perform the 3-minute safety stop<\/a> at 15 feet. Beginner divers should also master the STELA acronym that stands for Signal, Time, Elevate, Look, Ascend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n-Don\u2019t hold your breath while ascending\/descending<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you ascend, make sure that you\u2019re\nbreathing properly. Holding your breath can cause deadly repercussions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should know that the lungs contract\nwhen you dive and it expands as you ascend. So if you hold your breath, you\u2019re\npreventing excess air from escaping. This can rupture the alveoli due to the\nshock the lungs will experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, this will lead to excess gas to\nescape to the chest cavity instead. When this happens, the air bubbles will\nflow into the bloodstream and cause an arterial gas embolism. This can cause\ndeath among divers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Always make sure that your gears are working<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Aside from mastering emergency skills and\nproper breathing patterns, you should also ensure that all your diving gears\nare working. Your life depends on your underwater gear during the dive and any\nglitch on it can cause fatal problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, most of the equipment-related\naccidents during diving happen not because the gears aren\u2019t working. Many\ndivers are put in danger because they don\u2019t know well how a specific gear\nworks. So aside from ensuring that it works, you should also know the ins and\nouts of each diving equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Don\u2019t dive if you don\u2019t feel well<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Divers need to stay physically fit, so if\nyou\u2019re not feeling well, skip the dive and focus on your recovery. Health\nproblems will increase your susceptibility to decompression sickness, panic\nattacks underwater, and even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a diver, your body should be prepared to\nendure strong currents, poor visibility, extreme weather, and long swims. Even\na common cold should be enough reason to postpone your dive. Although it seems\nlike a small problem above water, any respiratory issue can turn fatal once\nyou\u2019re under the water. Besides, diving spots will still be there after your\nrecovery. Again, don\u2019t yield to peer pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Master vital diving skills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Now is the perfect time to dust off the\nvital skills you\u2019ve learned on your beginner classes. Aside from learning it,\nyou should master emergency skills before diving. These skills could save a\nlife and your fellow diver if things got rough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Divers should know how to perform CESA, how\nto donate air to another diver, how to disconnect an inflator hose, and so on.\nIn addition, you should know how to balance or regain your buoyancy or how to\nhelp a diver who\u2019s having problems on his or her stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t wait for something to go wrong before\nyou practice these skills. Learn it before you even need it \u2013 hopefully, you\nwon\u2019t need it, though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Final\nWords<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThese scuba diving refresher tips are just some of the things you have to keep in mind before every dive. Safety should be paramount, not only for you but also for all the divers in the group. And if something goes wrong, you should always be ready to help. Moreover, you should also know how to behave above and below water. Don\u2019t be that annoying guy that the group hates. Nevertheless, a few etiquette tips and you should do well on your plunge. Remember that modesty, politeness, and decency always go a long way. In the end, diving isn\u2019t just about skills. It\u2019s also about how you deal with other divers. <\/p>\n