articles search
Beginner Diving Myths and Misconceptions
05/31/2009 - By Maria Belgado
Sharks are often more afraid of you than you are of them
Dispelling some common beginner misconceptions about diving.
Before any new diver begins taking scuba lessons, he or she probably came upon some myths about the sport. Common misconceptions about scuba diving often make their way to the ears of even the most experienced and sophisticated divers, and while some may have some basis, not all are true. Here are some diving myths that many divers probably have heard when they first started diving.
1) Diving is dangerous – Yes, diving has its inherent dangers. But so does driving a car, flying in an airplane or crossing the street. In fact, there are more injuries reported for fishing than for scuba diving in the United States, according to a study conducted by the National Safety Council. Scuba Diving requires a certification and training, and is strictly regulated. Advances in the development of diving equipment have contributed greatly to increasing safety of diving. Unless specifically trained to do so, a diver must always follow a buddy system and reputable diveshops and resorts should always provide a divemaster for all groups.
2) You need to be able to swim or in great physical shape to dive – People of all ages dive. It is one of the few sports that does not have an upper age limit. Being in shape does have certain advantages – you won’t be as tired as easily, thus allowing you to enjoy the dive more. Some medical conditions may prevent you from taking up scuba, so check with your doctor if you’re in doubt. Knowing how to swim is, of course, advantageous but modern scuba equipment allows even non-swimmers to navigate underwater.
3) Only men scuba dive – Perhaps in the beginning, it was mostly men who took up diving, but nowadays, many women are getting into the sport too. Today, half of the divers being certified are women.
4) You can only dive during the summer – Diving is a year-round sport, thought special equipment (such as a dry suit) may be needed to dive in extremely cold conditions. Dive sites are not restricted to tropical waters either, as there are many interesting freshwater diving destinations as well.
5) Sharks/Whales/Stingrays will harm me – Most marine life are probably more afraid of scuba divers and will leave them alone. The bubbles created by divers from their regulators are often enough to drive them away. According to statistics, there were only 4 deaths attributed to shark attacks in 2006, none of whom were divers.
