Scuba skills

Scuba diving is like playing underwater! But before you can have fun, you need to learn some important skills to keep you safe.

First, you need to learn how to breathe underwater. Instead of using your nose and mouth like you do on land, you will use something called a regulator. It's like a special straw that lets you breathe air from a tank on your back.

You also need to learn how to equalize. This means that when you go deeper underwater, the pressure can make your ears hurt. But don't worry! You can make it feel better by squeezing your nose and swallowing or yawning.

Another skill is buoyancy control. This means that you need to learn how to float in the water without sinking or floating to the surface. To do that, you use something called a buoyancy compensator, which is like a vest that you wear. You can add or release air to make yourself go up or down in the water.

It's also important to learn how to communicate with your diving partner. Because you're wearing equipment that makes it hard to talk, you'll use hand signals to tell them what you want to say. For example, making a circle with your finger means "OK", and pointing up means "let's go up to the surface".

Finally, you need to learn about safety procedures in case something goes wrong. For example, if your regulator falls out of your mouth or your mask fills with water, you need to know what to do.

Remember, scuba diving is a lot of fun, but it's important to learn and practice these skills to make sure you stay safe and have a great time underwater!