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Temperature
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Partner
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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SCUBA
DIVING |
Diving is a fun and an exciting sport. It is also
extremely safe thanks to modern educational techniques
and the availability of specialized courses. However,
all of the courses in the world can't make up
for a lack of common sense. There is also quite
a bit of misinformation about various aspects
of diving. Below we have a list of commonly asked
questions.
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What
is SCUBA?
SCUBA
stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus. It is the equipment developed
by the world famous underwater explorer
and conservationist - Jacques Cousteau together
with Emile Gagnan in the mid forties for
the French navy during the Second World
War. After the war, diving turned into a
recreational sport which has since been
taken up by millions worldwide. |
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The
requirements to learn diving?
Recreational
diving is a sport that requires a reasonable degree
of physical fitness. One should be able to swim
200 metres continously and tread water for 10
minutes for Open Water Certification and above.
A reasonable command of English is helpful as
the courses involve a basic understanding of Physics,
Physiology, Environment, etc. Enthusiasm is a
major plus !! The minimum age is 10 years and
there is no upper limit. |
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The
major certification agencies?
PADI
(Professional Association of Diving Instructors),
BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club), NAUI (National Association
of Underwater Instructors), SSI (Scuba Schools
International), CMAS (French Diving Federation)
and various small clubs teach and certify divers.
PADI
is by far the largest international organisation
teaching recreational scuba diving and with a
market share of approx. 80%, the clear leader
worldwide. PADI was incorporated in the early
1970s and is based in Santa Clara, California,
USA. To date PADI has certified in excess of 12
Million divers worldwide. |
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Why
dive?
The
only answer to this question is - Why Not ? There
is truly no greater "high" than an exhilarating
dive in crystal clear waters with plenty of colourful
coral and fish !!
Diving
offers different things to different people. The
list includes appreciating nature at its colourful
best, marine conservation, photography, exploring
shipwrecks, observing and studying sealife, navigation,
search and rescue, etc.
Primarily,
diving is a social sport and generally divers
tend to be a very easy going lot who make a lot
of friends without hang-ups about colour, caste,
race, etc. |
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Isn't
diving dangerous?
Definitely
- if you are not properly qualified or ignore
the rules. If, on the other hand, you are properly
qualified, follow all the basic rules and act
responsibly, it is much safer than trying to cross
the street in most major cities during rush hour
!! The only REAL danger of diving is that you
get addicted to it !! |
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| What
about Sharks? What
about them ? Approximately 5 million sharks
were killed by humans in 1998 alone - intentionally
or unintentionally as opposed to a handful
of shark attacks on people in the last decade
!! Try and figure out who is more dangerous
!! |
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FOOTNOTE |
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Divers
have something more to worry about than
sharks - themselves !! Most diving accidents
happen due to the errors made by divers
than due to attacks by marine animals. While
it is true that sharks are voracious eaters,
the following facts must be taken into account
:
- There are more than 375 species of sharks
of which only a few have been involved in
human attacks.
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Humans are not the natural prey of sharks
as they generally tend to avoid all contact
with humans.
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Attacks on humans have been very rare and
have mostly been a case of mistaken identity
or provocation on the part of divers. Most
of the time the sharks have mistaken the
divers to be their primary food source -
seals.
In
conclusion, the movie Jaws has portrayed
a very wrong picture of these magnificient
creatures which are an extremely important
link in the food chain of the oceans. While
it would be foolhardy to treat them as docile
pets, they should certainly not be thought
of as mindless monsters waiting for you
to jump in the water !!
Learn
to dive and see what you've been missing
all your life !! |
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Nikkis
Tours and Commercial Services Pvt. Ltd.
G4, Donna Rosa, Near Pousada Touma - Mapusa Road, Porba Vaddo, Calangute,
Bardez, Goa - India, 403516.
Phone(s):+91 832 227 5795/+91 832 228 1947 Fax:+91 832 227 5795 Mobile:+91
98230 12025
email: nikkisgoa@dataone.in , nikkisgoa@yahoo.co.in , nikkisgoa@gmail.com
©Copyright 2001 www.nikkistravel.com
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