Lanzarote sports activities : Gazettelive

Scuba Diving click for Dive centres/schools>>
Diving can be relaxing, breath taking, tranquil, action-packed and adventurous - diving is all of this and more - the choice is yours. The island of Lanzarote, one of the best diving sites in the northern hemisphere, gives you an opportunity to explore the crystal clear Atlantic waters in a tropical climate, to look just below the surface – that’s where all the action is!. To see an abundance of marine life, over 500 species of fish, shipwrecks, and underwater volcanic caves, all the while hovering weightlessly underwater.

Visibility is good from 10-30 mtrs, and temperatures range from 16-25 degrees. With the many qualified dive schools available here to teach, guide and help you in the right direction, this could be a holiday that lasts a lifetime.

Divers will find a variety of different types of dive sites including an area designated as an underwater conservation park, which has a number of interesting wrecks and where visibility is 30mtrs plus. All the dive centres provide kit hire, and there is opportunity to do beach dives and boat dives.

One of the first things a diver learns is that there are many exciting dive environments that can be enjoyed under the right conditions and with the appropriate training. When you discover scuba diving, you discover excitement, adventure and freedom. Nothing compares to the ‘weightless’ exhilaration of breathing underwater. Only a diver knows the feeling!

So, if you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving - then jump in! You will need the right training to safely dive, it is the only way to achieve your diving skills. Fitness, the right equipment and clothing are also essential. However, as an introduction to diving all the above (except the fitness) will be provided by a reputable school. Scuba is the most popular recreational form of diving, enjoyed by over 3 million people per year all around the world. ‘Scuba’ is an acronym for ‘self-contained underwater breathing apparatus’ and allows the diver to enter the water with the equipment attached to the body. The basic Scuba apparatus needed for recreational diving should consist of:

A tank of compressed air, regulator and mouthpiece carried by the diver on the back.
A face mask that covers the diver’s eyes and nose, to allow for both underwater vision and equalisation of air pressure within the mask.
Two submersible gauges, one to display an accurate depth and the other to show how much air remains in the tank
A weight belt and weights worn to compensate for the positive buoyancy of the diver and scuba apparatus.
Fins to facilitate self-propulsion in the water.
wet suit or other type of body protection to prevent hypothermia (and to prevent cuts and abrasions under water

With this basic equipment a qualified diver can safely remain underwater from a few minutes to over two hours; the time limit for any given dive will depend on the depth of that dive and the rate of air consumption.

Once you have decided to become involved in scuba diving, the first step is to take the entry level course, also known as ‘basic open water’. This takes about 30 hours (10 hours is spent in classroom instruction and the remainder in a supervised pool and open water diving). Upon completion, a certification or ‘C’ card is issued containing the new diver’s picture, date of course completion and signature of the instructor and allows the diver to hire equipment and attend excursions.

As with any sport, scuba diving has potential hazards that are outlined in the entry level of the scuba course. There are, however, ways to prevent problems occurring before you even enter the water. Firstly, assess your level of fitness and discuss any medical problems with the instructor even if they do not seem relevant. Clearly one does not have to be an athlete or body builder to dive although it is probably risky if you are overweight and do not exercise regularly or at all. The more physically fit the individual, the less risk there is when diving. You are probably fit for scuba diving if you can swim several laps in the pool without difficulty (the basic swimming test for enrolment into a scuba certification course).

Many people first experience scuba diving through a ‘resort course’. This is an introductory lesson offered at a resort or on a cruise, and is always taught by an instructor. This is a perfect way to begin as it offers the opportunity to experience diving in open waters, wetting the appetite, before seriously committing to a course. It will also offer advice and information if you are wanting to pursue the sport further, either while on holiday or at home.