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The Great Snorkel Debate: Should You Wear a Snorkel When Scuba Diving?

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Should divers wear a snorkel while scuba diving?
Should divers wear a snorkel while scuba diving?

Summary:  One of the great debates in the diving industry is whether or not to wear a snorkel when recreational scuba diving.  In technical diving it is unanimous not to wear snorkels, but in recreational diving there are two camps and there are certainly pro’s and con’s on both sides of the camp.  However, the debate has a bit of a bite to it.  Many are quite judgmental to the people who disagree with their position.  In this unique article not only will we look at the top points for and against wearing the snorkel while scuba diving, we will also look at the pro’s and con’s of each point.  We will also look at considerations not often mentioned – considerations that are overarching rather than scenario-dependant.

THE “YES” TO WEARING A SNORKEL WHILE SCUBA DIVING CAMP
We will start here since this has been the diving industries’ historic position on training standards and equipment requirements for recreational divers.
POINT 1: The snorkel is good for surface swimming pre or post dive as it conserves air from the tank.
PRO: This is true as it will conserve air in the tank.  This also lets you see underwater while you’re swimming, which can aid in orienting and direction.  It is ideal when you need to keep your eye on something underwater while swimming at the surface.  Using the snorkel keeps that uninterrupted vision by keeping your face continuously submerged.  The snorkel is good for long surface swims in easy conditions where you would like to see underwater while you are swimming.
CON:  But, the amount of tank air conserved needs to be measured against conditions, distance and time.  At the surface (1ATA) the amount of air we breathe from the tank is quite small, as compared to the increased density of air consumed at depth.  For a short and simple surface swim, breathing from the regulator may not have much effect on air supply at all.  However, if there is a strong current or if the surface swimming distance traveled is long (let’s say 5 minutes or longer), then the amount of air used from the tank may be a factor and the snorkel may be a better option.  However, note that if the conditions are causing heavy breathing at the surface using a snorkel, this could be worsened by the “dead air” space (residual CO2 that remains in a snorkel after exhalation) that continues to be breathed in keeping the diver’s CO2 levels high, thus increasing respiration.  Also, if the surface conditions are rough, it may be better on the diver to abandon the snorkel swim and slightly descend and continue the swim underwater using the regulator.  This will cut down on the exhaustion that may set in from surface swimming in large waves.  Another con is the drift diving scenario when surface swimming up to a boat with its engines running.  I will often wait at the surface using my snorkel, but when the boat approaches, that nasty taste of diesel exhaust makes me switch right away to my regulator and breathe the regulator the whole time I am waiting my turn to get out – as a dive professional, I am always the last one out of the water for whatever group I am supervising, (see FILO article) so that would be a long time to sit with a snorkel breathing exhaust.

POINT 2: The snorkel is essential for surface swimming if the tank has no air.
PRO:  It’s true that we can’t breathe off the regulator if the tank has no air.  So, when maintaining a face-down surface swim, the snorkel is the best method.  I watched a diver with no air and no snorkel perform a surface search for his buddy who was still underwater.  He followed his buddy trying to get his buddy’s attention.  For ten minutes he swam at the surface lifting up his head every time he needed to breathe.  He came back on the boat with a raging hypercapnia headache caused by such high levels of CO2 for such a long period of time.  The snorkel would have helped greatly.
CON:  Let’s consider this question… is swimming face-down on the surface while wearing full scuba the most efficient surface swimming position?  Hmm.  Many instructors, myself included, like to teach all levels of students that a faster and more efficient method to surface swim while wearing scuba is to swim on your back.  This method rarely works with a snorkel.  Most divers with a positively buoyant BC are easily able to swim on their backs while maintaining a controlled airway even in waves – as now the airway is above the water line instead of under it.

POINT 3:  It is a safety tool, there when you need it.
PRO: By wearing the snorkel during a dive, it is immediately available when needed at the surface.  The scenarios of having it immediately at the ready are subjects of discussion as there are nearly endless scenarios to consider.
CON:  But, by wearing the snorkel during a dive, can all the con’s that we will see below outweigh the pro’s of having it readily available? The con side really does not see many “needs” for the snorkel that could trump all the con’s.  And those who see merit to both pro and con sides of the point of “it is a safety tool, there when you need it” often jump to the “collapsible” or “folding” snorkel.  (See “THE HYBRID” below.)

THE “NO” TO WEARING A SNORKEL WHILE SCUBA DIVING CAMP
POINT 1:  It tugs on the mask and is unwieldy in a current.
PRO:  In a strong current a snorkel may wobble, tug and pull on the mask strap.  This can cause the mask to leak and/or flood completely.  The wobbling snorkel may be a nuisance as it moves and bumps equipment or one’s head.
CON:  It is not fair to generalize this point as the design of the snorkel relates greatly to how much it will wobble, tug and pull in a current.  The more streamlined the design and the closer it is worn to the head dramatically reduces the snorkel’s profile in the water.  Plus, a slight tilt or turn of the head changes the hydrodynamics of the water rushing by one’s head and can also reduce the resistance of water flowing by the snorkel.

POINT 2:  It can easily get caught or entangled.
PRO: Having over a foot of plastic attached to the side of a diver’s head could be an object that gets bumped, caught or entangled.  The snorkel can get caught in throw/tag lines, current lines, down lines and reel lines.  It is also possible to get caught in other objects like monofilament line or on hoses when doing BC removal and replacement.  In overhead environments such as caverns, caves and wrecks students are emphatically taught not to wear snorkels for this very reason.
CON: Many pieces of equipment we wear underwater protrude slightly off our person.  What makes the snorkel that much different than the tank valve and first stage, the hoses, fins, gauges, etc.?  Proper training and experience allows for the diver to accommodate for those items.  We do what we can to minimize them (danglies) and we work with and around them.  Those who have worn snorkels for a very long time have a great sense of their presence and rarely have an entanglement situation with their snorkels.

POINT 3:  It gets in the way during a dive.
PRO:  My most recent rescue class had a student who went to put her Air II in her mouth during an air sharing exercise, and as she brought it up to her mouth the snorkel mouthpiece came up on top of it!  She put the wrong mouthpiece in and took in quite a gulp of water.  This is a classic example of the snorkel really getting in the way in what could have been a drastic level.  Sometimes the snorkel can be uncomfortable as it is hanging down next to the face and neck.  This can be very distracting during a dive.
CON:  Again, the profile of the snorkel and how it is worn has a lot to do with the comfort of wearing the snorkel.  Most seasoned snorkel wearers have become very accustomed to the snorkel and do not perceive it as a nuisance.  It is just another piece of equipment on their profile to which they know how to use and are aware of.

THE HYBRID:  “HAVING” A SNORKEL INSTEAD OF “WEARING” A SNORKEL
One solution that both camps often agree on is the use of a “collapsible” or “folding” snorkel.  Several brands exist wherein the snorkel can be folded up and carried either in a BC pocket or attached to the BC during the dive, then deployed and attached to the mask strap at the surface when needed.
PRO:  This seems to be the best of both worlds.  It is not worn while underwater scuba diving, and it is there when you need it at the surface.  It also works towards many training agency standards that call for a diving professional to carry a snorkel when teaching or supervising a dive.
CON:  Although their flexible design works for storage, some can bend in surface currents/waves and squeeze down upon a strong inhalation.  When you think of times when the snorkel may be needed, there is a strong chance that heavy breathing will accompany its use.  To have a snorkel that restricts airflow, even slightly, leads to high CO2 levels and is also extremely frustrating.  These folding snorkels can function as a snorkel in ideal conditions, but do they function well in robust situations?  Not really.  Many people give them good reviews for what they accomplish in theory, but when really used and put to the test they often come up short.

LET’S TAKE A TIMEOUT:  THE GREATER ISSUES AT-HAND
So we looked at many points, and the pro’s and con’s of those points.  As you can see scenarios really dictate the need to wear or not to wear a snorkel.  But we are missing bigger issues.  For this I must stand atop my soapbox…
SOAPBOX POINT #1:  We need to take a look at the modern-day snorkels hanging in dive centers everywhere.  They are huge!  With their ultra-hyper-uber-dry features they come with literal “domes” on top.  To make it so they get rid of water easily they have large purge assemblies under the mouthpiece.  To make it so they move out of the way when used with a regulator they add corrugation to allow the mouthpiece to drop away.  To make this large contraption fit on a mask strap, there needs to be a large keeper assembly.  With all of these conveniences comes lots of plastic.  This makes snorkels longer, heavier and bulkier.  When I wear these, I want to end my dive, ignore the divemaster’s briefing on what to put in a marine toilet, and flush them down the head!  The modern snorkel has, in my opinion, become ridiculous because of point two…
SOAPBOX POINT #2:  We’re getting lazy!  It is truly not hard to clear a snorkel – and I mean ones with no purge valves.  But instead we’ve relied on technology to design an easier product.  But that design has had a backlash as more and more divers are recognizing all the negatives to wearing these monstrosities while diving and they’re simply ditching their snorkels.  And since many scuba classes downplay snorkeling so very much, the certified diver is often uncomfortable and not proficient with the snorkel to begin with (yet it was required to buy for their class).

Sure technical diving is blending into recreational diving, but that is not the main reason for this large-scale rejection of the snorkel.  For these reasons above it is no surprise why divers of the last ten years are shying away from wearing snorkels and why this is such an area of great debate.

I am fond of low-profile, simple J-design snorkels – such as freediving type snorkels.  I am also completely proficient in their use.  That combination of user proficiency and low profile design allows me to comfortably and skillfully scuba dive with my snorkel in place.

Ah, to wear a snorkel, or not wear a snorkel… that is the question.

Why is Hydration so Important When Scuba Diving?

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Water is vital for proper hydration when scuba diving.
There are many factors that can contribute to dehydration in scuba divers. Here we will examine those risk factors as well as tips to keep properly hydrated when diving.

We think of running, cycling and triathlons as physical activities where hydration is absolutely critical.  But scuba diving does not seem to have that same critical need, so hydration tends to be downplayed by scuba divers, reduced to just a “good practice” when going diving.  Think again!  In this article we will explore why proper hydration is so vital to healthy scuba diving.  We will explore the many ways divers lose water during scuba diving activities, how dehydration can negatively affect diver performance, and how to recognize dehydration.  Finally, we learn several tips for effectively keeping properly hydrated for your dives.

THE GENERAL NEED FOR WATER
It’s no secret that our bodies depend on water for survival.  In fact, water makes up over half of our body weight.  Every cell, tissue and organ in your body depends on water for proper functioning.  Water is essential for joint lubrication, cardio-vascular efficiency, regulating temperature, and removing bodily waste.

You may have heard a common rule-of-thumb for water consumption to be “8 x 8” or eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.  However, more clinical recommendations advise between 3 and 4 liters of water per day for men, and between 2 and 3 liters of water per day for women.  But there are many factors that may demand significantly more daily water intake including age, body mass, medications, alcohol or caffeine consumption, hot/dry climates, and physical activity.

HOW DO WE LOOSE WATER SCUBA DIVING?
Let’s take a look at some of the well-known and not-so-known factors that reduce hydration levels when engaging in scuba diving activities:

Sweating (climate) – Diving often takes us to tropical locations with the greatest abundance of coral reefs, as they are near the equator with good sun coverage and warm waters.  With the lower latitudes comes warm, humid, tropical climates that increase sweating.  But even in our northern latitudes, divers may sweat just carrying gear bags and tanks, and suiting up for their dive.  Sometimes northerners come to the tropics for their once-a-year dive vacation and they are not at all accustomed to the oppressive humidity and do not do such a good job staying hydrated.

Sweating (exposure suit) – Also, no matter the latitude, divers wearing wetsuits will sweat under every square inch of that neoprene.  So when we see a diver wearing a wetsuit or drysuit and he has a few lines of sweat running down his face, don’t be fooled.  Underneath that exposure suit he is sweating more than the exposed skin where air is evaporating sweat and cooling the skin.  A steady increase of body temperature takes place the longer the exposure suit is worn out of the water.  Sweating underneath the exposure suit can be profuse, but it is hidden, making it quite deceptive.

Respiration – Our bodies naturally loose water through exhalation.  You can notice this just exhaling on glass and seeing your exhaled water vapor create a fog on that glass.  But when scuba diving, water loss through respiration is increased significantly due to our breathing of highly filtered and very dry compressed air.  This air, with virtually no humidity, draws even more water out of the body during respiration.

Sun – Our best dive locations have excellent sunlight.  As we engage in this outdoor activity we are susceptible to large amounts of sun exposure.  A mild to moderate sunburn leaves the skin red, hot, and painful.  Just as with any other skin burn the body rushes fluid to the skin.  Being outdoors air will evaporate the moisture on the skin, leading to further fluid loss.

Wind – Because scuba diving is an outdoor activity another natural factor contributing to dehydration is wind.  Not only do the tropics have healthy breezes, but a swift boat ride to a dive site can remove surface moisture and sweat from exposed skin.  The faster the wind, the higher the rate of evaporation.

Salt – The majority of scuba diving takes place in salt water.  So divers have contact with salt directly on their skin before, during, and after their dives.  When we dive we are immersed in salt water and when we return to the surface, unless we rinse off thoroughly with fresh water, there will be salt water on our skin which evaporates leaving small salt crystals on our skin and hair.  Before or after the dive we may be blown with salty ocean breezes or even salt spray when the boat hits waves.  Since salt is hygroscopic it has the ability to attract and hold water molecules.  When it sits on our skin it can pull water away from the skin tissue, where it quickly evaporates.

Immersion Diuresis – A technical term for “peeing in our wetsuits”!  As we dive, ambient water pressure and the cooler temperature of water may both have a role in shunting blood from the extremities (arms and legs) into the thorax.  When the body recognizes the increase of blood around core organs, and the subsequent increase in blood pressure, it attempts to flush fluids by increasing urine output.  That is the reason for the frequent need to urinate during dives.

Vomiting – If you’ve spent time on a dive boat, you understand the plight of those who are plagued with sea sickness.  Not only is it embarrassing and uncomfortable, but vomiting can leave the body in a severely dehydrated state along with a severe electrolyte imbalance.  The more one vomits, the greater the chance of severe dehydration.

Alcohol – Dive trips are often fun, tropical vacations.  It is important to recognize that drinking alcoholic beverages is quite common during dive vacations.  Alcohol consumption actually counters water consumption since it is a diuretic.  Alcohol diuresis is increased urine output resulting from the consumption of alcohol.  The alcohol suppresses production of the body’s anti-diuretic hormone leaving the person with a frequent need to urinate, speeding up the loss of fluid from the body, and leading to dehydration.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M DEHYDRATED?
There are several symptoms of dehydration that you should be aware of:

  • Little or no urine, or urine that is darker than usual
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Extreme thirst
  • Sleepiness or fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

Do not wait until these symptoms appear before you take in water!  Drink early and often.  Also note that these symptoms may be hard to recognize when you are already dehydrated.

HOW DOES DEHYDRATION AFFECT DIVERS?
Picture an automotive television commercial for motor oil.  They show the internal engine parts sluggishly moving with the thick, pitch-black oil junking it up.  But then the new light-colored golden motor oil makes its way into the engine and now it moves faster, with greater efficiency.  I use that visual to describe what your blood is doing with your organs when you are dehydrated.  As the blood gets thicker due to reduced water, the circulatory system becomes compromised.  Its ability to transport nutrients and blood gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen diminish.  This leads to muscle fatigue, cramping, high blood pressure, rapid heart beat, confusion, and increased breathing.  And, as the circulatory system is vital to the off-gassing of nitrogen, nitrogen release may be compromised in a dehydrated diver.  Mild to moderate dehydration in divers can lead to the following:

  • Weakness and exhaustion
  • Poor air consumption
  • Cramping
  • Reduced awareness
  • Increased risk of decompression sickness

BUT WHAT TO DRINK?
Water is best.  If you don’t like plain water, you can add small amounts of fruit juice for flavoring such as squeezing a lemon wedge or an orange slice.  Sports drinks like Gatorade® or Powerade® are also good for hydration when engaging in long-duration physical activity, and so they have a high sugar content.  That high sugar content prevents them from being your daily water intake.  But they do contain sodium and other electrolytes, which are good if you’re sweating heavily, slightly dehydrated, cramping, or after vomiting.  And finally, energy drinks like Red Bull® and Monster®  – just stay away from them.  There is no need to take in stimulating beverages prior to scuba diving.

TIPS FOR PROPER HYDRATION
Here are some tips on staying properly hydrated when scuba diving, plus links to items I actually use:

  1. Hydrate early, at regular intervals, hours before your dive.
  2. Carry a re-usable, clear, BPA-free water bottle with measurement markings.  This helps you gauge your consumption.  My favorite is the CamelBak BPA-Free Chute Bottle.
  3. Hydrate during surface interval times (SIT).
  4. Remember, fruit contains water, fructose and vitamins and is great both pre-dive and post-dive.
  5. Utilize shade as much as possible, especially for equipment set-up.
  6. Remain out of exposure suits until absolutely ready to get in the water.
  7. Apply sunscreen liberally and every one hour of sun exposure.  Waterproof sunscreen is not waterproof.  Being underwater, rinsing off, and sweating gradually removes sunscreen.  Use SPF 30 or higher (I recommend higher).
  8. Cover up.  Utilize wide-brimmed hats like the Columbia Bora Bora Sun Hat.  Light-weight long-sleeve shirts or wind breakers are good for windy conditions, my favorite is the ExOfficio Reef Runner Lite Long Sleeve Shirt.
  9. Rinse the salt off your skin soon after diving.
  10. Do your best preventing sea sickness.  Look into medication or using your sea legs.  (See How to Get Your Sea Legs article)
  11. If vomiting occurs remember to replace fluids and electrolytes soon thereafter.
  12. Avoid diuretics, especially alcohol.
  13. Plain water and sport drinks: GOOD  Energy drinks:  BAD

As you can see hydration is really important in scuba diving.  Keep up with your water intake and your body will keep up with you.

How Much Should You Tip Dive Boat Crew and Why?

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Tipping the crew on a dive boat is customary and proper dive boat etiquette.
Tipping the crew on a dive boat is customary and proper dive boat etiquette.

Recently, I was getting my gills wet aboard a charter dive trip. There was a group of tourists on board and two other instructors, each with their students.  By all accounts the trip was very nice – a comfortable boat, favorable ocean conditions, and a friendly hard-working crew.  However, at the end of the dive trip I observed only one of the tourists ask the captain if he accepted tips.  The captain responded, “Gladly!”  The rest of the passengers, including the instructors and their students, packed their cars and drove away.

At that moment, I had the same feeling I get when I go to a restaurant with someone who has never been in the restaurant service industry.  Often, we will encounter a waitperson that is “weeded”, “slammed” or “triple-sat”.  Or, sometimes the kitchen messes up an order.  Whatever the case, a person who has been in the restaurant industry can usually sympathize with the server because he or she has been in that same situation before.  And, a person who has been a waiter or waitress not only knows how hard the job is, but also just how important tips are to both the income and feelings of a waitperson.  But a person who does not know the dynamics of being a waiter or waitress may quickly pass judgment onto the waitperson by leaving little or no tip.

WHY THE NEED TO TIP?
Unfortunately, many scuba instructors have never been actual divemasters or crew on a charter dive boat.  Because of this, they do not fully appreciate the hard work and relatively low pay the crew receives.  Thus, in your first scuba class you may not have been taught about tipping the boat crew.  Here are some considerations as to why you should tip on charter dive boat trips.

The job starts well before divers arrive and ends well after divers are on their second tropical drink back at the villa.  Charter boat crew have a very physical job, which also comes with a high degree of liability.  Whether it’s the captain, mate or divemaster, they shift from talent to talent in a moments’ notice.  For instance:

  • Mechanic – fueling, checking oil, checking bilges, prepping waste system, filling water coolers, tying the lines for loading
  • Greeter – assisting and welcoming passengers on-board, introductions
  • Activities coordinator – selecting locations, assigning buddy teams, coordinating diving activities, planning times and depths
  • Presenter – give briefing at dock, give briefings at sites
  • Mechanic (again) – repairing equipment, anchoring or mooring to a site
  • Lookout – assisting into the water, monitoring boat traffic, monitoring other divers, spotting divers as they surface, keeping an eye on the weather conditions
  • Enforcer – correcting problematic behavior
  • Server – offering beverages, slicing up and serving fruit
  • Custodian – cleaning up when someone has had motion sickness on the deck or in the head
  • Cheerleader – keeping the passengers happy and enjoying their dive trip – even when conditions are lousy!
  • Mechanic (again) – canopies up and down, ladders up and down, tying up at the dock for unloading, cleaning up, rinsing/washing entire boat

Whew!  Pay attention to these folks on your next trip and you will see what I mean.

HOW MUCH?
So, what is the proper amount to tip a charter boat dive crew?  15% to 20% of the charter boat dive rate is customary.  If your charter boat dive trip was $50 for a two-tank dive, a respectable tip would be anywhere between $8 and $10.  If the crew was outstanding, give a bit more.  Of course if service is poor, report it immediately to the dive center or whom you booked your charter through.  Remember also that if the seas are rough, or the visibility is bad, or it is raining – just because the diving had poor conditions does not mean the staff worked any less.  In fact those are the times crew works even harder.

HOW TO TIP?
As part of the educational process during open water diving, instructors should demonstrate tipping and encourage their students to do the same on all dives.
Just as the waiter must share their tips with the cooks, bartenders, and bus boys, the charter boat crew shares among themselves.  Most of the time I give tips to the captain of the vessel.  Many charter boat operators pay captains significantly higher than the rest of the crew.  So, often captains will pass tips right along to their crew.  I have also been moved to tip each crewmember individually 20% because of outstanding service to my students and me.

Often the crew is running around the boat and dock.  Try and get their attention and give them a personal thank you as you extend your tip.  If the crew is unavailable you may be able to leave your tip in a tip jar or inside the dive center.  A note, card or envelope signed by you adds a personal touch, and keeps the cash more accountable than just leaving it in a jar or with someone else.

Also, tips stand out to charter boat dive operators and their crew.  You will stand out as a diver who is generous and appreciative.  I have been pleasantly surprised to have my favorite seats reserved, or our favorite beverages in the cooler, or an invitation up to the bridge for my students.  Again, be generous and appreciative to the operators you do business with.  You only have one reputation, make it a good one!

How to Select the Best Dive Shop

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The look and feel of a dive shop should exude the culture of diving and have a passionate, excited staff.
The look and feel of a dive shop should exude the culture of diving and have a passionate, excited staff.

When deciding where to take a scuba class, purchase or service dive equipment, or going on a group dive trip, the local dive shop (LDS) remains divers’ favorite choice of service delivery.  Here we will explain in detail the areas to consider when selecting the best dive shop with which to affiliate.

There are definitely some things to look for when selecting a class, dive shop, and/or a scuba instructor.  It can be broken down into three distinct areas to evaluate, thus it is worthy of three separate articles which I have written. Let’s take a look at each of these areas of consideration:
A. How to Select a Scuba Diving Class
B. How to Select a Dive Shop
C. How to Select a Scuba Instructor

HOW TO SELECT A DIVE SHOP
Let’s look at what makes a dive shop a dive shop. But first let me address an area of political correctness. A push was made in the diving industry to use the name “dive center” instead of “dive shop”. Research showed that the name “dive shop” had a small, rustic, mom-and-pop feel, and that a “dive center” was conducive to an upper class, professional business with more offerings. So, some agencies deem dive shops “Full Service Dive Centers” if they meet a plethora of criteria, and even give them ratings. However, search engine reporting shows that “dive shop” is still the most preferred title to refer to a brick-and-mortar dive retail business. So, I will use dive shop with no intent to diminish you dive stores, dive centers, or dive centre if you are British (fabulous wedding by the way).

Here are the main areas of business for dive shops:

  1.  Scuba Instruction – Since you have read “How to Select a Scuba Diving Class” you now have an appreciation for some of the items necessary to take a scuba class. Most scuba training takes place in conjunction with dive shops. Even if you take a private scuba class with an independent diving instructor, chances are you will be visiting a dive shop that your instructor works with.
  2. Equipment Purchasing – The dive shop is an integral part of your future as a diver. You will visit your local dive shop when it comes time purchase your gear. This is especially important since fit and comfort are key criteria for your equipment selection. At a dive shop you will be able to try on multiple sizes and styles, under the expert care of a dive retail professional, to pick the items perfect for you.
  3. Equipment Servicing – The dive shop is where you go to have your tanks filled. The more you dive, the more air fills you need. This keeps a steady relationship between you and the dive shop. It is also the place that you will bring in your equipment to be serviced – annual inspections of your regulator and tanks, and every five years for the tank hydrostatic testing. Plus, if you have a repair need, they are the place to get those repairs fixed properly as scuba equipment repair requires specialized training and certification.
  4. Dive Travel – Tons of training and tons of equipment will not matter if you don’t dive! The dive shop is the hub of diving activities – especially dive travel. Whether it’s local or halfway around the world, your dive shop offers special dive travel opportunities to keep you wet and enjoying the sport. Dive travel is what it’s all about, exploring various locations each with their own unique conditions and marine life.

SELECTION TIPS

  1. Ask Around – You probably have lots of friends who are divers. Ask them. A simple inquiry to your friends on Facebook should reveal many suggestions of shops, both good and bad. Your looking for your friends’ actual experiences not rumors. Remember, just like a restaurant review, experiences and opinions may vary from person to person. But, if people are giving consistent reviews, chances are they are accurate.

Tec’s Tips:
– Ask what they like and dislike about the dive shop.
– Ask what they go there for the most.
– Ask if they have a favorite employee or instructor.

  1. Internet Research – Take each of the areas above (dive travel, scuba instruction, etc.) and explore them on the dive shop’s website. If the site looks like a ninth-grade computer project, be suspect. That is clearly a sign of owners who do not understand their consumers’ needs. Scuba diving is a wonderful combination of fun and safety. Safety is in the details. So, good dive shops will have websites that are fun and engaging, and at the same time detailed and full of information. NOTE: Don’t be discouraged if a dive shop does not post the prices of classes. That is a detail that many dive shops would rather have you call about so that they can tell you in detail what the class includes. The reason for this goes back to our first article, “How to Select a Scuba Diving Class”, as some dive shops post ridiculously low class prices yet have hidden costs. Most people don’t know how to do true class comparisons (like you now know how to do), so many dive shops want you to call for pricing. That is a good thing.

Tec’s Tips:
– Do you get a good and excited feeling about diving when you visit their website? Do they look like they embody the scuba lifestyle? Those are also good traits to look for when doing internet research.
– Go to the About Us section of their website. You should have a clear snapshot of the employees and instructors with their bio’s. Do they look professional and have professional credentials, yet exude a passion for diving? That is what you want. I shy away from dive shops that are not proud to show their most important asset; their people. If they don’t showcase their staff, it could mean they have massive turnover of staff or they have folks with mediocre credentials. The opposite could happen too. If the About Us section reveals only men who have mostly uber-technical credentials (cave, cavern, deep air, mixed gas, etc.). That could be a niche dive shop and may not be the right place for your family to become recreational divers. I am generalizing, so just use common sense, and you will get a good feel for what the dive shop is all about.

Great dive shops have great customer service
Great dive shops have great customer service
  1. Site Visit – This is hands-down the best way to evaluate a dive shop. Don’t be intimidated if you are a non-diver. Go there! As a non-diver you should leave the dive shop wanting to take your lessons yesterday! The people, the atmosphere, the equipment, the visuals, should make you feel like you have stepped into what diving is all about. A diving culture should be present and intense.

Tec’s Tips:
– How is the visual appeal? It should be somewhat overwhelming, but not chaotic. You want a nice layout with a good amount of products that makes you want to explore them. You should get the clear impression that this shop truly specializes in their sport.
– How is the customer service? This is a big one. You want to be greeted and you want them to ask questions about you. Within a couple minutes they should know you are a non-diver interested in taking scuba lessons. And they should be GENUINELY EXCITED for your interest. Notice also how they are helping other people, see if there is a class going on, or notice them selling equipment or filling tanks. These occurrences are what you will be going through, so you should like what you are seeing.
– Try to meet your instructor. If you can, this is a wonderful thing to do. For what to look for in your instructor see the next article, “How to Select a Scuba Instructor”.
– What professional image does the shop have? Is it clean? Would you trust the employees to fit you for life support equipment or take you underwater? Do you get the impression that safety is important to them? You will be amazed at how keen your sense of this is even though you are a soon-to-be-diver.

WHAT TO AVOID
As a former scuba training/certification agency director I had the opportunity to visit many dive shops nationally and abroad. Most were very good, but a few were not so good. One shop in particular, I will never forget. Immediately upon entering the small shop there was an old pizza box open on top of the glass display counter; a wastebasket overflowing with beer bottles; a smelly dog with white hair; the dog’s white hair was all over the un-vacuumed blue carpet and even on some of the retail diving equipment; the two owners were both smoking cigarettes; they shared a large, full ashtray also on top of the glass display counter; the shop and all the equipment reeked of smoke and dog. I was there to investigate a quality assurance complaint. Naturally.

AGENCY AFFILIATION
Remember from the first article that there are many scuba training/certification agencies. What can also help you make your dive shop selection can be the status a shop may have with an agency. Some of the larger scuba training/certification agencies have standards for their sanctioned “dive centers”. And, again, they may have ratings or titles given to those dive shops with scales of gold, silver, platinum, palms, stars, or diamonds just to name a few. But what is helpful to know is that a dive shop that displays their “Dive Center Status” with an agency has had to be evaluated to the standards of that agency. They have been measured on air purification standards, equipment inventory, class offerings, service & repair, regular hours, proper business licenses, and no quality assurance or standards violations. These are all important areas that you may not see, so it is nice to know that the agency has inspected all that annually for you.

Finally, as a modern-day consumer you know what you want when it comes to how to be treated, and how a place and its people make you feel. Visit as many dive shops as you can to get the best comparisons, then go with your gut feeling. By following the tips in this article, chances are you will make the right decision.

Now read “How to Select a Scuba Instructor”

How to Fill Out the Scuba Medical History Questionnaire

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Truthfully and accurately completing the Divers Medical Questionnaire is extremely important to divers' health and safety
Truthfully and accurately completing the Divers Medical Questionnaire is extremely important to divers’ health and safety

At the beginning of every scuba class, students are required to fill out a Medical History Questionnaire.  This questionnaire is part of a larger document called the Medical Statement, and this Statement was created by the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) and is widely used among U.S. scuba training agencies.  The purpose of the Medical History Questionnaire is to find out if the diver should be examined by a physician before beginning scuba training.  So why post an article on how to fill out the form?  Well, over the years as an instructor trainer, dive training agency director, and a forensic diving accident investigator, I have seen countless examples of how the improper use of this form has been extremely harmful (even fatal) to multiple individuals impacted by it.  Both new and seasoned divers, as well as all diving professionals, need to know how important this form is for their own well-being, and the well-being of their instructors, divemasters, students, and dive buddies.

Here are the steps for properly filling out this extremely important document:

Step 1:  Be Truthful – The questionnaire asks if you have had at any time a condition within the list of medical conditions.  If so, you will give a positive response (“YES” answer) to the condition noted.  A positive response to a question does not necessarily disqualify you from diving.  Rather, it shows that there is a pre-existing medical condition that may affect your health and safety when diving with compressed air under varying states of pressure.  Thus, a physician is called upon to examine your ability to proceed with the scuba training or not.

But here is where people get into trouble.  The diver is on vacation and wants to take a scuba course.  He signs up for the course which starts that night.  Upon arriving at the course he fills out the paperwork and the instructor notices a “YES” response to the line “Asthma, or wheezing with breathing, or wheezing with exercise”.  This form now requires a physician’s approval for the individual to continue in the course.  But, how will that happen when it is late afternoon or on a weekend?  Here are the things that go wrong:

  • The diver decides that the episode was when he was a child so he crosses the YES out an writes a NO.  WRONG! The diver had the condition, even as a child, so it must be noted.
  • The instructor recognizes she will lose this diver’s registration in her class and decides to inquire about the condition and whether or not it should really be given a YES.  The instructor finds out the asthma occurred in childhood, and concludes that the diver is fine.  She rips up the form and tells the diver to fill it out again, this time with a NO in the Asthma line.  WRONG! The diving instructor or divemaster is not the physician of the diver, and cannot make a call on a medical condition – only a physician can.

Step 2:  Be Accurate – The Medical Statement can be inaccurate when improperly filled out.  It is important to write the actual words “YES” or “NO” on the Medical History Questionnaire.  Simply writing a “N” or “Y” or even a “–” is not acceptable.  Nor can you write one word and then draw a straight line down the list to in an attempt to include all (see examples).

 

Improper: No abbreviations, dashes, or letters
Improper: No abbreviations, dashes, or letters
Improper: No lines or strikethroughs
Improper: No lines or strikethroughs

Also be sure to fill in every other area a) legibly and b) in detail.  Be as accurate as you can about your physician, or even past physician if you no longer live in the same location and have not seen a new physician.

Sign and date the form properly.

Step 3:  Be Willing to Get a Physician’s Signature – As mentioned in step 1, some people have lied on their diving Medical Statement to forgo obtaining a physician’s signature.  This can have drastic consequences – don’t do it!  If you have a “YES” response to ANY of the items in the Medical History Questionnaire you have a couple options:

  1. Fax the form in its entirety to your physician and ask if he or she will approve you to dive.  If your physician has regularly seen you for checkups and can pull your medical file and review it, chances are your physician will select the appropriate box, sign it,  and fax the forms back to you.
  2. Go see your physician.  You can either go see your physician or go see a new one if you currently don’t have one.  Bring all six pages of the Medical Statement with you.  You will be given a routine check, with perhaps more of a focus on airway, ears, sinuses, and lungs.  This is not generally a Diving Physical Exam – those are more formal and used often for military, commercial, and/or scientific diving purposes.  After your examination your physician will select the appropriate box, sign it, and hand you the forms.

A note on physicians reviewing your eligibility to dive – not all physicians understand the myriad of medical complexities surrounding diving with compressed air in varying pressure environments.  If the physician is a diver, it does not qualify the physician in the areas of Diving Medicine or Hyperbaric Medicine.  However, physicians who are divers may have an increased understanding of the items to consider for healthy diving.  In either case, the last four pages of the Medical Statement are called the “Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination” and is for the physician to use in determining divers’ medical fitness for scuba diving.  These guidelines help a physician ascertain whether a certain medical condition is a relative risk, a temporary risk, or a severe risk condition in diving.  Make sure the physician has all four pages of the guidelines.

You could also seek a physician with specialized knowledge of diving.  One of the best resources for this is through the Divers Alert Network (DAN) Physician Referral Network.  If you are looking for a physician to conduct a diving physical or would like a consultation from a diving medical specialist in your area simply go to http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/network/physician.

Bottom line:  There is nothing underwater worth risking your life to see.  Be truthful and accurate on your Medical History Questionnaire.

Welcome Dive Professionals

Welcome to ScubaGuru.com!  The ScubaGuru brand is dedicated to giving dive professionals tools and techniques to be GREAT LEADERS – leaders in the classroom, leaders underwater, and leaders in their diving businesses.  With unique leadership skill-sets, the dive professional can create:

  • Better divers
  • Loyal customers
  • A thriving dive center
  • A flourishing dive industry

See what we mean by Go Beyond the Standard and enjoy the rewards of being truly great at what you do!

Sincerely,

Tec Clark

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