How to Be a Better Scuba Diver: What Not to Do

When we sign up for our dive certifications, we often hear “do this, do that…” etc. But what shouldn’t we be doing in order to be the best divers we can be? Let’s review some to-don’ts when it comes to scuba diving and why these will make you a better (and safer) diver.

BEFORE

Aside from gathering your gear and filling your tank, there are some ways we need to prepare for our dives, even up to 24 hours before the dive itself. What’s cool is there’s not really anything extra you need to do, but rather, some things you shouldn’t do.

• Before a dive (including the night before), it’s best not to drink heavily, use recreational drugs, or even gorge on heavy, greasy foods. Diving is a pretty athletic activity, so we want to make sure we’re not sick to our stomach or lagging in our cognitive abilities while on the boat and underwater. 
• Don’t be tardy to the party. That’s right, show up on time. We’ve seen folks run after the boat on the dock like they’ve just missed the school bus. Don’t be that guy—everyone else showed up on time. You should too. 
• Don’t pretend to know more than you do or play the arrogant “too cool for school” game. If you have a question, maybe something you forgot since your last dive, ask it. If it’s been a while since you’ve been diving, don’t refuse a helping hand if a dive buddy is trying to extend one. Say, “Hey, guys, it’s been a while and I haven’t done a refresher (pro tip: do a refresher), do you have any tips/quick runthrough that can help me out?” You’ll make a lot more friends this way than by getting babysat by your dive buddy because your buoyancy was way out of whack or you kicked him/her or the reef too many times. 

• Don’t take up half the boat with your gear. Try to keep a tidy, concise space when sharing a boat with others. Not only is it considerate to other people’s gear and space, but it’s ideal for the safety of everyone on the vessel. 
• Do not ignore weather or marine advisories. If you’re not checking the weather and water reports before you go out, you’re just asking for trouble. If you see that it’s bad and decide to go out anyway, you’re downright delusional. Stay safe and listen when Mother Nature tells you to stay your silly self at home. 
• Don’t assume your or your buddy’s gear is fine without checking—you know what they say about assuming. Maybe you just went diving yesterday and everything went swell—great! Check your gear again today. It’s quick, easy, and amplifies the safety of the dive. Why wouldn’t you be checking your gear before every dive? Exactly. Just check your gear, man. 
• Don’t forget your buddy, or, if your buddy cancels, don’t go it alone unless you know you can buddy up with someone on a charter. We’re serious, and this is one of the biggest ones and one people often ignore—Don’t go diving alone! Not to remind you of your mother, but do you want to end up on the news? No. Don’t go diving alone! Period. Exclamation point! 

DURING

There’s a lot going on while you’re underwater and a lot of things to remember. The good news is that you’ve integrated most of what you’ve needed to. So let’s add some more! Hopefully, these don’ts for during your dive will be a reminder rather than the first time you’re hearing this. 

• Never ever ever ever ever ever hold your breath while scuba diving. This should have been one of the first things you learned in your dive certification course. Why? Because the air in your lungs would expand under pressure and cause serious injuries that increase the likelihood of death. Think of blowing too much air in a balloon… yeah, brutal. So don’t do that.
• How to keep in good graces with your dive buddies: Don’t kick them. Be mindful of your buoyancy and your surroundings. Many inexperienced divers kick their friends, the reef, and stir up silt and sand in other divers’ faces—don’t do that. Practice your dive skills, and, if needed, ask your buddies and/or dive master for some advice on how to get better on whatever you may be struggling with most.
• Don’t touch the reef or animals. The planet doesn’t need anymore damage, and your interference with wildlife in the ocean could only cause more. Although you may have seen beautiful videos of people gracefully gliding their hands along sharks or stingrays, most of these people are professionals, researchers and scientists, working with these animals. They’re aware of the potential harms, how to avoid them, and the behavioral patterns of these animals (which is kind of a big deal for your own personal safety). This includes not stalking animals unless you’re spearfishing. So you, recreational diver with potentially little-to-no marine wildlife training, should just keep a respectful distance for your own safety and the safety of the planet.   
• Don’t panic! (This one is really hard, I know). Things happen. Things we can’t control. All the time. On land and in the water. In our regular lives and while we’re scuba diving. Best thing we can do in any situation where something unexpected or problematic happens is to not panic. Panic only causes more chaos. Practice staying calm and moving mindfully through the problem. You know more than you think you do and you have a little more time than you think you do. If you’re smart and you’re diving with a buddy, you have support to solve the problem together. You’re good. Don’t panic. 

AFTER

The number one thing to consider when looking at these post-dive don’ts is the dissolution of nitrogen in the body. As scuba divers, you know that nitrogen build up in the body is a thing and if you do these Don’ts, you’ll increase the likelihood of bubble formation in the blood and succumbing to decompression sickness. So, these Don’ts are pretty non-negotiable for your own health as a diver.  

• Don’t dive in the morning and hop on a flight in the afternoon. Your body needs to not go from 100 feet in the sea to 30,000 feet in the air (even with the pressurized cabin). Humans aren’t really built to handle that kind of shift in pressure and we need some time for the nitrogen in our system from the dive to pass before we start exploring vast and various elevation points. This includes not mountain climbing or driving up and down mountains, etc. 
• Don’t take a hot shower right after a dive—or jump in a hot tub or sauna or take a hot yoga class. We know, you want to relax and a hot bath may sound amazing, but this will cause your tissue to warm before your circulation improves after your dive increasing the chance of decompression sickness. 

• You know, they say there are two kinds of divers—those who pee in their wetsuits and those that lie about it. Don’t empty your pee-filled wetsuit on the boat deck (flush the suit before in the water). Nothing like the smell of urine while munching on some snacks between one dive and another. If you flush your suit in the water, open a little space at the neck and then at the ankles, it’ll keep the pee in the same place as the fishes’ pee, in the water. That being said, it’s a good idea to be one of the first back on the boat. 
• Don’t partake in excessive drinking. Wait, this feels like deja vu right? Didn’t we say this for the Before section too? Yeah, we did. And I know it sounds like we don’t want you to have a blast, but we want you to be safe more than anything. Since drinking causes dehydration, it can cause an increase in the risk of decompression sickness. 
• Don’t go freediving after scuba diving. A bit of snorkeling is fine, but the physical exertion from holding your breath at depth is not a good idea while you still have nitrogen built up in your system. Take some significant time (24 hours is generally a good rule of thumb) before jumping in for some freediving.   
• For the same reason we don’t go freediving right after scuba diving, you should also not do any weight lifting or other strenuous activity either. Just give yourself a break. Let all those little nitrogen bubbles move out of the body before taking on any other kind of big activities. 

Scuba diving is fun and leisurely, but it can also be a risky and serious sport. Even if you’re partaking in the activity in a more vacation-style mindset, take these To-Don’ts seriously so that you can be a better scuba diver. This will not only help you stay safer and make your experience more enjoyable, but it will also make your dive buddy’s experience safer and more enjoyable while keeping the ocean’s natural environment as happy and healthy as it can be too.

FAQs

What should I avoid doing if I feel anxious or uncomfortable underwater?

Don’t panic! Anxiety and discomfort is not uncommon in the water, even sometimes for experienced divers. If you panic, it will only make the situation worse. Try to stay calm and breathe and enjoy the experience. 

Is there anything specific I shouldn’t touch or disturb while exploring the ocean floor?

As exciting as scuba diving may be, it is important to remember that we are guests in the ocean and must respect its delicate ecosystem. There are certain things you should never touch or disturb while exploring the ocean floor, such as coral reefs, marine life (including fish and plants), and any underwater structures or artifacts. These can easily be damaged or disrupted by human touch and can have negative impacts on the ocean's balance. Instead, admire these beautiful elements from a safe distance and leave them undisturbed for others to enjoy. Remember, with great adventure comes great responsibility.

Why is it important not to hold my breath while ascending?

As a scuba diver, you may feel the urge to hold your breath while ascending as a way to conserve air or equalize pressure in your ears. However, holding your breath while ascending can have serious and even fatal consequences. When you hold your breath, the expanding air in your lungs can cause lung overexpansion injuries or arterial gas embolisms. This is why it is crucial to always exhale continuously while ascending and allow the expanding air to escape safely. It's better to use up more air and make multiple stops during ascent than to risk injury by holding your breath. Always remember: breathe consistently and never hold your breath while scuba diving.

Should I drink alcohol before a dive, and how can it affect my safety?

As a responsible scuba diver, it is highly recommended that you avoid alcohol consumption before and during a dive. Not only can it impair your judgment and reaction time, but it can also increase the risk of decompression sickness. Additionally, alcohol can cause dehydration and dizziness, which are dangerous conditions to experience while diving. So to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you, it's best to refrain from drinking alcohol before a dive. Instead, focus on hydrating yourself with water and staying alert and aware while enjoying the beauty of the underwater world. Remember, your safety should always be the top priority when scuba diving.