Scuba Diving FAQs
Q: When I dive to the bottom of the pool or use a snorkel to dive, my ears hurt. Will this prevent me from engaging in scuba diving?
A: No. As long as your ears and sinuses are normal, you can engage in scuba diving. Discomfort in the ears due to increased water pressure during descent is a normal reaction. Fortunately, the body will adjust to adapt to the change in ear pressure. If you can adjust to and cope with air pressure changes when flying, then balancing pressure while diving should not be a problem for you.
Q: Can people with ear diseases, diabetes, asthma, allergies, or who smoke dive?
A: Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function, heart function, or alters consciousness could cause problems. Only a doctor can determine the individual’s diving risk.
Q: What are the most common injuries or illnesses related to diving?
A: Sunburn and seasickness, both of which can be prevented. The most common injuries caused by aquatic life are abrasions and puncture wounds, both of which can be avoided by wearing a wetsuit, staying away from the bottom, and being mindful of where you place your hands and feet.
Q: What should I do if I encounter a shark?
A: If you are lucky, you might see a shark underwater. While shark attacks have occurred in the past, such incidents are extremely rare and mostly related to spearfishing or shark feeding, both of which can trigger a shark’s feeding behavior. Seeing a shark underwater is quite rare, and most sharks will swim past you without any issue.
Q: Are there any special considerations for female divers?
A: Other than pregnancy, there are no special considerations. Currently, physiologists know little about the effects of diving on fetuses, so it is recommended that pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant avoid diving. Menstruation is usually not a problem.
Q: How deep can you dive?
A: With the necessary training and experience, the depth limit for recreational scuba diving is 40 meters (130 feet). Beginners should not exceed a depth of 18 meters (60 feet). Although there are these limits, the most popular diving depths are actually less than 12 meters (40 feet) because at such depths, the water is warmer and the colors are more vibrant.
Q: What if I run out of air at the bottom?
A: This is unlikely to happen because you carry a pressure gauge while diving, which tells you how much air you have left. With this information, you can return to the surface while there is still enough air. However, in the rare event that you do run out of air, your diving buddy will have a spare air source that you can share while ascending to the surface. Other methods for dealing with this situation are also taught during scuba diving training.
Q: What if I feel claustrophobic underwater?
A: Divers experience a feeling of weightlessness when scuba diving. Modern masks come in many transparent styles, so if you dislike the feeling of being enclosed, you can choose one of these masks. During scuba diving training, your instructor will spend a lot of time guiding you to adapt to each learning stage and will train you according to your progress to ensure that you acquire the necessary skills to become a proficient diver.
Q: Is there an age limit?
A: There is no strict age limit for divers. However, because younger people may have less certainty about their understanding of diving knowledge, most diving organizations set the minimum age for obtaining a diving certificate at ten years old, although this varies by location. Additionally, the requirements for diving activities may also differ.
Q: What is the relationship between diving and swimming?
A: Many people ask if you can scuba dive if you cannot swim. As a recreational activity in deep water, people who cannot swim can also scuba dive. Diving is not a swimming competition, so it is not about speed or distance. However, a person who scuba dives should at least like water and enjoy being in it. Is swimming helpful for diving? Of course! If you can easily swim a few hundred meters, do not panic in deep water, can open your eyes freely underwater, and have good water skills, learning to scuba dive will be much easier. This is because non-swimmers are more likely to panic in the water, which reduces their ability to learn and judge, lowers their confidence, and then enters a vicious cycle… you know. Swimming champions are also relatively more suitable for diving and diving professions. Furthermore, non-swimmers should at least learn to use a mask, snorkel, and fins without a time limit to swim 300 meters.
Q: What if I am nearsighted?
A: Divers cannot wear glasses but use masks, which cover the nose and eyes. Nearsighted people can scuba dive. Otherwise, so many divers in the world would not be nearsighted? It’s magical. Nearsighted people rarely absolutely cannot do something, but it is obviously inconvenient, especially when it comes to sports. Nearsighted people have two options: one is to wear a mask with nearsighted lenses, and the other is to use disposable contact lenses. However, using contact lenses is not encouraged because the lenses are easily washed away underwater before you have mastered good diving skills.
Overall, people who are in good health, mentally mature, have good judgment and self-discipline are more suitable for diving. Some physical conditions are not suitable for diving, especially serious diseases related to the heart, lungs, ears, nose, and nerves.
If you are not sure about the specific criteria, you need a doctor’s professional advice.
