English (United Kingdom)French (Fr)

Trucs et astuces pour partir plonger dans les tropiques
When it's snowy and cold outside, it's time to get away to a tropical climate and enjoy the sunshine, soft breezes, and clear warm waters. Many vacationers are avid scuba divers who go specifically to take advantage of the spectacular diving conditions which exist in many tropical destinations. Here are some tips to help make your scuba diving vacation safe.

-- Don't dive beyond your abilities. Like any sport, scuba diving skills are honed and fine tuned with experience. If you are planning a vacation around scuba, you are probably already aware of this. But novices who take a quick one day course while on holiday should never go any deeper than 30'. Not all outfitters are careful with their depth guidelines for beginners, so you have to be wise and look out for yourself.

Even certified scuba divers should be careful not to explore specific places that should require extra training, such as caverns, ship wrecks, and extreme depths.

-- Take the time to train yourself into good physical shape long before you go on vacation. Diving puts a lot of stress on your body's functions and organs. Being in condition will lessen your chances of injury and your lungs will be good and strong. Of course, people with heart conditions should never dive at all. If you suspect this may be an issue for you, make sure to get a thorough physical exam.

-- One of the basic safety practices that all experienced divers know is to use the buddy system. Your diving partner can help you check your equipment pre-dive and keep an eye on you while you're both underwater. Your job is to do the same for him or her! Having a buddy greatly lessens the chances of underwater mishap and tragedy.

The danger of being a more experienced diver is that you may falsely assume that if it's just a short little dive, you can handle yourself without help. Never be cocky: it's not worth the risk. When in the water, never be without your buddy.

-- Have a diving plan and stick to it. When you are done, remember to ascend according to the guidelines taught in certification training. If you are a novice, your diving buddy can help you avoid that "panicky" feeling that may compel you to come up too fast.

Your body needs time to get rid of harmful nitrogen as you come to the surface; if you go quickly, you will likely suffer from "the bends," where nitrogen bubbles are trapped in your joints, or experience even more dangerous reactions. Take your time. Take your time. Take your time.

Diving in tropical locations is an incomparable experience! The explosion of color waiting to be discovered under the warm soothing waters lure people back year after year. There is always something new to discover when scuba diving, but do it safely.