Real divers in March were in Sudan, looking for hammerheads in
Angarosh Reef. Real divers went to South Africa in May, trying to
spot the fabulous and elusive Sardine Run. More endemic divers fought the winter off with dry-suits, plunging into ice cold lakes and murky waters, just to dive. If you are not that kind,
consider taking some advice in order to survive to your diving summer.
1- Wetsuits (and drysuits too) do shrink during the
wintertime. You won’t cope with it: nobody loses so much weight in a plane trip to
Sharm or to Malta. If you are optimistic you’ll rent a wetsuit. Be aware: this sort of optimism can last very long.
2- Computer batteries follow Murphy's law: 1) they tend to
remind you that they were neglected in the middle of the dive; 2) There are no dealers of
that type of batteries where you booked your diving holidays. Buy your computer batteries now.
3- The yellow Pelikan box with your beloved smart diver's
kit is where you put it. Screaming your head off while listing its precious content of spare
straps, silicon tube, o-ring set, allen keys and DIN adapter will just fuel your
frustration. Check at the bottom of the Ikea's plastic box under the old tape
recorder, or under the bathroom tile’s packs. It's there. If you don’t find it,
search the camping set.
4- The horrific thought that some unpleasant guest (a roach) put up home in your second stage, in your case is not a paranoid idea. Do not
wait for a full tank to blow off the intruder. Check the mouthpiece
before embarking abroad. Each bug belongs to its habitat. In some countries you could be accused of
introducing ALIEN species.
5- There is nothing wrong on starting with an easy dive. Believe
me, even the easy dives are attractive. Unless you want to be the attraction
for your group of divers, avoid challenging dive as first approach. Stealing
the scene to a school of hammerheads could be worth more than a good selfie on
Instagram, but the divers in the water with you may develop a different opinion. And the
dive guide too.
6- Your kids went through your same diving education and
your identical lazy pauses. Nevertheless, once soaked in the water, they will dive much better
than you do. Do not get angry if the diving centre sends them to dive wrecks
and shoals of fishes, while you are watching soles. Look for a nudibranch or an
anemone, you’ll find one.
7- Five dives a day are way too much even for a safari guide.
Dive twice, maximum three times a day, then you will be at ease with your ears, with
your residual nitrogen and with your (scarce) energy. And the guide will be
happy for not to chasing you up and down, for identical reasons.
8- Buoyancy control is an innate gift up to the age of 12.
Beyond that, buoyancy requires constant training. If you are lured by deep
diving, and if you cannot help but sink into the abyss, before booking your diving holiday make sure that an hyperbaric chamber is in working order nearby. Cheers.
9- Your DAN subscription isn't not for lifetime: it must be
renewed every year.
10- Be happy: your diving licence never expires! Your diving
skills unfortunately do.
WARNING: You'll follow all these rules or not, your second stage will free-flow. Having it serviced before leaving won’t make the difference.
Since you are here: if you enjoyed this post you could (possibly) enjoy my book
(I wrote six, this is the only one translated into English)
