• Diving is a sport for the fit. Keep in top condition.

• Plan your trip - think safety. Check on your proposed dive and dive conditions before leaving.

• All native plants and animals are protected. Do not cut down or damage plants. Leave wildlife alone and do not disturb their homes.

• Don't leave litter. Take your rubbish home.

• Get plenty of rest the night before your dive.

• Be sober - enough said.

• Always listen to the pre-dive briefings. If you missed something in the briefing, ask.

• Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water before & after your dive.

• Don't forget to pack snacks for in between dives. Granola bars or similar high- carb bars provide a good source of energy. POPTARTS

• Securely fasten your gauge console, dive computer and or/octopus to your BC to avoid incidental contact with reefs. 

• When coming in for a close inspection of something on the reef, maintain a head slightly down, fins slightly up position, keeping your fins away from the reef or bottom.

• Use slow and smooth motions while underwater. This will allow you to get closer to reef inhabitants. Avoid grabbing slow moving fish such as balloon fish and fragile sea horses; too much stress could weaken them. Don't pry octopus out of their hiding places; there is no safe way to do it. Don't ride sea turtles; it makes them weary of divers and if it is close to their breeding cycle, you could scare them from breeding. Sea turtles are an endangered species; please treat them with respect. 

• Dive with a buddy, never dive alone. Be aware of your diving buddy's capabilities. Be familiar with your buddy's equipment. Select compatible diving activities. Review hand signals. Plan your dive and dive your plan. Always perform a pre-dive safety check. Maintain relative position with your buddy. Monitor each other's air supply frequently. Have a plan if you get separated.  Perform your buddy check early. If your buddy is a stranger you've been paired up with, you'll want to start early.

• Equalize your ears every few feet while descending before feeling pain. If your feeling pain or severe pressure, you have already gone to far and clearing becomes more difficult. 

• When was the last time you practiced an out-of-air emergency? Or removing and replacing your mask? Practice your basic scuba skills on a regular basis! 

• Check your buoyancy at the surface before you descend and adjust weight accordingly. Being under or over weighted can make buoyancy control difficult. Losing control of buoyancy can lead to an uncontrolled ascent/descent. Practice hovering whenever possible. 

• Ascend slower than 60 feet per minute. My computer warns me if I ascend faster than 32 feet per minute. Evidence supplies proof that ascending slower greatly decreases your chances of decompression sickness (DCS). 

• The reduced air pressure created by flying can trigger DCS. Always wait at least 12 hours after diving, before ascending to altitude. 

• Bicycle kicking and sculling your arms are ineffective means of propulsion. As a result, this wastes lots of air accomplishing very little. 

• If it has been more than 12 months since your last dive, you should consider taking a scuba review class from a reputable instructor. At the very least, your first dive after a long hiatus should be under controlled conditions such as a pool or in shallow water off a beach.

• Continue with your education. Just because you are a certified diver doesn't mean you are qualified for all diving activities and conditions. If you learn your advanced skills from a professional you are more likely to develop good and safe habits.

• Have Fun!

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