First make sure you have your scuba diving certification, can’t dive without it. Scuba diving is an amazingly educational yet entertaining activity, but it is not without its dangers. . Now let’s get started.

1. Pick a Location to Dive

There are a lot of factors that go into the diving location most suitable to your needs. Maybe you’d like to see a bunch of marine life, then go to a coral reef. If you want to see a shipwreck, go to a known shipwreck location and dive there. Remember, visibility is a very huge factor in this; in the Northern Pacific and Atlantic, you won’t be able to see very much, while in tropical seas, sunlight goes up to 100 feet down.

Make sure the conditions are right too; you want to be comfortable when you dive. In some places you’ll need a wetsuit, others maybe just a bathing suit. Remember, the gear you bring also depends on the location, so study this up first.

2. Get Your Gear

This is the most crucial step in a scuba diving experience. Wrong gear or even the right gear with the slightest problems or malfunctions can lead to disastrous results, including death. Your gear can vary depending on the locations and conditions of the location.

You should get a wetsuit. Depending on the temperature of water, you may either use 3mm or 5mm or even 7mm thickness. The colder the water, the thicker your wetsuit should be. Remember, thick wetsuits also provide protection against stinging and cuts and other bodily harm.

Then buy fins. Purchase fins with wide channels, as divers need these to overcome water resistance with more equipment. Wide fins also allow for easier and faster travel.

Obtain a buoyancy compensator device(BCD) – This equipment allows the diver to maintain neutral buoyancy underwater and provides much assistance diving and exiting the water. Another item that helps buoyancy is a weight belt. Select a weight belt based on the buoyancy of both the equipment and yourself. These two items are crucial in every scuba diving experience.

Buy a scuba diving tank. These should be specific to your dive. For shorter dives in warm water with good visibility, generally only one aluminum tank filled to 80 cubic feet of air will be suitable. Make sure to have a good regulator which controls the air coming out of the tank.

Buy a mask and snorkel as well for protection and pressure regulation.

Make sure to always read the instructions on these equipment and never bring too much or too little.

3. Do Your Research

You should know all the dangers of scuba diving, like diving too quickly or rising up too soon. Basic survival skills like first-aid is a necessity also. Make sure to get a physical check so you know what health problems you have if any.

4. Make a Plan and Follow It

You should always dive with a competent diving buddy and he/she should know the plan as well. Know how much time you have underwater, how quickly you should rise up, and what to do if anything goes wrong.