There are a lot of divers who aim to dive in cold and warm climates all year round. While most of them already own a wetsuit, they are still faced with the dilemma of whether purchasing a Drysuit is worth the investment or not. But why some divers choose wearing a drysuit, you may ask. What we know is that probably their primary motivation is solely based on the diving environment. However, you should know that drysuits both come with pros and cons, just like wetsuits.
In this post, we will be talking about everything that you need to know about how to drysuit drive like a pro. As you may already know, drysuits are best suited for diving in cold waters with below 60-degrees F temperature. To add, some divers prefer wearing drysuits, especially when there is a need to dive for longer periods. With this, let’s now get on with the discussions
The Basics of Drysuit Diving
If you’re a diver, you know that water keeps heat away from your body. In fact, cold water does this to the human body at least 20 times more than cold air. So, when you’re diving in cold water, you must be using the proper exposure suit to be able to achieve a comfortable diving experience. In addition, you also get to prevent yourself from experiencing hypothermia. This is the very reason why drysuits are perfect for cold water diving. Not only does it keep water out but it also can keep you warm, all thanks to the layer of air around its body.
We know it could get a bit frustrating if you weren’t able to go to your dream dive spot or exotic destinations around the world. And sometimes, you opt to just try the local dive spots to satisfy your cravings. Local diving could also mean cold water diving. In case you didn’t know, there are several dive spots that can only be reached via a drysuit. All you need to do is to learn the skill and you’ll be faced by several diving opportunities around the world, all year round. For instance, there’s a drysuit diving site in the UK, which allows you to dive with seals. Another example would be the Scapa Flow, in which you can wreck dive, as well as shark diving in Oban.
For beginners, getting in and out of the kayak is very tricky. Whether you’re launching from a gravel or sand beach, a rocky shoreline, or a low or high dock, there could be several techniques to safely launch your kayak. While this is something that you can definitely do on your own, it would be best if you have someone assist you when you launch your boat from a dock.
An ideal situation is that you launch your kayak from a dock’s lowest spot. But what do you do when you’re coming from a higher dock? In this post, we will be discussing everything that you need to know about how to launch your kayak from a high dock. Hopefully, you get to apply what you will learn on this post when the time comes. Keep on reading if you want to know more.
What to Do When You’re Launching and Landing from A Dock
If you’re launching from a dock, the easiest way to get into your kayak is to ask a buddy to stabilize the boat while you’re in the process of getting in and out of it. However, if you’re alone, you may want to try this technique
-Take sure that your kayak is parallel to the dock, regardless if it’s high or low. However, if you can pick the spot that is low or closest to the water, the task will be a lot easier for you.
-Take a seat on the dock right next to your kayak and begin placing your feet inside the cockpit.
-While still sitting on the dock, slightly turn your body towards the kayak’s bow.
--Lower yourself as quickly and calmly as possible while you keep your weight at its lowest as you can.
-Lastly, ensure that you’re holding onto the dock firmly and securely before you attempt to get into your kayak
Meanwhile, if you’re landing at a dock, you only need to reverse the above instructions. Here’s what you should do:
- Pull up next to the dock, preferably at the lowest point or the closest to the water.
- Then, hold onto the dock and make sure that you use your hands to stabilize your balance.
- Use the dock for balance and then quickly stand up and get out of the boat.
- An alternative would be pulling yourself with your butt first while you keep your weight at its lowest. You may do this step by sitting on the dock even with your feet still in the cockpit.
How to Launch a Kayak from A High Dock
We admit that launching from a high dock is one of the most challenging tasks you need to deal with. However, you just need a little practice to be able to do this job as confidently and safely as possible. Here’s what you need to do:
- Even when you’re launching from a high dock, take the time to check where the lowest spot of the high dock is. Doing so allows you to enter your kayak without getting wet.
- Turn your kayak, making it exactly parallel to the high dock. While you’re facing your boat, sit down on the dock and gently place your feet inside the kayak’s cockpit.
- Once you feel that you’re secure, slightly twist your body and reposition your feet in the forward position.
- You may place both of your hands securely on the high dock while quickly lowering your butt into the kayak’s seat. Here’s a tip: try staying at the center and move a lot quicker yet smoother when you’re about to sit inside the cockpit.
- You may try doing this task with a friend assisting you. We do suggest this, as it helps to make launching from a higher dock a lot easier for you. In addition, your buddy can be of great help so that the kayak doesn’t drift away from you.
How to Sit Properly in Your Kayak
Since we’ve been talking about launching and landing from a high dock, we think it’s also important that we address proper posture while you’re sitting in the kayak. Most kayaks come with adjustable back supports, allowing you to lean back as you paddle, like when you’re sitting in a recliner at home while you watch TV. While the comfort it advertises is tempting, we don’t recommend this, as it could be very damaging to your back and this posture alone makes you vulnerable to injuries. In addition, it could be very difficult for you to paddle when you’re reclining like that.
To keep sitting comfortably in your kayak, you’re going to want to practice proper posture. What you can do is to position the back support upright, as it allows you to sit straight. If you’re in the proper sitting position, you’re likely to utilize your abdominal muscles, with the backrest acting as additional support. You would also want to sit with a lifted chest and a balanced head. Meanwhile, the balls on your feet should be firmly pressed against the pedals, with your legs rotated externally. If you sit in this position, you’ll realize that it’s the most comfortable one and it’s easiest, especially on your lower back.
If you’re feeling a bit of discomfort and pain in your lower back, maybe after or during kayaking, maybe the reason is that your hamstrings and hips are tight. What you can do to prevent this is to get introduced to some paddling stretches before you go on a kayaking trip. This surely will help in increasing your flexibility while making the activity a lot tolerable for your pain.
Conclusion
As a kayaker, learning how to launch from a high dock is a skill that you need to master, especially because you could be introduced to a variety of launching situations – a low dock, a high dock, or even a rocky shore. You just need to remember to find the lowest spot to be able to launch and land successfully, regardless of how high or low the dock is.
We believe that with this guide, you would be able to do this task right the first time. And if not, a trick would be to have a friend or two to assist you. If you’re not confident enough, then try doing this task with a friend so that your boat wouldn’t drift from you. Hopefully, you get to make use of this new learning when you get presented of the opportunity of launching from a high dock.
A lot of divers today regard cave diving as a dangerous yet thrilling experience, mostly suited for people who seek extreme adventures. To tell you the truth, cave diving is a very safe, exciting, and fulfilling activity, long as it’s executed properly. Cave diving, in fact, opens a whole new window for divers into the underwater world. If you are looking to become a cave diver, you are likely to get that sense of exploration, which overcomes your whole being as you descend into the water. However, the first and most important thing on your journey to becoming one is to complete the technical diving trainingand we’re here to talk about it.
In this post, we will be discussing in detail all the things that you should know about technical diving training, including the basic cave diving techniques. If you’re curious about how it all works or what steps you need to take, then you’re on the right page. While the answers to these questions may depend on the agency of your choice, it should still give you an idea of whether cave diving is for you or not. Keep on reading this post if you want to know more.
What is Technical Diving?
Before we proceed with the discussions, it is vital that you know first what technical diving is. Simply put, technical diving is when a diver isn’t allowed to ascend to the water’s surface due to decompression obligation. When a diver descends under the water, he or she is required to perform decompression stops to be able to prevent the so-called ‘decompression sickness’.
Before you seriously consider your technical diving training, you should be informed that cave diving is not for the weak-hearted. The style alone requires a serious yet confident approach. To be honest, most divers have the capability to complete the certification process. However, this is where you ask yourself if this is something that you really want to do. A careful evaluation of the discipline itself is very important, as you will be required to perform every single dive meticulously. If this all sounds like something you see yourself doing, then the underwater magical environments await you.
The Risks of Technical Diving
As mentioned, a technical diver is at risk for decompression sickness, which naturally occurs once nitrogen is trapped inside the body via respiration while ascending, as the pressure drastically decreases. Stops are mandatory as the diver is ascending to prevent pressure difference that may be too big. Control on buoyancy is also vital, as it increases the efficiency of nitrogen off-gassing.
Proper breathing is also very important, as it allows efficient metabolism. Trim, which is the proper technical diving position, effectively avoids stirring up the sediments at the bottom and is regarded to be one of the most efficient and effective movements under the water. Finning techniques are also essential, as it avoids overexertion, especially when a cave diver gives his or her maximum performance.
If this all sounds complicated to you, then you have the reason to sign up on a technical diving training, which covers mostly the basic cave diving techniques. There are various agencies in the country that offer the training course and these have been proven to be of great help to aspiring cave divers, by allowing them to get the certification that they need to be able to perform cave diving.
You may complete the skills part of the technical diving training in multiple places, which allows you to get the feel of the water sport you’re trying to get into. You also get to feel the real experience and may hopefully inspire you to become one level higher than your current skill level. In fact, you can find multiple cave diving destinations around the world. There’s the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and there are a couple more in Florida, United States and in Australia.
First of all, you need a tank, in which there are two different ways to carry it into the cave. While the sidemount is less popular, it’s been developing fast and we see it likely replacing the traditional back-mount setup in the near future.
In the sidemount, you have two tanks you are carrying under each arm. The tanks will be alongside your body and it also comes with two fully independent supplies of air. This may all look a bit awkward on land but once you’re in the water, you would realize that this is the most comfortable setup there is. Though this setup normally takes some getting used to, you should be able to perform swapping the regulators often because it ensures the equal usage of gas. In the earlier times, cave divers use backmount tanks, which can be a bit prohibitive, especially when trying to squeeze into a very small space in a cave. While this is the case, backmount tanks have also been proven to be adequate for most diving sessions.
Aside from the twin tanks, you are also going to need torches. You can easily purchase a special cave-style torch, which you can use your primary source of light down there. Here’s a tip: rather than taking your focus on lumen power, you should instead concentrate on the focus of the beam. With this, a light that is dimmer would be put to better use in the dark cave than a bright video light. Your spare torches could be backups and these could be in any style that you prefer.
Lastly, you’re also going to need some reels, in fact, lots of it. We do recommend, however, that you talk to your instructor first before you starting buying the said equipment. Doing so only ensures that you’re going after the correct style and therefore, preventing you to make an expensive mistake.
Conclusion
While technical diving training is something that you should complete before being a certified cave diver, it would be such a fulfilling activity. Now that we have covered the basics, it’s now up to you to decide whether this water sport is something that you see yourself doing and is something that you actually enjoy.
Technical diving should be taken seriously and this is the very reason why there are literally hundreds of agencies that train you to become a cave diver. As mentioned, there are several cave diving spots in the country, which allows you to experience the real feeling of being a cave diver before you actually go on a cave diving session. Hopefully, we have been of great help in providing you with the basics of cave diving.
Even though you’re an experienced swimmer, open water swimming proves to be a lot different from swimming in a pool. This holds true especially when you add in race elements, which may include choppy water, competitors jostling in position, and the absence of lanes that keep your aim. This is the very reason why triathletes, both novice and experienced, all experience nerve-wracking moments when they first hit the water.
Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of tips for open water swimming, which you can use if you’re a beginner, or if you’re about to enter a swimming competition. With this post, we aim to help you prepare for open water swimming, which may potentially make you nervous and anxious, as it’s very different from what you were used to. Now, here’s a few tips that can help you boost your confidence in the open water swimming.
Open Water Swimming Tips
Practicing
It’s always better to get more open water swimming experience before your race day. The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you’ll be when you race. We also recommend that you do this because frequency would go a long way. While it sounds very simple, practice really is the best thing that you can do.
If you’re lucky to have regular and easy access to open water, then we suggest that you take advantage of it. If you don’t, however, be informed as to where the open water swimming clinics are within your area. To help you practice, you may also tag along a few of your friends and go to the nearest body of water where you can all swim. Lastly, in case it’s still not obvious, you should never swim by yourself.
Water skiing is such a fun sport, which may lead to hours and hours of quality time with your family and friends. Once you learn the basics of how to stand up on water skis, you get to spend a whole day on your boat, taking skiing turns in the water. Keep in mind that water skiing is one of the most challenging water sports out there, especially for a beginner like you. The good news is that we have this guide to teach you how to master the skill.
In this post, we will be discussing the steps on how to stand up on water skis. This skill introduces you to the world of water skiing and contrary to popular belief, this sport will never require you to exert tremendous amounts of strength and effort. In fact, water skiing can be enjoyed by both adults and children, beginners and experienced skiers alike. Keep on reading this post if you’re curious about this healthy and exciting hobby.
What Do You Need?
Standing up on two water skis can be a bit challenging, especially for beginners. Therefore, you need to take note of the following to make things a lot easier for you:
The use of full-face snorkeling masks has gained worldwide popularity in recent years, as it feels more natural to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth, unlike with the traditional snorkels. This type of snorkel mask is also very popular among beginners, who prefer full-face protection from water. While there have been snorkelers who remain skeptical about it or those who raise safety concerns, the use of full-face snorkel masks also has some benefits, which will be discussed later on.
In this post, we will be discussing everything that you need to know about how to snorkel using a full-face snorkel mask. How you use the full-face snorkel mask is somewhat similar to how you use the traditional one, but with a few key differences. If you’re curious about it, then keep reading.
What Is a Full-Face Snorkel Mask?
A full-face snorkel mask has the capability to cover your entire face while you snorkel underwater. It features two portions, the top for viewing and the bottom for breathing. Unlike traditional snorkel masks, full-face snorkel masks don’t have a mouthpiece, thereby completely preventing gag reflex most snorkelers experience.
What’s great about it is that the snorkel is built into the mask. While they appear to be shorter than the traditional one, full-face snorkel masks stop at the top of your head. In addition, this type of snorkel mask isn’t shorter than the traditional snorkel masks. It’s because the air is internally funneled, specifically at the lower portion of the snorkel mask.
Advantages of Using a Full-Face Snorkel Mask
It allows natural breathing
Using a full-face snorkel mask allows you to inhale and exhale, either from your mouth or your nose. The natural feeling aids in keeping you calm and relaxed, especially when you’re already in the water. In addition, it’s great for beginners as there wouldn’t be any learning curve in terms of using the full-face snorkel mask.
It’s an effective water barrier
As the name suggests, a full-face snorkel mask seals your whole face, thereby decreasing the possibility of water penetrating the mask. Having a mustache also wouldn’t present a problem if you opt to use this type of snorkel mask. It features a rear strap, which holds the snorkel mask in its original position, giving you the freedom to move however you want without losing it.
It features a built-in dry top system
While this feature is also offered in traditional snorkel masks, high-performance full-face snorkel masks absolutely take snorkeling into the next level. In case you’re not familiar, full-face masks have been designed in a way that even the smallest amount of water gets into the mask, it will then be channeled away off your face. There’s also a small valve you can find at the bottom that allows you to drain the water.
It prevents jaw fatigue
Full-face snorkel masks don’t have the mouthpiece you need to bite on, making it a lot comfortable for you even if you wear it for extended periods. This holds true, especially if you have mouth or sore jaw issues.
It allows better visibility underwater
Full-face snorkel masks feature a curved lens, which extends just right behind your eye. The way it’s been crafted allows a clear and uninterrupted 180-degree view. In addition, the frame is sealed just behind your line of vision, which would mean that it wouldn’t be changing your view.
It features anti-fog breathing circulation
Full-face snorkel masks have the capability to prevent fog, unlike the traditional ones. They also come with a dual vent system, which effectively allows air circulation without fogging.
How to Snorkel with A Full-Face Snorkel Mask
- Make sure that you’re only using a certified full-face snorkel mask. You may try the brands Scubastore or Decathlon, as these are among the most trusted in terms of water sports gear and apparel. In addition, both companies, in our opinion, exceed your expectations and they follow-up and post-sale consultation services.
- Notice that the full-face snorkel masks feature an adjustable strap made of elastic textile. Having this type of material in your full-face snorkel mask already makes a big difference, as it will not pull your hair.
- Choose the right size. We do recommend the sizes small and medium for women and kids while medium and large sizes for men.
- Notice that this full-face snorkeling mask also offers a 180-degree view of the seabed.
- This feature also allows quick fog evacuation, as well as great comfort and reliable sealing.
- Once you have strap the full-face snorkel on, then you’re good to go.
When you’re using the mask for the first time, make sure to do these steps:
- To eliminate the mask fogging due to the manufacturing process of the full-face snorkel mask, wash it using warm soapy water. Doing such terminates the manufacturer’s residue and lubricant. In case you didn’t know, the manufacturer applied this lubricant so that the silicon skirts won’t lose their flexibility and color.
- After washing, apply an abrasive cleaner, specifically on the internal portion of the glass lenses. However, this step should be skipped if the lenses are made of plastic. Doing so will only scratch the lenses.
- Using toothpaste also offers a simple and easy solution to clean the lens thoroughly, as well as preventing it from fogging. However, you need to make sure that the toothpaste is actually the paste type and never the gel type.
Conclusion
Getting yourself a high-quality and reliable full-face snorkel mask allows you to enjoy more of your snorkeling time. However, you must be able to know the basics of using one for it to be deemed effective. Hopefully, this guide has been of great help in case you’re doubtful about getting one.
As mentioned, there have been some concerns that were raised about it but if you look deep enough, you will realize that it makes snorkeling a lot more comfortable for you, especially when you compare it to the traditional snorkeling masks. We trust that you will now be able to put this new knowledge into good use now that you have read how to snorkel using a full-face snorkel mask.
