Although
this is a scuba class,
you'll start this confined
water dive skin diving
without scuba - but you'll
be into your scuba gear
and back to breathing
underwater soon.
But what does skin diving
have to do with learning
scuba diving? Actually,
quite a bit, because scuba
diving often takes you
into circumstances where
it might be better to
snorkel or skin dive.
For instance, you may
find some very shallow
sites where there's no
advantage to scuba. Or,
you may want to tour a
bit with your buddy to
see if it's worth scuba
diving - you can swim
much more quickly as a
skin diver. Sometimes
you may want to dive a
site, but the scuba weight
and bulk get in the way,
such as if diving from
a small boat with maximum
passengers.
For skin diving, You'll
use all your equipment
except your scuba unit,
and you'll either use
less weight so you're
positively buoyant, or
a snorkeling vest . Your
instructor may have you
set up your scuba gear
while you're gearing up
for skin diving so it's
ready to use later.
Since
you don't use scuba for
skin diving, you hold
your breath to leave the
surface (or not, but you'll
be back in a big hurry
). Most people have trouble
holding their breath for
more than a minute, especially
when they're doing something
that takes lots of energy
like swimming underwater.
To
hold your breath longer,
you can use hyperventilation,
which temporarily suppresses
your urge to breathe.
Intentional hyperventilation
is nothing more than taking
three or four deep, rapid
breaths before a breath-hold
skin dive. After hyperventilating,
it takes longer for you
to feel the urge to breathe,
so you can stay down longer
Confined Water Dive Four
Skill Requirement
Here's what you'll be
able to do when you successfully
complete Confined Water
Dive Four:
Note: Skin Diving Skills
may be completed on Confined
Water Dives Two, Three,
Four or Five.
Skin Diving Skills
1. Demonstrate the use
of proper hyperventilation
when skin diving.
2. Dive vertically headfirst
from the surface in water
too deep to stand up in
(without excessive splashing
or arm movement).
3. Clear and breathe from
a snorkel upon ascent.
Scuba Skills
4. Swim underwater without
a mask for a distance
of not less than 15 metres/50
feet, and replace and
clear the mask underwater.
5. Using buoyancy control
only, hover without kicking
or sculling for at least
30 seconds.
6. Buddy breathe sharing
a single air source for
a distance of at least
1E metres/50 feet underwater
both as a donor and a
receiver (optional skill).
