This is a guest post by Roda Novenario
There's a lot of room for women in the ocean so if you've ever dreamed of diving and seeing marine life up close, you just have to get started. Here are some tips, culled from my more than 10 years of being an honorary dugong.
Decide to do it.
Wanting to do it and finally deciding are two different fish – one you view from an aquarium somewhere; you're at sea for the other. It is not an easy decision.
For one thing, you have to consider your finances. To get certified as Open Water Diver – the basic certification level — you need to spend at least Php16,000 on training alone. This includes your book, C card (dive certification ID), gear and facilities use in the city, and dive instructor services. This does not include your basic gear, which you should buy, and resort fees for your checkout dives. Back then, I spent an extra Php5,000 (roughly $125) on basic gear, which I still use now. Resort fees will set you back another Php5,000 on an overnight stay, with at least 3 dives per day.
You might have some fears to conquer too, and this can get in the way of finally deciding to get certified. I have a friend who had an intense fear of deep water but was so enchanted by marine life. She waited for about two years and did four intro dives within that period. Intro dives let you try out diving at a maximum depth of 40 feet, albeit while literally being held by a dive master. (You won't even need to fin.) This costs somewhere between Php1,500 to Php2,500.
My biggest fear back then was running out of air while in deep water. Trust that as you train and practice your diving skills, all your fears will dissipate. Mine did… after a year of diving and getting used to the equipment.
Prepare yourself physically.
Diving can get physical. During your open water training, you will be required to complete a series of skills tests that also test your physical abilities. You will be asked to tow a tired diver back to safety, execute a controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA) without air from 30 feet below, and practice your CESA during your pool sessions. Don't worry about the technicalities of these tests; they will be taught to you. You just need to be confident about your lung and leg power.
Exercise. Minimize smoking. Don't drink alcohol the night before your dives, especially when you're a newcomer. Drinking dehydrates, making the air you breathe from your tank feel dryer. Trust me, you won't like this feeling. I once puked into my regulator because of this.
It will also help if you get a medical checkup before signing up for certification, especially when you suffer from vertigo, and ear and nose infections. Certain conditions can get in the way of performing some basics in diving, such as equalization.
Research and network.
When you want to get into diving even when you don't have that much cash – like me – research and networking are crucial. In my case, I was lucky enough to have belonged to a mountaineering group with a couple of members beginning to venture into diving. They knew of a Florida-based PADI course director on vacation in the Philippines and practically giving away his services for free. I just had to pay for my book and ID.
That was a good break for a cheapo like me. Maybe you have friends in the know too. Budget travel and mountaineering groups are great for starting your search. Look for freelancing dive instructors who are not affiliated with resorts or dive shops.
Your legwork might also come in handy when you want to buy your gear. You will always find divers who've upgraded gear and want to get rid of old ones at fair rates. You can find them directly or go to dive shops like Nautilus (Pasay Road, Makati), where there's always a stash of 2nd hand gear on sale.
Plan and save up.
Now that you know how much it will all add up to, save up for it. It hurts less that way. You need to plan your training anyway so you have time.
You will need at least 3 full days in the pool and 1 weekend for your checkout dives. It's better to schedule these three pool sessions close to each other. You will practice your skills during these three days and it's easier to remember if not a lot of time has lapsed. The point of your checkout dives is to practice the skills you learned on open water. Your dives during your checkout weekend will be a mix of skills tests and fun dives.
Dive!
Ok then… what are your waiting for? Let's dive! I promise that it can be the most fulfilling interaction with the marine environment you will ever have. It is for me, even after a decade of doing it.
Remember that diving carries with it a huge responsibility. In your first few dives, you won't be that adept in hovering and managing your movement underwater. You will likely hit a coral or two. You will likely disturb a home or two. While not ideal, this is natural. Just be conscious and strive to get better at it. Once you get into it, keep on diving!
About the Author: Roda Novenario is a PADI rescue diver and writer. She recently started Travel Dive Connect, a personal campaign for responsible travel, sustainable tourism and Philippine marine conservation.
