Archive for month: September, 2013

Dive with unaccredited dive centers –

There are some dive organizations that market to tourists as “private” dive instructors and or divemasters.  Some might be certified by authoritative organizations but they do not have the security provided by a dive shop like Island Divers Hawaii, which has a meticulous emergency plan in case of a diving related accident.  Insured dive shops can also provide much more reassurance that you won’t be left alone to deal with any situation that may arise.

Dive beyond your limits –

Hawaii has some of the deepest depths and lava tubes that can stretch for hundreds of yards.  Knowing your limits is so important so you do not put yourself and others at risk.  There are many ways to stay longer and go deeper, but you must have the right equipment and the enough experience to properly surpass the limits to dive. The depths can reach thousands of feet deep and the lava tubes run so long you can lose all light.  Know your limits and plan your dives accordingly.

Inexperienced diving in Advanced Waters –

Hawaii is unique in the sense that it is one of the farthest land masses from any continent. With this comes the collision of open ocean to land. This is what brings in the diverse marine life to our surrounding shores, and also causes some of the most unpredictable and strong currents. Sometimes, with such speech, you could call a drift drive a haul-ass drift drive! Sometimes the current is fair, but the surface and bottom currents do not coincide. There are many different factors that influence the difficulty of a dive in Hawaiian waters. One of the biggest things to avoid while diving here is to pretend you you’re an advanced diver when you’re not. Save yourself and your dive buddy from being put in an uncomfortable situation.  Get trained to deal with and understand advanced diving environments before attempting to dive these sites.  The best place to do this is Island Divers Hawaii, with many experienced instructors that are happy to pass on their knowledge to you.

Interact with aquatic life –

As we continue to learn more about the underwater world, we are seeing the impact that tourism can have on the marine life and environment if not properly monitored. It’s important to assume the role of the observer and avoid interacting with the creatures as much as possible. The joy of diving is to see the underwater world in its natural existence. When you interrupt the sea creatures, they act differently. Sometimes this is a minor impact, but when you start introducing food into the equation the exchange becomes more detrimental to both the marine life and yourself.  Some animals become dependent when humans feed them on many occasions and lose their instinct to feed in their natural environment. If you are the poor diver to happen to come across them with no food, you can be in serious danger.  There are many instances of eels biting fingers, stingrays becoming aggressive, and sharks… well you can imagine the damage they can do, when you don’t have the food they are looking for.

Dive without proper safety equipment –

The uniqueness of the Hawaiian waters calls for responsible diving decisions and to always dive with the appropriate safety equipment.  These include having safety sausage, signaling devices, torch/flashlight, dive knife, and surface marker (if shore diving). On the boats, oxygen on the boats, back up equipment, and other surface emergency equipment is important for all divers in the water.

Shore Dive without letting someone know where you are going and when you will be back –

One of the best attractions of Oahu is the ability to go shore diving, but always let someone know where you are diving, your entry time, and when you will be expecting to finish the dive.  If any situation arises that prevents your scheduled return, someone will be aware and alert the proper authorities as quickly as possible.

Touch the coral –

A scuba divers motto should be that “the only thing you take away from the ocean are the memories, and the only thing you leave are bubbles”.  This is especially true for coral reef systems, which are in danger of destruction and extinction.  It’s our duty, as members of the scuba diving club, to protect it and remember that with this fragile life form, even the smallest touch or break can kill the whole organism.

Take shells from the ocean –

Yes, shells are pretty, and it seems harmless to take one or two shells, but if everyone takes one or two, you are looking at hundreds of thousands being removed daily from the ocean, which does make a big impact.  The animals that live in these shells are also in danger of extinction.  What about those shells without animals inside?  You would think that they’re ok to take, right? Wrong! Nothing in nature  goes to waste.  These empty shells serve 9 times out of 10 as homes for other animals including hermit crabs, octopuses, and anemones.

Dive in Boat traffic –

Hawaii is a very popular maritime destination, and because of its size, there are many boating paths that overlap with dive sites.  It is a law here to always carry a surface marker when diving from the shore, but before you go in, look at the area you will be diving. Understand where any wake buoys may be marking boat lanes and determine where on your dive you would need to be more wary of overhead traffic.

Don’t dive in new sites without proper local guidance and orientation –

The currents swirling around this island and the topography of lava tubes and overhangs make this an amazing but complex diving destination.  Even the shallow dives can be confusing which way is which, and the currents can pose a threat to you staying on the dive site if you enter in the wrong area.  This is why it’s important to get a local orientation about the site you will be diving in.  Have a professional show you the dive site, give you the knowledge of the currents and tide changes, and the times you can and can’t dive the site during the season. These are our top ten “no-nos” when diving here in Waikiki, Oahu.

Remember to contact Island Divers for more information to provide you with the best dive experience you can have. Island Divers can provide you with the specialty training to enjoy the advanced diving experience (3-Day advanced course), learn how to penetrate the famous wrecks of Oahu safely (Wreck Specialty Certification), and learn the shore dives around Oahu with free guided shore dives on the weekends with one of our professional instructors.

Want to learn more about scuba diving the right way in Waikiki? Contact Island Divers Hawaii and dive safe with the professional diving experts.