4 Safety Measures for a Great Dive in Punta Cana
Divers often forget that scuba diving like any sport, comes with certain risks if safety is not taken into consideration. Although diving is not considered as extreme as other sports, there is always the chance that unexpected situations may occur and put unprepared diver at risk. When planning to dive in a new and unfamiliar destination, it is always important to take precautions that will ensure an enjoyable yet safe experience. Here are 4 safety measure that we’ve put together to prepare you prior to diving in Punta Cana.
1. Keep your skills fresh!
Most divers occasionally dive throughout the year, logging most of their dives on vacation. If it’s been over a year since you last dove, it is highly recommended to sign up for a refresher course with your local dive center at home before your dive vacation. One of the benefits of a refresher course is that it enables divers to practice key emergency skills and theory in a controlled environment, while assessing areas that require improvement. PADI ReActivate is perfect for certified divers who’s skills are a bit rusty, and practice the skills and knowledge from the PADI Open Water Diver Course before jumping back into the water. In addition, for divers that experience anxiety, a refresher course helps reduce pre-anxiety stress leading to a more enjoyable dive.
2. Dive Within Your Level of Experience
As a dive center with over two decades of experience, we understand the importance of diving within your level of training. Quite often we see the excited new open water enthusiast testing their limits or the advanced diver who hasn’t been in the water for 5 years but is keen to explore a wreck over 80 feet deep. It is always recommended not to go beyond the limitations of your certification.
The same is true for divers with advanced certifications that have not brushed up on their skills. Getting a few easy dives in before an advanced dive, will not only prepare divers but also provide them with a general idea of the ocean conditions, topography and marine life in the chosen destination. For divers travelling to the Dominican Republic, it is recommended that they research the ocean conditions, when planning to scuba dive in Punta Cana as the weather varies by season.
3. Choose a Reputable Dive Center with Qualified, Professional Staff and Well-Maintained Equipment
This lesson was learnt the hard way during an attempt to save a couple of bucks on a student budget, I opted for a cheap less reputable dive outfitter. After being stuck with an inattentive divemaster at an advanced drift dive, the constant worry prevented me from enjoying a fantastic dive. Safety should always be firsthand when scuba diving. Since this experience, I always opted for a reputable dive center with sufficient experience, a good reputation and well maintained equipment.
Safety and professionalism are two things in diving which should never be compromised. Here at SeaPro Divers, we’ve been leading dive trips in the Dominican Republic for more than 25 years and are trusted by over 20 resorts in the Island for our standards of safety and service.
4. Always Carry an SMB or DSMB
Divers don’t often think about carrying their own surface marker buoy or deploy-able surface marker buoy. For as little as $20 dollars, this life saving device can make a huge difference if you are ever stuck in situation where it could potentially save your life.
Diving can be a fun and enjoyable past time on vacation, providing the opportunity to experience a destination from a new perspective. We hope that these 4 tips will ensure you have a safe dive vacation exploring interesting dive sites and marine species in Punta Cana.
