Kurt Kucera

Scuba Diver, Car Enthusiast, Outdoorsman

Fall Destinations for Scuba Diving

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Depending on where you live, the end of summer may mean an offseason for your diving practice. If you don’t mind traveling, however, fall is a great time to check out new destinations. Here are some places you should consider scuba diving this autumn.

Costa Rica

If you’ve never dived in Costa Rica, this destination should be at the top of your list. The west coast is cooler than the east side, and it’s home to an extraordinary amount of wildlife. On your adventure, you may see bull sharks, seahorses, and harlequin crown shrimp among others. If you enjoy exploring on land as well, you can also head out to a nearby jungle.

Oman

Fall is the perfect time to visit Oman. You’ll enjoy perfect weather and breathtaking sights without fighting the crowds that frequent other destinations. Among the sea life, you can expect to see thousands of triggerfish and whalefish as well as many other creatures.

Gozo

Gozo is remarkably warm even in October, so you can put this on your list of fall diving sites too. Divers across the world love to visit Gozo because the visibility is incredible. Whether you’re a new diver or a pro, you’ll enjoy Gozo’s swim throughs, caverns, and giant walls. 

With all of these options available, there’s no need to take a break from scuba diving in the autumn. All you need to do is hop on a plane and embark on a new adventure.

Exercising to Support Scuba Diving

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Whether you’re a veteran diver or a beginner, there are ways that you can improve your scuba diving experience. One of the best things that you can do is work on your physical fitness. 

Regular exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, which will increase your endurance and help you feel more comfortable under the water. Furthermore, the more physically fit you are, the safer you’ll be as a diver. Here are some quick tips to get you in shape for your next dive.

Walk regularly

It seems overly simple, but it’s true– walking can help you to live longer. Research has shown that people who walk regularly are 50% less likely to die from heart disease than non-walkers. This fact is significant considering that heart disease is one of the leading killers of divers. Try to walk about 30 minutes per day.

Strength train

Strength training will make everything in life easier, including lugging your 50lb oxygen tank around. Leg exercises will help you to swim better. Working your core will help you support your back. And don’t forget that muscles burn calories. That means that the more muscle you have, the easier is it to keep extra weight off and it’s best to be a healthy weight when diving. 

Work on your feet and calves

Your feet and calves are muscles that are most likely to cramp when you are scuba diving. Your feet and calves are not accustomed to the work required by extended dives. Working on these muscles not only strengthens them, but it also increases circulation. The more blood flow to a muscle, the less likely you are to cramp up. Try to do toes grabs and calf lifts as part of your daily exercise routine.

Best Destination Dives in August

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It can be a challenge to decide where to take your August diving trip. There is so much underwater action taking place right now; from the coasts of Australia to Mexico. Depending on whether you’d like to swim with sea lions or have the company of whale sharks, there are numerous locations offering great diving experiences this time of year.

Here are two great options for anyone looking to take an August dive trip.
Galapagos Islands
 As the weather cools throughout the Galapagos Islands stronger currents and conditions move in. However, this also means that August marks the arrival of whale sharks. On the Islands of Darwin and Wolf you can not only dive with these phenomenal creatures, but you’ll also have the opportunity to see Galapagos sharks and scalloped hammerheads.

Of course there are always turtles, eagle rays, and all types of fish to swim alongside. Sharks are what most divers are searching for this time of year, but make sure to also keep an eye out for marine iguanas, sea lions, and Galapagos penguins in the shallows.
The water will be cold so make sure you’ve packed a thick wetsuit.

 

Southern Australia

As winter begins in South Australia, the ocean offers a truly special marine life experience. In the summer as the water temperatures drop, hundreds of thousands of cuttlefish arrive to breed. If you decide to take a dive near Adelaide, along the upper ends of the Spencer Gulf you will be able to see these gigantic cuttlefish in huge numbers.

With the male fish heavily outnumbering the female, competition is fierce and the vibrant colors they display to attract a mate can be quite the show. This can be an intense, sensational dive!
 There are also a number of guided tours, helping you to find leafy sea dragons. Australia is very well known for these and because the creatures are larger than seahorses they’re especially great for any underwater photography.

Scuba Diving Tips for Beginners

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Are you considering “taking the plunge” and becoming certified to scuba dive? That’s great! But if you’re looking to join the world of underwater adventure, there are some important things you need to know first. 

Here are some tips for beginners:

  1. Choose a dive school

Before you can start scuba diving, you need to get proper training. So, after you decide to pursue scuba diving, your next step is finding a dive school that suits your needs. Choose a school that is in a location where you’re excited to visit because it will take you at least three days to become certified. It’s helpful to be in a place you enjoy.

After you’ve found a school in an interesting place, do some research. Check out the school’s reviews. You want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is a matter of safety, so it isn’t to be taken lightly. Find out how many instructors the school has per student, how they conduct their safety briefings, and how effectively they communicate. 

  1. Be safe.

Some of the best things you can do for safety as a new diver begin before you even start school. Practice swimming for a few months before you go. You can also start a yoga or Pilates practice with a focus on controlling your breath. 

After your training (but before you jump in), be sure to take seasickness pills if you are prone to seasickness, cover up any open wounds, make sure that you’re healthy and free of any colds or sinus infections, and always double check your dive equipment. It’s also a good idea to practice reaching behind you toward your lower back because you’ll need to do this if your regulator comes out of your mouth. You’ll be less likely to panic when this happens if you’ve practiced recovering in several times. 

  1. Be smart.

Listen to your instructors. Stay close to them during your first dive and follow their directions. Keep an eye on your air tank and be sure to tell your instructor if it gets low, even if you think it’s too soon. Keep close to your buddy and communicate often. Part of diving is not only ensuring your safety, but your buddy’s as well. 

When it comes to sea life down below, keep a strict “look but don’t touch” policy with yourself. It’s OK to marvel at the creatures around you, but you don’t want to disturb them in any way. If you see a shark, don’t panic. Follow your guide’s instructions and proceed as normal, even if you choose to end the dive. Also, be sure to look up once in a while and see what’s around you rather than just below you. 

Prime Scuba Diving Sites in Florida

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Scuba diving is a fun activity to explore the ocean and witness life under the sea. With so many beautiful oceans around the world, many people don’t realize that there are amazing spots to scuba dive right here in the United State. Florida, in particular, is home to some of the greatest shores to explore underwater life. These are the prime diving sites in Florida:

Ginnie Springs – Central Florida
The fresh spring waters of Ginnie Springs offers the best scuba diving destination in central Florida. It sits with a 100-foot-diameter depression and has a collection of three smaller springs. These springs are Devil’s Eye, Devil’s Ear and Little Devil. Being connected to the tannin-dyed Santa Fe River gives the spring warm and crystal clear water. The beauty of the Ginnie Springs is home to much wildlife to explore beneath the waters.

Key Largo – The Florida Keys
In the heart of the Florid Keys lies Key Largo. This prime scuba diving spot features colorful reefs and an abundance of fish life. Divers will also have a chance to see some of the shipwrecks beneath the water. While underwater, divers will be sure to see barracuda, jacks, and silversides. There is much to see and explore in Key Largo, which is why it has become one of the most popular scuba diving sites in Florida.

Venice – The Gulf Coast
In the shark tooth capital of the world, Venice will truly give divers a run for their money. Divers will have the opportunity to explore the waters and find huge shark teeth that could be potentially worth hundreds of dollars. The waters offer about 10 feet of average visibility to search the bottom of the sea for shark teeth. Even is divers are unable to find a tooth worth money, they’ll find enough souvenirs to last a lifetime.

Destin – The Florida Panhandle
Stretched across the Florida Panhandle, Destin is one of the most beautiful sites to scuba dive in Florida. Divers will be emersed in warm waters and will have the opportunity to explore amazing underwater life. They will find limestone ledges covered in corals, sponges, and fish. This site has become popular due to tub boats, army tanks, airplanes, landing craft, ships, and bridge rubble that have fallen beneath the seas and are now home to grouper, flounder, and cobia.