Scuba Diving for Treasure - Training and Equipment

It has never been easier to get into Scuba diving, as one of the worlds fastest growing sports, there are clubs and dive shops everywhere and all of them will be able to help you get qualified. Advances in technology and a greater understanding of how the human body reacts to being underwater and to the pressures of depth etc. mean that diving has never been safer, and you don't have to be a super fit gym junkie to take up the sport either.

Whether you are interested in diving wrecks or getting involved in underwater archaeology, you will need to get a qualification first, and if you are smart you will join a club, not only so you can take advantage of regular clubs trips to wrecks and other interesting locations, but so you get to dive regularly with people who have a lot more experience than you.

Before you can even think about working underwater, you need to learn how to survive and be comfortable in the underwater environment. Going though a proper training program and then building up a considerable bank of personal experience is the only way to do this.

Although I have been out of the diving loop for a few years, PADI used to run some potentially useful courses for people interested in underwater treasure hunting and archaeology, one of which was training in lifting heavy objects from the sea bed using air filled lift bags, great for for anyone wanting to salvage a cannon from the briny deep! (but be sure to read our Receiver of Wreck - Salvage Law etc. page before attempting any such thing).

Diving Equipment

You won't have to worry about diving equipment when you are first starting out, it will all be provided for you by your instructor. Sooner or later you will need your own, but be very sure that diving is for you before you start buying your own kit as diving can be a very expensive sport and not everybody takes well to the underwater environment.

As you progress in diving there are some items of equipment you should buy even if can't afford to dash out and buy a full set of gear in one hit.

Your first priority should be a mask, this is particularly important if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you can have a mask made to your prescription, it isn't as expensive to get done as you might think and will make your time spent underwater a lot more rewarding. If you are borrowing or renting equipment, the mask you get will probably have seen a lot of use and be leaky and scratched.

Another important item that should be very high up your list is a good regulator. For the uninitiated, this is the thing that you put in your mouth and breathe though. Never skimp on cost when buying a regulator, they aren't cheap, but as you hand over your hard earned cash, try to think of what you are buying as life support equipment. What kind of life support equipment would you rather depend on? the cheapest crap in the shop, or the Rolls Royce of regulators?

Support Your Local Dive Shop!

Local dive shops, along with many other independent specialist retailers, have been hit hard by the internet revolution, not only are they having to compete with online stores, they are also having their businesses eroded by the big dive shows.

A good dive shop will be able to provide you with invaluable advice on equipment purchases, air fills, information about good places to dive, and be able to service and maintain your equipment - no web site can fill your air tank or repair the regulator your dog chewed on. Look after your local dive shop and your local dive shop will look after you.