From Surface Anxiety to Underwater Wonder: How to Prepare Your Mind Before You Dive?
Your first diving session is not a random activity. Your first breath below the water surface will surprise you with its noise and show you how quiet the ocean really is.
At the same time, anxiety before diving is a totally natural feeling.
Beginners often ask themselves how their first dive will look, what to wear, how fit they need to be, and what will happen if they feel anxious underwater. The positive thing is that your first scuba dive session is safe, instructor-led, and designed especially for beginners. If you are well-prepared, your dive briefing and instructor’s guidance will allow you to have fun rather than think about everything.
This guide will give you the most useful information on first scuba dive tips, from your beginner diving checklist to breathing, buoyancy, safety and many other issues. The literature emphasizes that beginners should concentrate on safety, slow breathing, early equalization, hydration, understanding of their equipment, and trust of their instructors.
Before Your First Underwater Breath: What Awaits You Underwater?
A first-time dive should be more about getting used to the conditions of underwater exploration rather than exploring the depths or demonstrating one’s courage. For most people who have never tried scuba diving before, the first experience will start from the first strange thing – breathing through the regulator. Initially, all that you will hear is the noise of your breathing but after several minutes, this sensation disappears and you get used to it. Another sensation that is peculiar to the first-time diving is the weightless floating in water. Instead of moving in water in a conventional way, you glide through the water and move smoothly with the current.
This is why the optimal state of mind for your first dive is quite simple – just do less, breathe and listen.
You do not have to pretend that you know everything and act like a professional diver.
The Moment Everything Starts to Feel Real
For a beginner, the first dive is not about going deep and making something but about adapting to the conditions and equipment and realizing whether you wish to do scuba diving at all.
For the majority of beginners, the first unusual thing will be breathing using the regulator. At the beginning, it will be unusual for you because of the sound but then it will be quite normal for you. Then, another unusual thing will be that you will feel yourself weightless because you will float and glide in the water but will not move in your normal way.
Thus, your approach should be quite clear: to do less and breathe slowly and listen carefully.
You have no need to act like an experienced diver but simply do what your instructor tells you to.
Feeling Nervous Before Your First Dive? Here's How to Stay Calm
Being nervous before your first dive doesn’t imply that you are unprepared. On the contrary, being nervous means that you do something unusual.
To cope with nerves, concentrate on what you are able to manage – your breathing, your speed and your communication with an instructor. According to research given in your material, you need to communicate your feelings to your instructor and never fear finishing the dive in case you feel uncomfortable.
Here are some nervous tips for first time divers which you may use before and during the dive:
- Take slow and deep breaths before diving.
- Inform your instructor if you feel nervous.
- Always stay near your buddy while diving.
- Communicate through hand signals from the very beginning.
- Think about each breath you take.
- Never rush.
- Keep in mind that it is absolutely fine to finish a dive if you don’t feel comfortable.
While diving, your calm breathing will help you with everything. It is useful for your buoyancy, conserves air and provides your brain with something constant to concentrate on. Don’t hold your breath but just breathe slowly.
Your First Dive Feels Better When These Things Are Ready
The checklist for beginner divers is not supposed to be difficult. Typically, your dive center and/or your instructor will provide you with the necessary equipment. You will just have to arrive prepared and relaxed.
For your first dive, you will need:
- Swimming suits
- Towel
- Loose comfortable clothes for pre- and post-dive
- Reef safe sunscreen, if applicable to your destination
- Water bottle
- Any medical info that your instructor may need
- Hair tie, if you have long hair
- Relaxed mind and sufficient time before the lesson
Avoid consuming alcohol prior to your dives, and do not attempt to dive when you are ill, very tired, congested or can’t equalize. Hydration, rest, no alcohol/drugs consumption before the dive were highlighted as key elements of physical preparation.
Good preparation for the first dive is crucial even before you get in the water. Ensure to get enough sleep, eat moderately, drink water and have sufficient time.
What Goes Under the Gear? A Beginner's Guide to Dressing for Your First Dive
Many newbies are afraid about clothing for their first diving lessons; but in most cases, the answer is quite straightforward. You need to put on swimming suits as your initial clothes. In accordance with the temperature of water, you can get wetsuit at the diving center.
Wetsuit serves to help you to keep yourself warm and also provides some additional protection for your skin in case of minor cuts or irritations. Depending on the temperature of water, different thickness of wetsuit will be required.
Other clothes that should be mentioned are basic diving equipment like:
- Mask
- Fins
- Regulator
- Buoyancy control device
- Tank
- Wetsuit if necessary
There is no need to purchase all the necessary equipment for your first lesson. Actually, it is better for beginners to learn how to use rented equipment initially. Further, in case if you decide to pursue diving as a hobby, the first thing that you may want to purchase is good quality mask.
Scuba Diving Is Not a Fitness Test, But Your Body Still Needs to Be Ready
There is no need to be physically fit like an athlete. However, it is important to be in good health, feel comfortable around the water, and be responsive to instructions.
The physiological requirements for scuba diving are more focused on comfort, perception, and fitness rather than strength. Diving is a process which requires being patient and calm. It is not intended to be performed at maximum speed but slowly and carefully.
In advance of going underwater, inform your instructor if you suffer from any health problems, difficulties breathing, ear problems, surgeries done recently, anxiety disorders, or some medications that could affect your attention. In some cases, your instructor can request you to provide some health certificates or even fill out some special questionnaire.
Rule of thumb: if you feel ill, congested, dizzy, too tired, or mentally not ready, there is no need to push yourself to go diving.
The Small Safety Habits That Make a Big Difference Underwater
Safety is what helps have fun. Once you have learned about the basics, you will be able to enjoy the underwater environment.
The basic first dive safety tips include:
- Listening attentively to the dive briefing.
- Not diving alone.
- Staying near your instructor and dive buddy.
- Breathing continuously and not holding your breath.
- Equalizing your ears as soon as possible.
- Moving slowly and avoiding sharp motions.
- Not touching corals and marine creatures.
- Being aware of your surroundings.
- Raising any concerns.
- Understanding your limitations.
Equalizing your ears is one of the main issues for novice divers. During descent, changing pressure may cause discomfort in your ears. You need to equalize as soon as you feel it before it hurts you. If you have pains, show your instructor a sign and do not continue the process.
From the provided research, it is also important to note that divers should respect the crew, watch their surroundings, avoid touching marine creatures, and remember that safety relies on proper communication.
Breathe Better, Float Easier: The Two Skills Every Beginner Needs
Breathing under water may seem rather unusual at first, but the rule is simple – breathe slowly and continuously. Never breathe fast. Don’t hold your breath. Let the breathing become your rhythm.
Buoyancy is the skill that will let you hover and not sink, rise or kick as much. Newbies tend to be very active while diving. But in water, less activity is better. Slow fin movements, relaxed arms and breathing will keep you balanced.
This is where the instructor comes in handy. You are not expected to become an expert at buoyancy at your initial dive, but being aware of it will make everything much easier.