The Puget Sound is a unique area where the ocean has penetrated the mainland and created some beautiful seascapes. In addition, the Sound is home to several unique sea creatures, including sea cucumbers, Dungeness crabs, chitin, salmon, and some of the largest octopi in the world. This makes Puget Sound a great destination for scuba diving. But the Sound is also a bit different than most other scuba destinations. For one, the water in the Northwest is much colder than a tropical location, and also much murkier. You will need a diving flashlight and the appropriate scuba diving equipment to keep warm once you get out of the water or risk hypothermia.
Several Puget Sound homes located on the various islands and beaches are right on the water, and offer scuba diving literally in your own backyard. If you’re coming from out of town, however, you can always charter a private dive boat.
When I was little, my family lived at the pool. Both of my parents grew up in Southern California and were certified SCUBA divers, so an affinity for the water came naturally. While it may not seem like there is much entertainment in a giant hole filled with water, we found ample games to keep us entertained.
One of my favorites was a simple competition that I would have with my brother and sister. Two of us would close our eyes while the other sibling threw our parent’s keychain and keys into the pool. Once the keys sank, we would turn around and kick our snorkeling fins like crazy to see who could retrieve the keys the quickest. Although the game was extremely rudimentary, it was still able to keep us entertained for hours.
For those who are new to snorkeling, the prospect of having your face submerged in water for a prolonged period is often intimidating. Because of this, many people panic in the water and have difficulty maintaining the prone position. If you are having trouble staying afloat and want extra reassurance in the water, consider investing in a snorkel vest.
The vest will provide extra buoyancy and offer a sense of security. Even if you are comfortable in the water, it’s still advisable to wear a jacket whenever you are snorkeling. You never know when you’re going to be stung by a jellyfish or get a cramp hundreds of feet from the coastline, and the vest can help you stay above water until help arrives.
Storing and transporting your scuba diving gear can be quite a hassle. Not only is the equipment heavy and awkward, it also has a distinctive smell and has a tendency to get sand trapped in it. Each time you go for a dive you should clean all of your equipment thoroughly to remove the salt and prevent corrosion.
Even if you take this step, your gear will still run the risk of acquiring an odor. One of the best ways to mediate this is by using a mesh dive bag for your fins, snorkel and other small equipment. The mesh will ensure all of the excess water drains out and the gear has an opportunity to dry thoroughly.
Harvesting pearls was once a risky, adventurous proposition. Prior to the 20th century, pearl diving was the only way to seek out these elusive treasures. Because pearls are so rare in nature - they require a very specific set of circumstances in order to form - pearl necklaces fetched exorbitant prices in the jewelry market. Although lucrative, pearl diving was tremendously dangerous.
Divers faced significant risks on every descent, and they often had nothing but a diving knife to protect themselves. They could be torn apart by hostile sharks or drowned in the towering waves of the Indian Ocean. The troubles didn’t end when they resurfaced, either. Divers often experienced the bends when returning to the surface. Today, most pearls are carefully cultivated on farms. The dangers of pearl diving are a thing of the past, and the thrills inherent to that line of work have faded as well.
Diving in Puget Sound can seem like a chore. Although there is certainly an abundance of underwater wildlife, the water rarely warms up, even in the summer. Many people won’t even consider taking the plunge into the Sound’s icy waters.
But for others, the underwater sights are worth the brief discomfort caused by the cold water. If you are one of these adventurous types, it is imperative to have the proper Scuba gear. One way to have a more enjoyable diving experience is to wear a dry suit. When you wear a dry suit most of your body is not actually getting wet. Your core temperature stays higher and you can dedicate more attention toward enjoying the underwater scenery.
Scuba diving offers incredible views of the underwater world, but you can only enjoy those views if you can actually see out of your mask. For many people, however, they consistently have trouble with their scuba diving mask fogging up every time they’re underwater. This can ruin an otherwise great dive, as you’ll continually have to return to the surface to fix the problem or simply deal with a foggy view.
There are several ways to deal with this issue, though. If it’s the first time it’s happened, simply rinse out your mask with water. After this, spit into the lens. It’s not very gentlemanlike, but it has proven very effective for many people. Rub the spit into the lens with your finger. If the problem persists, make sure to visit a professional dive shop or retailer. They will have a variety of defoggers that are sure to keep your mask clear and your dive worthwhile.
Snorkeling is an ideal vacation activity when you are residing on a coast. Scuba diving may be the best way to get up close and personal with sea dwelling flora and fauna, but it requires expensive equipment, extensive training and certification. With snorkeling however, you can discover a wealth of underwater creatures while only venturing a few hundred feet from the shore.
Although snorkeling requires minimal equipment and training, it is important to take proper precautions when you are in the water. Even if you are a solid swimmer, a snorkel vest is always advisable. If you suffer a cramp or another disaster strikes when you are in the middle of the sea, the vest will keep you above water until you gain your bearings or help arrives.
An essential part of the scuba gear that lets divers move under water with little effort is the fins. Good scuba flippers or fins will make your scuba diving experience more exciting and pleasurable. You can use them to navigate more easily when you want to go underwater. They also protect your feet from sharp corral as you swim near the ocean floor. When scuba diving, look for fins that can be used in conjunction with dive boots for the highest level of comfort and protection.
Make sure that you get a pair of fins that fit you correctly. It may help to try on several pairs before making your decision. This way, you can test the feel of each pair of fins and find what works better for you. Always bear in mind that poorly fitted fins can give you blisters and cramps. If you’re a beginner, cramps can be a serious matter underwater. Take heed as it is very important to know such information before buying any scuba-diving gear.
Off the western coast of California and Mexico, vicious swarms of squid have recently attacked divers! The Humboldt squid, also known as red devils, are normally active at depths far below the surface. However, the squid have started swimming closer to the surface of late, and swarms of the aggressive cephalopods have attacked divers. While there haven’t been any fatalities as of yet, several divers have reported horror stories of being attacked by a squid, which attaches itself to their scuba tank or diver’s mask, and attempts to pull them under. While the animals are aggressive, its their hunger that drives them to such behavior. Once finding an object is inedible, in general, the squid will give up their attack.
Many divers have fled the water to avoid being attacked by the squid, which seem to accumulate near the surface in larger numbers during the nighttime hours. However, some brave divers continue to enter the water for a once in a lifetime experience. If you are one of those adventurous souls, be sure to equip yourself with diving knives.