Scuba Diving Vacations
|
|
We're working closely with Expedia to provide you
with outstanding access to airfare, hotels & car hire right here from Scuba Centre.
Launched in November 1998, Expedia
gives you the choice and control to easily plan travel, buy air
tickets, make hotel and car reservations and book last minute
package deals by giving you access to exactly the same information
as a High Street travel agent. Expedia also provides in depth
destination guides and maps and a comprehensive travel information
service. Expedia is one of the largest online travel providers and is uniquely placed to assist you in planning every detail of your trip. Enter the details of your trip on the left and see for yourself how quickly they provide you with the answers you're looking for. Expedia is able to provide travel solutions for you no matter where you are. Need to fly from Los Angeles to Hong Kong..? Sydney to London..? Munich to Cape Town..?
|
There are so many things to consider when you're planning your next
vacation - where to go, what are the facilities like, how far are the
dive sites, what other activities are there, etc, etc - but very rarely
do we take the time to plan our safety and/or prepare ourselves for
handling those occasions when things go wrong.
Below you'll find a couple of articles which discuss various aspects of travel safety from keeping your family together (losing a child in a crowd can be one of the most frantic situations you can find yourself in) to adopting a more proactive role in your travel planning.
The Top 10 Travel Tips would probably go something like this:~
1) Expect things to be different. It's not going to be like home, you
need to be flexible.
2) A sense of humour makes things more enjoyable for those around you,
but more importantly it makes it more enjoyable for you.
3) A smile and a warm greeting often has more power than offering cash
to resolve a situation.
4) Invest in a money belt so you have somewhere to place your passport
and wallet other than your pockets. Having your wallet and passport
stolen is somewhat less than amusing.
5) Make sure
you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before
you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!
6) Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the
countries to which you are travelling. Remember, while in a foreign
country, you are subject to its laws.
7) Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will
facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one
copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a
separate place from your passport.
8) To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous
clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of
money or unnecessary credit cards.
9) Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas.
Do not accept packages from strangers.
10) Leave a
copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be
contacted in case of an emergency.
Below are some diver specific tips for when you're planning your scuba trip overseas.
It
is important that divers who are going on diving holidays are aware
of the availability of (or lack of) hyperbaric facilities in the area
they are visiting, or alternatively, how a diver may be evacuated to a
chamber in the event of a decompression incident. Decompression
accidents can and do occur even amongst divers who use personal
decompression computers. Liveaboard divers can make up to five dives per
day and are often most at risk due to the remoteness of their location.
Most reputable dive companies will operate dive boats that are
fully seaworthy and are equipped with all the necessary safety and
navigation equipment, and carry comprehensive first aid and oxygen
equipment. (It is always worth checking). They should also employ fully
trained and competent personnel as dive guides and boat crew.
All
sports divers should make sure that their travel insurance includes
cover for scuba diving. Divers must be covered for accidents which may
occur during diving or as a direct result of diving, recompression
costs, hospitalisation etc. and loss or damage to diving gear. The
better dive companies will offer specialist diving insurance.
Divers should be able to provide proof of medical fitness should
also take their 'C' Cards, Qualification Records or other evidence of
their diving qualifications for the Dive Master or Guide to inspect.
If
you are flying to your destination you will usually have a baggage
allowance of 20kg plus hand luggage. This can be a problem since basic
scuba gear weighs around 15Kg which does not allow for much else. If you
also carry underwater photography equipment your allowance is quickly
used up. For this reason, cylinders and weights are usually provided on
site and equipment hire is also available. Sometimes divers get an extra
10Kg per person "sports allowance" Check with your agent.
Diving knives should always be packed with
the rest of your diving gear and carried in the hold. Pony bottles and
emergency cylinders must be completely emptied and also carried in the
hold.
Many
divers travel abroad to dive on coral reefs which are one of
nature's wonders. Nearly all coral reefs are in the tropics which means
that the local climate will be hot. Divers must take care to avoid
dehydration and desist from sunbathing immediately following a dive
since both are predisposing factors in decompression illness.
Most tropical dive locations are in and around developing countries with poor standards of hygiene etc. Therefore, all the usual travel precautions should be observed; i.e. vaccinations, malaria tablets etc.
Because of the repeated immersion in sea water, divers are prone to ear problems. Infections can result from sea water trapped inside the ear canal. Ears should be cleaned out with fresh water after the last dive of the day and dried without poking anything inside. Aluminium acetate ear drops are good for drying out the ears.
After several days diving a build up of catarrh can lead to blockage of the sinuses and Eustachian tubes giving rise to problems during equalisation. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine are useful for treating this condition. One tablet should be taken prior to the first dive of the day, the decongestant effect will last up to eight hours.
| IMPORTANT note on LARIAM & scuba diving! |
|
Lariam (mefloquine) is an anti-malarial drug used in regions of the world where chloroquine resistant falciparum malaria is prevalent. e.g. East Africa, South East Asia. Possible side effects of lariam such as dizziness, blurred vision and a disturbed sense of balance are common and could cause problems for divers. These effects can often imitate or even worsen the symptoms of DCI. There could also be confusion between the side effects of lariam and the symptoms of DCI or nitrogen narcosis resulting in a misleading diagnosis. Therefore, lariam must not be taken by persons intending to take part in scuba diving. The manufacturers of lariam recommend that it should not be taken by persons who carry out tasks demanding fine co-ordination and spatial discrimination, including scuba diving. If barium is taken, these persons should refrain from such activities during and for at least three weeks following use. |
| Potentially Dangerous Sea Creatures |
|
Jellyfish
stings can be inactivated with a dilute solution of acetic
acid (vinegar). Any adherent tentacles should be removed carefully
(not with bare hands).
Mmm, reference the above list of dangerous creatures, it seems that
there is an obvious omission... Not sure..? I'll give you a clue... Lots
of teeth... Cue background music... Dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum...
Yep, sharks. Like any wild creature they are less feared the more they're understood. Current research leads us to believe that sharks are far more intelligent than we give them credit for, but since they don't have a finger to poke you with if they're not sure what you are, they tend to either bump you or nibble on your limb a little to get a feel for your texture. Best to avoid them unless you know what you're doing.