It is a sensational experience and potentially a lot of fun. This sport activity can even quickly become a passion! Very popular during the vacations, scuba diving is a leisure activity within the reach of many, but not of all. Be aware that there are a few rules and contraindications to know
An activity that must be practiced in complete safety
Although scuba diving is open to everyone, diving in complete safety requires good preparation and the respect of certain conditions and legislation. To dive in a center during your vacations in Corsica, but also in Bora Bora as well as in Bali or in other sites appreciated for the beauty of their seabed, you must be more than 12 years old before the date of your dive (the pressure of the water at depth on a developing body can very well be harmful, at least the studies are lacking to show the contrary). Similarly, it is preferable that pregnant women refrain from diving.
What are the contraindications related to an illness?
People with certain medical conditions should not dive because of the risks involved in scuba diving, including those with medical conditions that may cause discomfort and those for whom diving may cause complications. These include: heart disease, diabetes, ENT disease, neurological disorders, asthma, glaucoma, epilepsy, etc
What conditions are necessary?
When considering diving, it is best to know how to swim beforehand. This way, not only will you avoid putting yourself in danger, but you will also be able to rescue a person with whom you are diving. In addition, good preparation is helpful. Fatigue while diving can put you at risk. You must be in good shape. Although diving may seem like a sport that does not require much physical effort, situations may arise that require endurance and advanced aquatic skills. Pool training is the best preparation.
Plan your preparation
Plan your pool training in the three months leading up to your vacation. This will ensure that you are in good physical condition for your scuba diving trip. Sign up for a swimming program near you to train for diving. It's easier to get started in a group than alone. You'll learn to be efficient and fast in the water. Work your legs with fins, it's the nerve of war in diving! This will prevent cramps and will stimulate the muscles to be developed. Dynamic apneas underwater train you to manage an effort without breathing. As you can see, scuba diving is an activity that can be done without any risks as long as you are in good health and well prepared
Is a medical certificate of no contraindication essential? Should it be recommended?
For an initiation or for some rare and unscrupulous sites, the certificate is not required. Most of the time, the dive center where you will be vacationing will ask you to present this certificate. You will therefore have to provide a medical certificate of no contraindication to scuba diving, less than one year old. During the medical consultation, physical and mental criteria will be taken into account by your doctor or specialist. This certificate is mandatory in France and in many other countries, for a regular and safe diving practice. In the case of a simple first dive, you can generally do without it
Who to consult to get this certificate ?
Your general practitioner is able to provide you with a certificate valid for an initiation or a level 1 certification. To go to the next level, you will have to consult a sports doctor specialized in this discipline. With or without obligation, it is reassuring and prudent to carry out a health check-up with a specialist doctor to verify at least the state of your ears. Certain pathologies can affect your mental health and therefore your ability to judge or make decisions. These are contraindications to diving. In any case, we always advise you to have a serious check-up if you plan to make scuba diving the center of your vacation
The key: a PADI certificate, your diving certificate
You already have your medical certificate to dive. You can also take your certification in the pool or in the sea to have direct access to more interesting dives in the dive center of your vacation. Being certified as a PADI ( Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver, an American diploma, allows you to dive all over the world. You can also follow the courses delivered by the FFSEM (France) or the SSI (Germany). With the first level, you will be able to dive up to 18 m, which will allow you to access more dive sites than if you were not certified, provided that you are accompanied by an instructor or a level 4 diver. In some cases, bridges are possible between these diplomas. You can even take your certification at the site of your vacation, in a diving center in Tenerife, for example.
What if I have a disability?
Even people with limited mobility can dive! Diving can be very beneficial, bring a lot of joy and even have therapeutic value. If the instructors know how to adapt each dive to each diver, many of them have been trained to accompany a diver with reduced mobility. In addition, divers with disabilities can take a Diver Propulsion Vehicles(DVP) course to dive with an underwater scooter. Accessible diving is becoming more and more popular in tourist dive sites, such as in Thailand, off the coast of Trang province.
