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Frequently asked questions by new divers.SCUBA FaqWhy do they call it SCUBA?SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus How old do I have to be to SCUBA dive?10 years old or older. How long can you stay under with those oxygen bottles?SCUBA tanks do not contain pure oxygen, they are filled with pure, dry, filtered, compressed air. How long you can stay under water is determined by how deep you will be diving and how hard you are working. The deeper you go, the less time you have. Diving can only be done by good swimmers and people in top physical condition, right?You don't have to be an Olympic swimmer to become a recreational SCUBA diver but you do have to pass some basic swim tests. SCUBA diving is dangerous isn't it?It's probably about as dangerous as bowling if you are trained properly. Why do my ears hurt when I go to the bottom of the pool?As you go deeper under the water, the pressure on your body increases. Since the pressure on the outside of your body increases above the pressure in your inner ear, your ear drum starts to get pushed in and you feel pain. If you were to continue to dive deeper your eardrum would eventually burst. Good news! Its very simple to "equalize" the pressures using techniques you learn in your SCUBA class to avoid pain and the possibility of a ruptured eardrum. Diving should not be painful. SCUBA diving is expensive isn't it?Would you take up skiing and not buy skis? Why would you get into SCUBA diving and not expect to have to buy the equipment needed to dive safely? Let's face it, many dive shops don't maintain their rental gear as good as they should. Also, rental gear does not fit as well and is not as comfortable as your own gear. Studies show that divers that own their own equipment dive more often and are far more likely to keep diving. SCUBA diving is an equipment intensive sport and does require some significant purchases. Properly maintained, your equipment may give you many years of enjoyment. Don't just think about how much you are spending now, think about how much it will cost you over a period of 5 to 10 years. Since SCUBA equipment is used for life support, you should buy the best performing gear you can afford. Can I dive with contact lenses? What if I wear glasses?You should be able to dive while wearing contacts. If you wear hard contact lenses you will want the gas permeable type. If you wear glasses, masks can have lenses bonded to them so you can see underwater. Read more about contacts and diving.
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