All posts by Kevin Alexander

SCUBA diving requires training for fitness as well as for safety. The buoyancy control device helps you to sink or float depending on your needs, but you always need to be prepared physically for any situation.

SCUBA gear can weigh up to 50+lbs. The tank generally is 32 lbs with 15 lb equipment and an 8 pound wetsuit. It’s like attaching workout weights to your body. You will need to know how to swim so that you don’t drown in the event that your control device fails. You will also want to pick up speed in your flippers so that you can cover more space in optimal time.

SCUBA diving can take a toll on your body for the first time. You will want to be in good physical shape to prevent health complications. If approached in good fitness, SCUBA diving will help strengthen your lungs, your heart, and your body. You will want to ensure that you receive rich nutrition, rest, and recuperation so that SCUBA diving works for you and not against you. Because of the weight and the movement diving will tone your entire body. You will experience pressure around your sinuses and body when descending. This is why you must prepare for the activity ahead of your dive.

Exercise all parts of the body and focus on your lung fitness to get the most out of diving. You can practice holding your breath to strengthen your lungs and prepare for emergencies. Intaking some oxygen from a machine will allow you to hold your breath submerged for longer periods of time. This is a great exercise, because it expands your lungs and helps you practice withholding pressure. Also expanding the lungs will allow you to pull in more of your Nitrox blend underwater and prevent decompression sickness. Make sure someone is watching or a lifeguard is present in case of an emergency.

Weight training is very important to prepare for carrying equipment. Those who are serious about diving should place equipment on their backs and try squatting down or walking with those weights.

In the safety of the shallow end you might even try to pull underwater weights whilst running or walking. This will recreate the forces and pull you might experience on a dive. Full body weight exercises are very important to strengthen the whole body and prepare your body for exhaustion. You can race a partner with the underwater weights to up your speed. You can do body weight exercises so that your body is balanced and strong.

Swimming is a very important part of diving, and will increase the fitness of your heart and lungs. You can swim athletically to really get a cardio workout, or you can practice freestyle underwater to cover more distance. Swimming with your flippers on will prepare you for a realistic dive. You can lap swim with your flippers and count your laps. Endurance swimming will allow you to see how far you can go and reduce fatigue on your dives.

Group swims and diving sessions always help you to get your flippers wet, and build accountability. By The Shore Scuba Instruction will offer you the training, and exercises you need. We train in large pools to ensure that our students can make adjustments to their diving before open water dives. Remember when it comes to diving important areas of focus are endurance, strength training, cardio, and breathing. Prepare by switching between swimming with or without flippers, and doing HIIT Cardio. Ask Kevin at By The Shore Scuba Instruction for exercise advice custom tailored to your needs.

 Get ready for unforgettable adventures. For individuals who have always dreamed of SCUBA diving or people looking for a SCUBA career, you may be wondering what SCUBA classes you need to take. Some classes are required upfront while other classes are considered to add on courses. Below are recommended courses as well as various add-on courses so that you can choose the right classes for you.

PADI Certification

   Everyone who intends on SCUBA diving needs a PADI certification. This course usually includes 12 classes. For people who are on the fence, there are introductory or trial courses available to get your feet wet. The only requirements are that you are 10 years or older and that you can swim adequately. It is recommended that your health is adequate and that you are physically fit. During your PADI certification, you will go through about three different phases. You will first go through a learning portion in a classroom, followed by the confined water dive, and lastly with open water diving. You will be able to attend chartered dives with a PADI-certified diver. 

Rescue Divers 

    Anyone interested in assisting other divers needs to take a rescue diver course. Some companies pay rescue divers for assistance on chartered dives. The requirements include taking Adventurer Diving courses, EFR Primary and Secondary Care training. Once you have taken this course you will have the ability to assist your fellow diver and provide the care needed in case of an emergency. This course is very useful for chartered dives or buddy dives. 

Open Water SCUBA Diving

To safely SCUBA dive alone or on an uncharted dive, you need the Open Water course. Minors can even enjoy SCUBA diving in the open water as long as there is a certified adult with them. You can also take a more advanced version of open water diving to deepen the length of your dives from 59ft (40ft for Junior divers) to 100 ft. 

Enriched Nitrox Classes 

If you want to attend back-to-back SCUBA dives or just improve your overall SCUBA experience, take a course in enriched Nitrox diving. The Nitrox tanks provide you with a form of oxygen that has less nitrogen. Nitrogen over a long period can be a bit toxic to your lungs. This class gives you the knowledge to safely handle oxygen-enriched tanks and allows you longer periods of dive time. 

Specialty Diving

There are many classes that a curious SCUBA diver can take. Wreck diving, cavern diving, and ice diving are important to take if you want to experience any of these environments. For those individuals who enjoy different conditions, deep water diver and night diver are great courses. Certain underwater creatures can only be found in these conditions. For individuals who love catching currents through rivers or oceans drift diving is an available course. 

Technique Diving 

There are a variety of diving skill classes that will help individuals improve their diving experience. Here is a brief overview of all of the courses you could end up taking. Peak buoyancy courses allow people to watch aquatic life without disturbing them. This will make for better underwater photo ops. The underwater navigator course will not only earn you college credits but will help you get more accurate readings on your compass. For divers who want more comfort and coverage, a full mask diving course is perfect. This dive is ideal for colder waters where individuals will want to breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth. 

A very popular course to help divers position their tanks is the Sidemount course. This frees up the diver’s back and allows his tanks to tag along. Other courses include boat dives so you can learn to dive from any kind of boat, search and recovery, and dive against debris courses.

Advance Dives

PADI divers can go on to be professional instructors. If you have five or more specialty dives you can go on to be a Master Diver. Afterward, there are certifications to become regular instructors, wreck instructors, and many other types of PADI instructor positions. 

    SCUBA diving offers a wide-open world of possibilities. Having your first basic PADI course is important. From there you can take your time to figure out the best add-on courses and whether or not you want to pursue a career in PADI instruction. If you are not sure exactly which course is best for your situation then contact By the Shore SCUBA Instruction for some direction for your SCUBA endeavors. 

Sources : https://www.scubadivingraleigh.com/services-view/scuba-classes

https://www.padi.com/education/specialty-courses

https://www.americandivers.net/en/padi-rescue-diver

     Imagine this. You have planned a wonderful SCUBA excursion for the day in Cozumel, Mexico. You have planned to dive for a couple of days in the afternoon. Your significant other, friend or family member has decided to accompany you on the trip. There is just one problem. They cannot or will not SCUBA dive. For honeymooners, this is not ideal. However, if a few dives don’t drive a wedge between you and your loved one, there is no need to cut your trip short. Here are some wonderful things to do for the non-SCUBA divers in beautiful Cozumel. 

    Spas and Massages

       There is no shortage of spas in Cozumel. Some World Class spas come out of Cozumel. Aura Secrets is one of Cozumel’s most secretive yet luxurious resorts where a day away from the water is nothing less than satisfying. With sunburn wraps, refreshments with massages, and cascading indoor pools. This getaway is nothing less than zen for the ecstasy seekers. With plenty of deals for this particular resort, you can book lengthened stays and enjoy a Swedish massage and mineral springs throughout the day. You will find your day filled even if you choose not to sleep in. If Aura Secrets is booked there are plenty of other spa-worthy resorts throughout Cozumel. Presidente Intercontinental Resort is another world-class spa and resort with special events such as their triathlon. If you type Spas into the Google search engine you will find numerous spas throughout Cozumel. If you are primarily interested in a complete experience try narrowing your search down to resorts with SCUBA charters. By The Shore, SCUBA will sometimes chart dives through certain resorts and most resorts have wonderful packages for spas. When you finish your dive, you and your loved one can share a couple’s massage. 

    Non-SCUBA Related Water Sports

         You can still enjoy the beautiful blue waters of Cozumel without SCUBA diving. Aside from Snorkeling you can grab a paddleboard, surfboard, or kayak and break a sweat on the seas. Presidente Intercontinental Resort has an annual Triathlon in May. If you sign up for the Triathlon you will receive discounted rates on Sports Massages and other packages. There are also some Ironman events throughout the year in Cozumel. There is Ironman Cozumel in December, Ironman 70.3 for September, and an ITU World Cup. The highlight of the Ironman is that you will be swimming with the fish just like a SCUBA diver. For someone who has yet to fit into their SCUBA mask this experience still allows you to immerse yourself into the ocean.

You will never be in short supply of biking trails and beaches to run on. 

Recreational Activities

      Among some of the best recreational activities are Eco-Park Cuzam, the Cozumel Planetarium, Dolphin Discovery, and Mexico Park. The Eco Park is a great recreation park that entails a zipline, obstacle course, and horseback riding in the lush forests of Cozumel. Dolphin Discovery is a swimming area that has dolphins, manatees, and local macro life. This up-close experience with wildlife is wonderful for sensitive sea creature lovers. Children who are over 3.3 can enjoy this park with an adult. Dolphin Discovery offers a variety of packages including one with a visit to Chankanaab Park. Mexico Park is a historic overview of Mexico with miniature replicas of the nation’s most prominent landmarks. Here visitors will engage with Mexico’s history, culture, and natural beauty. You can build one of your alebrijes ( colorful handmade sculptures with patterns unique to Cozumel). You can also enjoy the Mexican flavors tour to fill your stomach and palette with a variety of the nation’s best dishes. 

Historic Landmarks

     Cozumel offers lots of history answers with numerous sites of ancient ruins and Spanish contact. For the history lover, you will not be disappointed. San Gervasio is a Pre-Colombian Mayan site and an archaeological zone where you can see the roots of Mexico’s culture and people. Tour guides will make sure you fully grasp and understand the roots of Cozumel. If you love lighthouses, the lighthouses Faro Celarain and San Miguel De Cozumel Punta Langosta overlook the beautiful seas of Cozumel. The Langosta Lighthouse even has a Starbucks. The most unique site is the Coral Reefs Monument in San Miguel Cozumel. This monument made of stone speaks of Coral Reef abundance in Cozumel and frames a magnificent sunset. 

    Along with all the wonderful sites and activities mentioned Cozumel has multitudes of sailboat tours and tequila tours. You can not go wrong finding something to do for everyone. Hopefully, everyone will find time to conquer the SCUBA gear and dive to find Cozumel’s abundant micro and macro life. Once you hang up the SCUBA gear you can also enjoy all that Cozumel has to offer. Speak with Kevin Alexander, our instructor about our next trip to Cozumel. Maybe you can encourage your non-diving entourage to tag along for the adventure.

With its large wild outdoors, urban industrial architecture, and rich history North Carolina is an attractive temperate state on the East Coast that offers almost anything to the adventurer. It is the perfect place to explore different periods of American history, scientific discoveries, modern architectural movements, and new businesses. There is almost something for everyone here. If you love the mountains, you can embrace the mountains of Blue Ridge. For the urban dweller, art museums, community events, and different architectural periods are proudly on display throughout the city. Oceanic lovers and maritime history buffs will find North Carolina waters are enchanting. The North Carolina coast draws lots of outsiders to its beaches. The surfing and PADI diving community is very prevalent here. That is why living in Raleigh is convenient for the urban dweller who wants to be close to the sea.

     If you are new to Raleigh, NC, and looking for unique SCUBA dives, you will find lots of enthusiastic PADI divers, historical treasures in the waters of North Carolina. Why is Raleigh number one in SCUBA diving? Because it is full of SCUBA divers, who are experienced, from dives all around the world!

You may be wondering if the Triangle is an ideal area for divers. Here is what you need to know about SCUBA diving around Raleigh, NC. Raleigh, North Carolina, and the surrounding area have plenty of SCUBA diving facilities.  By The Shore SCUBA Instruction is run by Kevin Alexander, our senior PADI instructor who has been SCUBA diving for over 25 years and specializes in underwater weddings. There are plenty of venues to practice your skills as Wake County has lots of swim clubs and diving pools. By The Shore SCUBA Instruction also can supply you with different diving equipment. 

Raleigh has large lakes and rivers.

Raleigh, NC, is abundant with history and offers archaeological dives worth investigating throughout rivers and lakes. The surrounding area has natural hot springs, massive lakes and offers diving getaways like Fantasy Lake SCUBA Park. 

Fantasy Lake SCUBA Park is a PADI divers playground. 

Fantasy Lake SCUBA Park, located in Rolesville, NC, simulates SCUBA diving scenarios like a cave, shipwreck, and open water diving. It is a quarry lake set up with underwater buses, mock shipwrecks, slopes, natural habitats, and deep holes to practice deep water diving. They offer training as well as open day and night dives. Hone your driving skills or take underwater selfies with an abandoned Beetle Bug car.

North Carolina is full of artifacts. 

     Not far from the Raleigh area are beaches and coastal waterways full of history. The list is endless. Features of the North Carolina coast include megalodon teeth, the Lost Colony, the original Outer Banks colony settled by early English settlers from the Old English era, Civil War artifacts from Fort Macon, Blackbeard “Edward Teach” the pirate, lots of shipwrecks, and more. You will hear of Ghost Fleet diving expeditions where you can chart the World War II ship graveyards, and potentially spot a whale over the winter.

North Carolina is full of large marine species under the sea.

     If you are looking for a marine biology experience, look no further than North Carolina. Wilmington, North Carolina offers marine biology diving from the University of Wilmington so, it is apparent that the wildlife is abundant. If you want to see large marine wildlife, the United States has listed North Carolina as #1 in North America for large marine life. The sand tiger shark draws the most attention as it is prominent in the North Carolina waters. Immerse yourself into a deep dark world surrounded by the shy yet intimidating shark who lurks near the NC coast. Sea turtle lovers will find memorable moments during the late Spring and Summer. If you like mammals, Porpoises and dolphins are abundant in the cold Winter waters of North Carolina. Kure Beach has several archaeological dives due to the high number of Megalodon teeth findings. Are you interested in the Coastal Waterways? Dive the Cape Fear River if you dare, and see if you can find alligators migrating back to Florida in Late Winter/Early Spring. For creature enthusiasts, these remarkable sightings are only a few hours or so away from Raleigh’s epicenter.

  If you need a support system for SCUBA diving Raleigh, North Carolina has a great community of divers. Since it is considered Eastern North Carolina geographically, most PADI-certified SCUBA divers in the area are experienced, open ocean divers. Though the waters can be cold and rough at times, it won’t keep us from exploring. Stopover at By the Shore SCUBA Instruction and see how we can help you maximize your next dive in North Carolina.