Josh and I have talked about getting dive certified ever since we met in Costa Rica over 10 years ago. But it wasn’t until we moved to Taiwan 3 years ago that we finally made it happen (thanks to the enthusiastic support of our 93 year old boss, Doris Brougham). Since then, we have tried to take full advantage of Taiwan’s position as an easy jumping off point to many top diving locations in Asia. We’ve dived Thailand’s Similan Islands, Boracay in the Phillipines, dived with reef manta rays in Ishigaki, Japan and got our advanced open water certificate in KK, Borneo. We’ve also enjoyed some diving here in Taiwan, including a Christmas trip to Kenting and a dive with sea turtles in Xiao Liu Qiu. Although we’re far from diving experts, we’ve learned a lot in these first few years of diving! 

Basic dive skills are important to master

Even the most enthusiastic learner will have some moments of… concern taking in all of the important information to dive safely. Of course, follow your instructor’s suggestions for learning skills. However, there are a few skills that really do come in handy often, so take some time to get a handle on them.

One of the first skills you learn is also one of the hardest to feel comfortable with. Clearing your mask – it is simply the bane of every new diver… but it’s one of the skills you’ll use often.  There is nothing worse than having a mask fog up on you on a dive. And the only way to deal with it is to flood and clear your mask. Plus, there are a number of possible things that can cause you to have to readjust a mask underwater. So doing the work to get comfortable clearing out a face full of water is worth it.

There are a lot of things that can make you uncomfortable when your mask is full of water. If it really gets to you, extra practice in the pool, or anywhere where you can stand up and get out of the water will be helpful. You are using air pressure to force water out of the space between the mask and your face, ideally without getting water up your nose. If you start blowing air through your nose with your head tiling slightly down, and then roll your head back until you are looking up, it will help keep your nose clear. 

Another basic skill that has some tricks to it is equalizing the pressure in your ears. I (Josh) have gotten a lot of tips on this, and here are the two that helped me the most. When you are squeezing your nose shut and trying to force air into your Eustachian tubes to equalize, sometimes you can run into trouble. Especially if your tubes are already closed off. First, make sure that you use short, sharp breaths instead of straining with a long, forced breath. Second, shake your head by dropping your ear towards your shoulder and back while locking your jaw forward and trying to swallow. 

Dive computers are worth their weight in gold

We are a long ways away from owning our own BCD (buoyancy control device). Investing in a dive computer, however, is a whole different thing. They aren’t exactly cheap, but you can find entry-level computers for around $200, and it’s worth the sticker price. You can rent them at many shops, but you will find that having your own that you are familiar with really expands your dive awareness.

I (Pauline) was skeptical about the need to invest in dive computers. But now that we have them, I realize we should have bought them as soon as we finished our open water PADI certification. The dive computer enabled me to feel responsible for my own safety as opposed to relying entirely on the guide to be aware of things like depth and the amount of time at depth. I’m also able to track in real time how quickly I’m going through air and adjust accordingly. In every way the dive computer has made me a safer and more confident diver. And bonus, once out of the water the dive computer makes logging your dives easy and serves as a digital back up log of all your dives.

If you do buy a dive computer though, know that even the easiest ones take a few dives to fully understand. If you are using a new computer, make sure your guide knows it is new to you! They might be familiar with your model and can help explain it. Either way, make sure you have a copy of the manual with you, especially if you need to change the type of air that you are using.

Liveaboards are awesome

There are a lot of ways to get into the water, but if you can find a good liveaboard operator, the experience is well worth the cost. We did a full post on our trips in Asia via a great liveaboard here. The biggest takeaway is that everything on a liveaboard is set up to allow you to dive often and comfortably. Beginner or expert, you will have a chance to refine your skills and put them into practice. Also, you are surrounded by other divers, which means a large pool of experience that you can draw from. 

Ocean safe sunscreen is a big dealIt doesn’t take long once you start diving to fall in love with coral. The beauty and fragility of this keystone species becomes so obvious when it is right in front of you. Healthy corals lead to healthy marine populations. So you really develop a heart and awareness for anything that can put coral at risk. Fortunately, when you are diving you don’t usually need sunscreen. But you do when you are on the surface, so remember to do some research and make your purchases count. 

Delving into underwater photography & filming is both fun and frustrating 

You don’t need to invest thousands of dollars into an underwater camera rig to take pictures. Actually, we’ve found a simple action camera with a dive housing for under $60 that takes passable pictures. You do get what you pay for. But, if you keep a few things in mind, you can come away with pictures that will get some good social media reactions. Look for action cameras that have dive settings. Consider spending some extra money on red filters to add natural color. Also, there are a number of small lights that can help you with up close shots.  Decent underwater pics will help you nail marine life ID’s. Plus, a few good pictures really can speak volumes about how wonderful the underwater world is.

Now, to the frustrations. You have to learn the limitations of your equipment. That means that you can’t get every shot that you want. Because light is a real issue, getting snapshots to work means that you have to practice being relatively still to compensate for slower shutter speeds. And, you can’t chase fish for closeups. If you do, you’ll run out of air faster than anyone else on your dive. So you have to develop a state of readiness, and a willingness to let that fish get away….Plus, if you have a partner that isn’t into photography, you have to work on good communication to make sure that everyone stays together.

Rolling descent/decompression technique makes all the difference for buoyancy and air conservation.

One of the things that really causes you to struggle as a beginning diver is buoyancy control. Not having enough weight makes it impossible to descend. Having too much makes you work too hard. Plus, you constantly add and remove air to your BCD to compensate. That reduces the amount of air you have during your dive.

One of the things that really helped us was learning how to get all the air out of your BCD on the surface so that you can descend. Any air trapped in the BCD dramatically affects your buoyancy. When you are deflating your BCD, start by leaning slightly forward. As you let the air out, roll the shoulder that has the deflation tube back and up. This makes sure the tube is at the highest point, and helps squeeze the air out. You’ll be safely on your way down, without having to have the guide add extra weights! We both use this technique and Pauline especially saw dramatic improvements in her trim and air consumption as a result. But don’t just take our word for it. There is a great resource here on buoyancy control.

Small additions to your scuba day pack can dramatically improve your experience

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when you are packing your kit bag for dives. Some of there are especially good if you are going on multi-day dives or a liveaboard trip. 

• socks that are quick dry. Wear under booties to avoid blisters!
• medical tape, and band-aids
• hydration packs
• swimmers ear mix: One part white vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol in a small plastic drip bottle
• A little bit of no-tears baby shampoo for defogging masks
• A bright cloth swim cap to help keep your hair from getting caught in the masks
• Fisherman’s friend or lozenge for dry throats