups
Every year, the Ocean Conservancy coordinates the International Coastal Cleanup in collaboration with environmental organisations, schools and other community initiatives around the world, encouraging volunteers to take part in local beach cleanups to rid the environment of trash. This can be stepped up at a local level, where individuals, communities and organisations can get more actively involved in cleaning up their local beaches to help keep them free of plastic and other debris.
Right: collecting plastic debris and water samples from Kamilo Beach, South of Big Island Hawaii. Kamilo Beach is approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) long and is located on the remote southeast coast of the Kaʻū District on the island of Hawaii. There are no paved roads to the beach. (Photo Credit: Cesar Harada)
Ocean Cleanup Innovations
Some innovative individuals have proposed other solutions for removing plastic from our oceans, including deploying large floating booms to trap and catch plastic designed by a Dutch entrepreneur when he was still a teenager, and floating sea bins designed by two surfers that can be used to remove plastic from harbours, for example.
While these are all indeed innovative and creative solutions to an ever growing problem, they will in all likelihood not be enough to stem the tide of plastic entering and swirling around our oceans. Nor do they address the problem of microplastics and tiny plastic microbeads that are now having a large impact. A committed multi-pronged approach is urgently needed. We need to take action now.
List of Plastic Pollution Charities
Who else is taking action?
Surfers Against Sewage
This article was co-written by Environmental Communication Consultant, Jenny Griffin BSc (Hons) Degree in Marine Biology, Diploma in Nature Conservation); and Janaya Wilkins, Marine Conservation Enthusiast, and SLO active’s Founder.
References
CSIRO. Marine debris: Sources, distribution and fate of plastic and other refuse — and its impact on ocean and coastal wildlife.
Eric Dewailly, Albert Nantel, Jean-P. Weber, and Francois Meyer. High levels of PCBs in breast milk of Inuit women from Arctic Quebec. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. (1989) 43:641-646
Greenpeace. Plastic Debris in the World’s Oceans
Moore, C.J., Moore, S.L., Leecaster, M.K., and Weisberg, S.B. A Comparison of Plastic and Plankton in the North Pacific Central Gyre. Marine Pollution Bulletin42, 1297-1300. (2001) DOI:10.1016/S0025-326X(01)00114-X
Ocean Conservancy. International Coastal Cleanup 2017 Report.
Viola Pavlova, Jacob Nabe-Nielsen, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Volker Grimm. Allee effect in polar bears: a potential consequence of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination. Proc. R. Soc. B; 30 November 2016; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1883.
Laurent CM Lebreton, Joost van der Zwet, Jan-Willem Damsteeg, Boyan Slat, Anthony Andrady & Julia Reisser. River plastics emissions to the world’s oceans. Nature Communications 8, Article number: 15611 (2017) DOI:10.1038/ncomms15611
Worldwatch Institute. Global Plastic Production Rises, Recycling Lags (2015)
Start Your Diving Career
WHAT I WISH SOMEONE TOLD ME (REPEATEDLY!)
WHEN I STARTED TO DIVE!
We all want to have fun while diving, it’s important to feel confident and know what to do to avoid accidents. Too many times, it is a little chain of incidents that lead to a dive accident. So we looked back on our dive experience and gathered these tips you might find useful.For new divers, this article will hopefully give you a hint on situations you might encounter in the future… We identified four principles you can follow to enjoy diving and face most situations.
The four principles are:
- Have a dive plan…and follow it
- Be assertive from the start of your diving career
- Care about your buddy, and they’ll care about you
- Have the proper safety equipment and now know how to use it
1. HAVE A DIVE PLAN AND FOLLOW IT
Did you have a proper Dive briefing?
Let’s start with the ‘basics’. Sometimes the dive briefing gets overlooked. And people can not be bothered to ask. A safe dive starts with a good dive briefing and an appropriate dive plan. So let’s see what it should include.
- The conditions: water temperature, currents, visibility
- The time planned underwater
- The maximum depth
- The signs you use to communicate
- The marine life you might see
- What to do in case of an emergency
- The buddy pairs and buddy checks
If some of these are missing in the Dive Briefing, don’t be shy and ask.
Are you certified for what is being planned?
Many accidents happen when people are not certified for what was planned. Sometimes, because the guide tells us it’s ok, we forget the standards and just go for it.
As a relatively new diver, in a trip in Philippines, my divemaster told me I was good enough to go into a wreck, down at 40 meters. I remembered that day telling him I did not want to dive too deep as I was still tired from my flight coming out from France. It was just him and me on the dive. I thought ‘woow that could be cool!’ That was deeper than what I was certified for. And I was neither certified for wreck penetration. I also felt slightly tired.* But I remember thinking: ‘Oh well, he knows all this but thinks I can do it. He is the Professional – I can trust his judgement, let’s do it…
Although everything went well, this was entirely wrong.
Very recently again I read about the same thing happening. Apparently it’s a common practice there. Divers who were not certified for it penetrated the exact same wreck in the Philippines, resulting in multiple death.
This could have been me.
Too many accidents happen because of breaking standards, by the dive professional and/or the divers.
Please remember that you should say No if you are not qualified. You are as qualified as your divemaster or instructor to take the decision to do a dive or not. If you are not certified, say No. Do not let peer pressure or anything else impact your judgement.
Are the conditions radically different underwater vs. what was planned?
If this is the case, and you think it is potentially dangerous, or you do not have the experience to handle it, ask the guide to abort the dive.
Again, experience taught me not doing it could lead to a disaster.
During my advanced level, this time in Malaysia, our instructor brought on a dive site where there was a wreck. We had to descend with the boat line in our hands, the current was so strong that I remember our hands were ripped off. I precise this was not a drift adventure dive. Again, such current had not been evoked in the dive briefing. My reason was telling me to go up and not do the dive, but our instructor appeared to think it was ok (was it because he was wearing gloves?!). After a few minutes on the wreck, we started to drift to what seemed an eternity. Strong currents were pushing us far, and we did that for what, 30 minutes at least? With my buddy, we were looking at each other thinking: ‘what the hell are we doiiiing?’ But we thought our instructor knew better… When we went up, we were so far away from the boat that he could not see us. After almost an hour, we were still drifting away from the island, starting to wonder how it would end. Luckily, a boat passing by saw us from far and came to rescue us, screaming f: ‘what the hell are you guy doing here?!’
That was very fortunate.
We would still be there otherwise. In this case, the conditions were totally different from what was planned. But our lack of experience made us feel we had to trust the professional. Not long after that, I decided I wanted to go Pro. So that I would know how to react, what to do in these cases and not rely on unprofessional people.
Also, that taught us that we needed to be more assertive, my next point.
2. BE ASSERTIVE, FROM THE START OF YOUR DIVING CAREER
Ask questions, about anything that comes to your mind.
There is not bad question, if you have something in your mind, ask. Do not wait. Get used to ask since you are getting your first certification.
Listen to how you feel
It is ok to miss a dive if you feel not well. Recognize signs of tiredness, stress, lack of condidence, in yourself and others.
On the boat it can be someone talking too much or staying very quiet before a dive.
Underwater, big bubbles means heavy breathing/stress or tiredness, look in the eyes and see if the person is responsive to your questions, look at how the person fins etc…
Say NO if the dive plan goes against standards of your level.
A wreck penetration without the specialy? This is a No. A deep dive when you are not certified? No again. And so on…
3. CARE ABOUT YOUR BUDDY, AND THEY WILL CARE ABOUT YOU
Get to know your buddy before the dive
The boat ride is a perfect time to do so, ask them about their experience, when they last dived, try to assess their level of confidence before the dive, talk about how you like to dive etc. And build your respective levels of confidence.
Do your BWRAF, even if experienced
Remember, the buddy check can prevent many incidents. BRAWF stands for: BCD, Weights, Releases, Air, Fins on and Feels good.
How many divers realise underwater their tank is not fully open.. it happens more than you think! So much stress could have been avoided by doing a simple buddy check.
Communicate underwater
Regular ok? How much air do you have? How far are you from each other? Is your buddy equipment ok – eg a strap could get loose, some hair stuck in the mask etc
If there is an issue – cold, ears, current, fatigue… – do not wait thinking it will go away. Everyone has had issues underwater and that’s ok. Communicate it fast, that’s easier if you feel well connected to the person you dive with.
Know what to do if you get lost
Do not wait for other people to come find you or pursue your dive. The standard procedure is to look around for 1 minute then start to ascend. This is valid for the whole dive group.
4. HAVE THE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT!
‘What does this number mean on my dive computer? How to open the DSMB?’ There are good questions and some equipment require practice so do not be shy about it. Ask – all divers had to learn how to use these.
Look at your dive computer regularly during your dive
Be conservative, avoid going into deco levels to not overload your body with nitrogen and increase your safety.
Have something that you can bang underwater to call someone’s attention
Imagine you are caught in some strong current feeling difficulties and everyone is focused on his own person. Having a a metal pointer stick that could can bang on your tank can be handy to call someone attention – for an emergency (not just to show a clown fish!).
Always dive with a visible and an audible surface devices
You need to own a DSMB (delayed surface marker buoy – this red infating thing you use at the end of the dive). That way you can surface safely (boats will see you), and to be visible above the water (the dive boat will be able to come pick you up) This all in one of Mares is partucularly handy to keep on your BCD.
You can buy it at our shop for around €10
An audible device, a whistle for instance, is usually attached to your BCD. This can be handy to attract the boat attention if you are far.
It is also recommended to have a line cutter or a knife in case you are entangled underwater. Place it in an area easy to access.
Finally adapt your safety equipment to the conditions you dive in
For people diving in currents, a good-to-have equipment that can save your life is the Nautilus Lifeline.
It is a Radio-GPS you can attach to your BCD and activate once on the surface in case of emergency. All the boats around will receive your emergency signal and will be able to locate you. This device costs around 240 USD and it can be a life saving equipment.
Because as an advanced diver, you want to see big marine life, you will dive more and more in dive spots with strong currents. Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Galapagos, the Cocos Islands… all these have strong currents.
LAST FEW WORDS…
We all started to dive being unexperienced and learning from our/others mistakes, dive after dive. A good habit to have as a diver is to look at your dives, one at a time. Did anything went wrong? For you and/or others? What could have been the cause? Did we react approriately? What would you do in the future? We may have forgotten some good advice, feel free to share with us your experience!
Hope you enjoyed the reading and more than anything, have amazing dives coming!
#padi #padiinstructorcourses #padiidc #padicyprus #becomeapadipro
