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Tips on Avoiding Muscle Cramps in Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is nothing but an awe-inspiring and breathtaking activity. It allows you to see the beauty of the underwater world. It allows you to have great experience on the world beneath. But along with all the marvelous experience you will get as you dive in the water is the fear of having muscle cramps underwater.

Muscle cramp is every scuba diver’s enemy. This involuntary contraction of your muscles is a result from overexertion or poor physical condition. Cramps lasts for a few seconds to minutes distracting every divers close encounter to the oceanic world. Aside from distraction they can also lead to further underwater anxiety and even drowning.

So, therefore, necessary precautions must be taken by each scuba diver out there in order to prevent the occurrence of muscle cramps in the water.

Before going on diving, be sure you have done stretching exercises. Stretching will help you to prevent muscle cramps underwater. You have to prepare your muscles before you take a dive. Remember that underwater temperature is extremely low which attracts muscle contraction. So you need to warm up your muscles before you take a dive.

Drinking alcohol is always a big NO for divers. Alcohol utilizes anaerobic metabolism. In anaerobic metabolism is a type of cell metabolism in which our body uses carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen, lactic acid is the end product of anaerobic metabolism. And lactic acid promotes muscle spasms in our body. So if you are planning to take a diving, make sure you have been alcohol free for the past 12 hours if you don’t want to experience muscle cramps underwater.

Drinking plenty of water at least 3 liters a day. Studies have shown that dehydration is also one of the greatest causes of cramps.

Eating a lot of potassium source foods will help you prevent develop muscle cramps. Bananas are the richest known source of potassium. Potassium is known to inhibit muscle contractility and spasms.

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Choosing the perfect diving wet-suit.

The diving wet-suit of scuba is available in forms,types and option is same.
Extremely cold diving requires a dry suit with long underwear underneath to avoid hypothermia.
Scuba diving wet suits form part of the most significant scuba equipment you can get as a diver, and a good wet suit will last you for ages.
You may want to buy a shorty wet suit if you dive in warm water, or a full-length suit if you dive where it's cold. Temperate waters can make the body lose heat and can spoil your time for diving.

It is important to keep in mind that the body works to maintain its optimal temperature in the area of the torso where its vital organs reside. When the heat stays in this location, then the rest of the body will warm up such as the parts of the arms, hands, legs and feet. A full-body wet suit allows you to keep a consistent body temperature, evenly distributed throughout your body. This is a good choice for scuba diving in chillier water, while the shorty wet-suit would be more appropriate for a warmer situation such as a tropical location.

There are those who like the shorty scuba diving wet suit because it provides greater flexibility compared to the full length suit, sometimes called the steamer suit. Ultimately it is a personal choice; whichever one is most comfortable for you is the right way to go.
The detachable scuba diving wet suit is an option you should consider if you frequently dive in a variety of locations. Removable full-size is usually a wet-suit, arms and legs off, mostly the type of action into a shorty. Using this type of suit allows you to customise it to all sorts of diving conditions.

Keep in mind that the scuba diving wet suit offers additional diving protection, from both scrapes and bumps as well as stings that happen when diving around rocks and coral, this is the reason some prefer the full sized suit as it offers them more protection. This offers some protection from UV radiation from the sun, which is known to be harmful.

Scuba Diving wet-suit should be bought depending on what are your options, as to what sort of conditions you dive in, so buy a suit which is worn by majority of divers or the detachable option as it gives flexibility if you do diving in different conditions and different situations.
Also don't forget to equip yourself with top quality suunto dive computers to keep control of your dives.

For Scuba Diving how to get started ?

Before you get started in scuba diving, there are a few things that you need to take care of. Even-though you may have interests in going scuba diving or you may be a professional you must sure that you have taken care properly. When you are planning a scuba diving trip it is important that you take all the proper preparations to remain safe while under water.

Are you able to complete the challenge?

Scuba diving is not easy so make sure you are ready for the challenge before you start. If you think that it looks like fun, you are actually ready to get in there and do it yourself. Often we will feel frightened when we are challenged in someway, no one enjoys the anticipation of failure. Meeting challenges of things that are not necessarily easy however will put fears to rest.

Ensure your scuba diving equipment for readiness
Then when you are sure of going through, next step will be to gather all scuba diving equipment.

Masks, wet-suits, fins and snorkels are some of the snorkeling equipment that you will be needing.

Use only top brand names to ensure you receive the highest quality product.

For scuba diving, great equipment is great but the most important thing is being in great shape. You would want to get in good shape and this means eating right and doing regular exercise.

To get yourself ready for scuba diving, a few tips are there for you from the most important tips. If you follow these tips you will be assured of the time of your life while being safe while on this adventure.

The Top 5 Dive Sites In Cuba

One of the most popular holiday types we sell at Captivating Cuba is the scuba diving holiday. Cuba attracts swarms of divers every year, attracted by its calm, warm waters, its stunning coral reefs, sunken shipwrecks and dazzling array of tropical fish. The waters boast an average annual temperature of over 24 degrees centigrade, and with an average visibility of 98 feet, allowing divers an excellent view of the underwater paradise the Cuban dive sites offer. The lack of strong currents and variety of dive sites available mean that the island is a perfect training ground for Cuba's diving virgins, as well as offering a challenge for those who were born in a wet suit! Go to Great white shark diving for more information.

So without further ado, heres a list of Captivating Cuba's top 5 Cuban diving sites:

Maria la Gorda

Located on the west of Cuba, local to Pinar del Rio, Maria la Gorda is a beautiful dive spot surrounded by nature it's one of the least developed areas of the island. The dive site itself is found in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, which is a world biosphere preserve and has two dives zones, with underwater sights including black coral walls, 18th century shipwrecks, flora and fauna. There are also caves around for those looking to experience cave and cavern diving, and possibly night diving trips if the demand is there. The site is a 4 hour transfer from Havana, but it is well worth the trip to experience what is one of the finest Cuba dive sites.

Cayo Levisa

If you're looking for something a little more accessible from the islands capital, then Cayo Levisa may be the answer. Located on the north west of the island, about an hours trip from Havana, the Cuban dive site is home to sponges, black coral and some of the islands larger tropical fish. It's also home to some of the islands more memorable shipwrecks, with 17th and 18th century wrecks of archaeological interest free for divers to explore. If you want to make diving the focus of your holiday, the Hotel Cayo Levisa allows Cuba's divers to stay in one of its 40 rooms for the duration of their trip. Refer to white shark diving for more information.

Cayo Largo

Located on the southern side of the Cuba, Cayo Largo showcases virtually untouched beaches and coral reefs. The sea also includes mountains of coral reefs and a wide range of fish and chelonians and because of the nearby coral reef, the Cuban dive spot is protected from strong currents making it ideal for beginners. Although this is around 177 kilometres from Havana, local domestic flights can be taken between the two locales and take around 45 minutes.

Playa Giron

Just east of the Bay of Pigs is Playa Giron. The international dive centre here deals mainly in shelf diving with additional trips out to local deep caves in the region. The main attractions of this Cuba dive site are the sheer drop offs near shore which are punctuated with swim throughs, making for memorable shore dives. The site has some shallow shore dives to initiate beginners, while more experienced divers will be enamoured by the inland cave dives available.

Because of the distance from Havana (a road transfer will take upwards of 4 hours), I would recommend staying in one of the Hotel Playa Giron's 290 rooms. It's certainly popular with Cuba's divers indeed; in 1994 a ship was deliberately sunk for the benefit of the diving population.

Faro Luna

Last but not least on my list is Faro Luna, found in the Cienfuegos province on the south of the island. The city has received many accolades for maintaining the clean environment of the water and as a result of this and the 28 dive sites in the region, it remains a popular area with Cuban diving enthusiasts. The Faro de Luna Diving Center has shipwrecks, marine life and coral formation barriers so high they are visible on the surface. The waters here are so clean and clear that the zone is highly recommended for Cuban divers who wish to engage in some underwater photography.

Those visiting Cuba to dive are in for a real treat. I've only name-checked 5 Cuban diving sites here that warranted extra special mention, but the clear, warm waters, tropical fish and stunning coral formations mean that wherever divers in Cuba go, they are unlikely to be disappointed. Visit great white shark diving for further information.

Diving Tips: How To Buy A Wetsuit

For those with a love of water sports, it quickly becomes apparent that you need something that is going to keep out the cold and prevent you from shrivelling up like a prune, particularly if you're going to be surfing or diving anywhere around the UK, given its cool water temperature and infamy for rubbish weather. Go to Shark cage diving for more information.

You can go to any sports shop and find wetsuits for sale but where to start? Do you just go for the one that looks nice or do you realise that, financially, this is a pretty major purchase and will be an absolute must when you're in the water. So, if you're in the market for a wetsuit, do a little research and find out what you need to know. Here are a few pointers:

The first thing to consider is the fit. This is essential as with an ill fitting wetsuit you will lose more heat than you save, defeating the object and making you cold. A good fitting wetsuit will allow a little water in. This water is then quickly heated by your body, bringing it to body temperature. This is held against your skin, preventing any further heat loss. If the suit is too loose, it will allow too much water exchange and you will not stay warm. Check for a close fit on ankles and wrists. If the suit is too tight, enough water will not be warmed and you will still not maintain body temperature.

To avoid rashing, it is also important that the suit is comfortable and does not rub anywhere. Any collections of sand or salt water will soon tell you that your suit is too loose but not before you feel the pain. A good fitting suit will also ensure that the suit lasts longer, with no areas of unnecessary wear.

The performance of a wetsuit is something that needs to be negotiated. Put simply, performance is the amount of stretch a wetsuit offers. More stretch equals less resistance. However, super stretchy suits offer great performance for those who like to show off their tricky manoeuvres but less durability because the suit will wear out quicker, particularly around the knees.
Refer to Mako sharks for more information.

Warmth is a very important issue when purchasing a wetsuit. This means that you need to take into consideration where you will be spending most of your time in the water. Obviously, if you are a regular in the waters off Australia or Egypt then it's somewhat different to what is required of a wetsuit that spends most of its time off the coast of Scotland. Suits can be purchased with a 2mm thickness right up to a 7mm and it will make a drastic difference to get one at the wrong end of the scale.

It is important that you are comfortable in your suit but this has to be factored in when you are considering your performance and durability needs.

Neoprene is the fabric of wetsuits. It is a closed cell rubber foam to be precise and can be lined with a jersey fabric. Various degrees of stretch are available as choice. Seams are necessary on the suit to make it a better fit. However, this is negotiable. You can have a suit with few seams which will make it more flexible (better performance) but this will be balanced by the fact that it will not be such a good fit (less durable).

The stitching of a wetsuit will depend on whether it is aimed for summer or winter use. Flatlocked stitching is very strong and flexible but allows water to seep through needle holes. This is good for summer suits. Blind stitching will normally be used on more expensive winter suits and does not allow water through.

So you can see there are many things to take into consideration when buying your wetsuit. Apart from the above you will also need to look at what the style and colour choices are and also consider the price because there is quite a vast price range. However, get it right and you could be surfing, diving or rafting in much more comfort and for longer than you could manage without.
Visit Dive with sharks for further information.

Hints for Fun Snorkeling

There is no point spending your vacation in Florida addressing your Tampa floor cleaning or Tampa stone cleaning needs, especially when you could be experiencing the beauty of the great nature that Florida has just waiting to be discovered and seen by you both on land in the everglades and in the beautiful waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Snorkeling can be a lot of fun, but before you put those fins on and dive into the water, there are a few things you should know before you actually go snorkeling. These tips and pointers should help you to enjoy yourself while you snorkel as well as stay safe and have the most fun possible by following a few easy to follow tips.

The mask lets you see clearly underwater. Make sure that the mask you get fits your face, so it won’t leak. A good way to tell whether or not a mask fits you is to hold it against your face and then let go to see if it stays because it has a good seal, and therefore will remain sealed underwater and not let water in, but remember too that a lot of dive shops will have very experienced divers working in them, so it is also a good idea to listen to what they have to say and to trust their judgment in many cases. When you actually get around to using the mask you should remember a simple trick that scuba divers and snorkelers have used for a long time to prevent the masks from fogging up too much. What you should do is to spit into your mask and rub it over the inside of it, then rinse it and it should stay fog free the whole time you have it on.

Finding the right snorkel for you is easier than finding a mask that fits properly, as you can just make sure that the mouthpiece is comfortable inside your mouth when you put it on, that it has a place to hook up to the mask so it stays at the right angle and so that it won’t get lost when you go out in open water, and make sure that it is long enough so that it won’t choke you when it gets submerged in water.

You don’t really need fins to go snorkeling, but because they allow you to go faster with less effort, they are recommended by many experts, especially if you want to go out far into the water or go deeper when you dive below the surface. If you do decide to get them then you should make sure that they fit comfortably, whether that means getting cushions so you don’t get blisters on your heels or getting fins that have holes for your toes so that your feet will fit comfortably and also be able to move well.

Scuba Diving On Grand Cayman

Resting atop a submarine mountain of coral, the island of Grand Cayman offers some truly distinctive scuba diving opportunities. Off the shore, the coral walls that descend sharply into the Caribbean create some incredibly unique and challenging dives. Go to Pemba for more information.

Elsewhere around the island, there are plenty of dives perfect for all ages and skill levels. Regardless of where you dive in Grand Cayman, however, you are sure to encounter an unparalleled variety of underwater life. It also helps that the warm waters off the coast often boast visibility exceeding 100 feet a fact sure to impress snorkelers, as well as scuba divers. With over 250 unique dive sites in all, Grand Cayman stands as one of the most diverse dive destinations in the Caribbean.

Many of the most popular dive sites on Grand Cayman are located off the western shore in an area known as the West Wall. Many of this areas dive sites are located just a short boat ride from the resorts lining Seven Mile Beach. At sites such as Armchair Reef, Wildlife Reef and Aquarium Reef, you will be able to spot numerous species of underwater creatures. Many of these reef dives are suitable for novice divers and snorkelers as well.

As Grand Cayman is known for its wall diving, you will definitely want to explore the deeper water of the western shore. At the first steep drop-off of 60 feet, you will find such sites as the Eagles Nest and the Orange Canyon named for its population of colorful elephant ear sponges. Another fun challenge is Bonnie's Arch, a unique site boasting a coral archway wide enough to swim through. All in all, there are more than 50 distinct dive sites located in the West Wall area of the island.

Though the North Wall is on the windward side of the island and features incredibly steep coral walls, one of the worlds most famous shallow dive sites rests along the sandy beach. A good part of this popularity is owed to the fact that Stingray City is a perfect site for divers and snorkelers of all ages and skill levels. Once you are in the warm, clear water you will be able swim with families of gentle Southern Stingrays. With wingspans approaching four feet, many visitors find a great thrill in Stingray City while feeding and photographing these majestic animals. Refer to Pemba for more information.

Along the North Wall, you can also spot a large population of tarpons at Tarpon Alley. These large, strange fish are surprising friendly and will swim close to you if you move slowly. Along the coral wall, experienced divers can visit Eagle Ray Pass and the No Name Drop-Off for a glimpse of sea turtles, exotic fish and dense coral reefs.

While many dive tours only visit the South Wall when weather is poor off the western shore, there are plenty of pleasant dives for all skill levels in the shallow southern waters. At sites such as Japanese Gardens and Oriental Gardens, divers are promised an up-close view of colorful coral and sea creatures in calm water perfect for photography. Slightly further from shore, these gardens sink into an intricate maze of tunnels, arches and underwater canyons.

Adventurous divers will want to visit the eastern shore of Grand Cayman. Though there are only a few dive operators offering tours of this area, you are unlikely to find more pristine coral reefs anywhere. Within the first slope of reef, you will find a series of tunnels, underwater caves and arches. Sites in this area such as Grouper Grotto and Babylon are always teeming with fish, sponges and sea turtles.

Lastly, what would a Caribbean scuba diving trip be without a few wreck dives? The Balboa, a 375-foot cargo ship that sunk during a storm in 1932, sits at a modest depth of 30 feet in Georgetown Harbor. Today, the vessel is home to an assortment of the Caribbean's most photogenic residents. The most popular wreck dive in Grand Cayman is the Oro Verde, a coral-covered freighter resting in 60 feet of water off the shore from Seven Mile Beach. Additionally, Grand Cayman recently sank five vessels in various locations for both the enjoyment of divers and the ongoing research of environmental scientists.

There are over 40 experienced dive operators serving visitors to Grand Cayman, so finding a knowledgeable guide is a breeze. Even if you have never experienced scuba diving, you can become certified in Grand Cayman and then test your skills at some of the Caribbean's best dive sites.

Come to Grand Cayman and you will see why the island is celebrated by divers and snorkelers across the globe. Visit Pemba Island for further information.

Flipping For Scuba Flippers

Know Thy Flippers
Have you listened to the discussions of professional scuba divers? They talk a lot about fins and propulsion. If you are wondering what it is all about, this piece will help you decode some of the scuba jargon your friends are spewing out like jets of steam. Most likely, you have heard about the scuba flippers, straps, and designs, which are their favorite conversation pieces. Go to Shark cage diving for more information.

The scuba flippers of your childhood has mutated into a more sophisticated device. Continuous research has contributed to the newer, better scuba flippers your friends are raving about. However, they will have comparisons – these reflect their different needs and diving styles.

Different Strokes for Different Fins
There are two variants of the scuba flippers. The full foot fins which you use with bare feet, and the open heel fins which you wear with boots. The full foot fins are best for those snorkeling jaunts while the latter is ideal for scuba diving. You should no longer be confused about the choice you have to make.

If you are still using the standard scuba flippers, you will notice that instead of forward propulsion, you are just propelled up. The flat fin causes a loss of 10% propulsion when you kick because of the 27 degree distance between your heel and the foot. The drag slows your speed. This is a nuisance when you want to move fast and straight ahead in the coral depths. Refer to Mako sharks for more information.

Increasing Speed Underwater
But you if are just starting to join the elect circle of the scuba diving community, scuba flippers with slim fins are right for you. You will wonder why instead of splits, slim fins have open toe pockets. The pockets add force to your kick. It helps coordinate your thighs, hips, and buttock movements. This is important for a beginner who has to get used to exerting more force than usual, being underwater.

If you are ready for force swimming, the bladed fins will give you speed underwater. The blade pushes the water backward when you kick. This is great for the initial forward thrust. Towards the end of the down stroke, the fin returns to its position – poised for the next kick. The scuba flippers with bladed fins actually enhance the muscular activity of your legs. Swimming underwater becomes sheer pleasure.

Paddle fins are common for scuba diving. This helps you move in the water with less exertion. The introduction of the pivoting blades that helps you get the right angle, hence there is more push to your kick.

The scuba flippers with flat fins are slowly being nudged out by split fins. With a vertical split fin, you can slice the water neatly. Water passes between the split and reduces the water pull. This makes propelling forward easier –you don’t have to tire yourself out with repetitive and hard kicking for a single straightforward direction. Sounds easy?

Proper care of your scuba flippers is essential. Once your scuba flippers lose their shape, these will no longer give the propulsion you enjoyed previously. Therefore, in storing your fins, make sure these are placed away from the weight of your scuba gear, and avoid the habit of arranging them in a vertical position.

Health Benefits Too
If you think that snorkeling and swimming are just for fun, think again. These activities have health benefits too. You burn more calories with every stroke, and kick. Your heart muscles become stronger. The advantages out distance the pleasure you get from the swimming faster and better. Visit Dive with sharks for further information.