Spring has definitely sprung, and that means the dive season is upon us! Can we get a "Wa-hoo!!!" Some brave souls will have busted out their drysuits and kept diving throughout this snowy winter, but for most of us, as soon as that first freeze hit, we hung up the dive gear and stored it away in a nice, warm spot for the winter. Now that the temperatures are rising and the lakes are thawing, you're probably more than ready to get back in the water! We are too, but you should first consider a few things before making that first dive back.
5 Things to consider before making that first dive of the season:
1. Service your regulator!
Most scuba manufacturers require an annual servicing (or 'tune-up') of your regulator to keep it under warranty. Some high-end regulators, like Atomic Aquatics, will allow you to go every two years. The good news is that most regulator manufacturers offer free parts for these annual servicings, as long as you keep it coming in every year. So, before you make that first dive, plan 4-6 weeks ahead and send that regulator setup in for its annual servicing! We have a great service department here at Underseas Scuba Center!
2. Check out your scuba cylinders!
There's nothing worse than showing up to fill your cylinder for a great day of diving to find out that in needs to be serviced! There are two things to look for when checking your cylinder to see if it needs servicing:
- Hydro - Every 5 years the DOT (that's the government here) requires all scuba cylinders to be sent in for a Hydrostatic test. This can usually take many weeks to get completed so plan ahead! You can view the last hydro date stamped on the neck of your cylinder. If you're unsure, bring it in and we can look at it for you.
- Visual Cylinder Inspection - Every cylinder also needs an annual visual inspection which can be done pretty quickly here in the store. You should have a large sticker on the body of your cylinder with the last visual date stamped out on it.
3. Consider a refresher course!
If you've been out of the water for a while and don't scuba dive very often to begin with, consider taking a refresher, or PADI scuba tune-up course. Requiring only one pool session, this can be done quickly and easily, and what better way to ease yourself back into the water? We can conduct PADI Scuba Tune-Ups at almost anytime!
4. Gear check!
Spend an afternoon going through your gear to make sure your mask straps are still good, your fins still fit, your wetsuit still fits, blow up your BC to make sure there are no leaks, and make sure your booties and gloves still fit well and are not worn out.
5. Hit the gym (or pool)
It's no secret that most of us tend to put on a few pounds over the winter months, so it's always a good idea to start getting your body back into shape before making that first dive. Yes, diving is fun, relaxing, and enjoyable, but it is a physically strenuous sport and research shows that people who carry a higher body fat content are more susceptible to decompression sickness. Since you're diving underwater, what better way to get into shape and get comfortable in the water again than swimming a few laps throughout your week?
So, if you're like us and seeing the flowers blooming paired with all of this warm, sunny weather is getting you anxious to hit the water, follow these 5 things first so that you can have the best dive season every! Happy Diving!!
