Before you try scuba diving?

You have always dreamed to try scuba diving during your travels but never dared to do it? You would like to be closer to the marine animals to observe them in their natural habitat and live the experience of swimming with them? And, you are dreaming about a new world, unknown and wild?

If the answer is yes, you definitely need to try scuba diving! Yes, I know, many of you will say “what?! Diving?! No, I can’t I’m claustrophobic!” Don’t worry, it is not because you are not comfortable being in an elevator that you won’t be able to dive! I swear it’s a totally different sensation. On the contrary, personally, I feel totally free when diving!

We started diving 4 years ago in the Bahamas by chance, we choose this activity. And it immediately became our biggest passion since this day! It took a huge place in our lives and even influence the destinations where we are going to! For diving, we have been to Thailand, the Maldives and the Bahamas. That’s why we wanted to share our passion with you today and inspire you to try the magical experience of scuba diving!

What is scuba diving?

First of all, scuba diving is the best way to explore the marine environment and observe marine animals and their natural habitat. There are two ways to do this, the freediving and scuba diving. For these two kinds of dive, you must not forget that it is an extreme sport and of course, it includes some risk.

The freediving is the ability to dive and swim underwater while holding one’s breath. It consists of diving with self-contained underwater breathing equipment.

The scuba diving is the human solution to have an underwater experience as a marine animal. For me, it is the opposite of the claustrophobia, when diving, I’m feeling totally free. When you go down into the depths, you are amazed by this fabulous spectacle. You understand that you are nothing compared to nature. It is absolutely magical to be able to enter into this underwater world.

Always respect the submarine environment

If you want to try diving, you must absolutely respect this place and never ever interact with the animals. During our dives, we have seen so many people touching everything. The animals are in their natural habitat, we are in their zone, so we need to respect them. Also, some instructors are not really conscientious and let tourists touching everything.

What are the best spots in the world to dive?

The best spots to dive in the world are Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea in Egypt, the Bahamas, Australia, the Philippines and islands in the pacific. This list is not exhaustive obviously! And it’s not only for scuba diving but also freediving.

What are the requirements/ certificates for diving?

There are different kind of diving schools but the most popular and safe are the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) accredited school. PADI is the biggest international organization od diving. If you want to start diving, you need to know that there are 4 different levels:

PADI Discover Scuba Diver

This diving is a diving initiation. You will have a low depth dive to learn the basics and you will have a 12 meters diving in real condition.

PADI Open Water

You will have 3 dives and one “exam” about diving generalities. With this level, you can dive until 20 meters with an instructor. Also, you will have a few exercises to do underwater, as removing your mask and put it again, and all the exercises we learn during the first dive. This is the one we have for the moment.

PADI Advanced Open Water

This level is to complete the first level. This formation allows you to go until 30 meters and do night dives with instructors. You will do 5 dives with orientation dives and a depth dive.

PADI Dive Master

It is the last degree for amateur divers. It is very long to have this level, you need to have many dives done. You have to be able to rescue someone in the water.

Is diving safe?

First of all, you need to know that diving is considered as an “extreme sport“, the risk zero doesn’t exist. But honestly, it is not more dangerous than driving in a car. If you are dreaming to dive, then do it! If you respect the instructions, you check your material before diving… You will be safe.

Why sharks are not dangerous

Concerning sharks, there are so many stereotypes about sharks, that are totally false. First of all, you need to know that sharks don’t like the human chair. They are carnivores, but they mainly eat fishes. They are only a few reasons why sharks attack humans:

Overfishing. Because of humans who are fishing too much, sharks have not enough food, so they come closer to the coast and attack. They often attack people fishing.

If they feel attacked in their territory. But if you respect them, there is absolutely no reason to attack you. We have dived with sharks many times and they never attacked us. They come close to us because they are curious, especially young ones. But that’s it.

Of course, sharks are wild animals, there is still a risk and there are attacks during dives, but it is still a rare phenomenon. If we respect them and their environment, they will never attack. Don’t forget to read our post about how to act to save the oceans?

Follow our adventures on Instagram @chiarabarrasso @jelafaille and our travel Youtube channel!