I’m a diving expert – these are the most dangerous things you can do underwater

FANCY bit of diving on your next trip? It seems more of us are taking the plunge as holidays to destinations renowned for their marine life are soaring – including the Indian Ocean favourite of the Maldives.

But you can’t just dive right in when you arrive -whether you are a beginner or fully PADI qualified.

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Resident Marine Biologist at Ozen Life Maadhoo, Oshin Joanna Christopher, has advice for everyone looking to enjoy themselves in the deep blue.

She said: “Knowledge of local habitats and wildlife, diver safety, and environmental responsibility are key.

“So if heading on a dive centric holiday, make sure you locate an accredited centre that will look out for both your welfare and that of the marine environment you’ll be exploring.”

Whether a beginner, wanting to introduce your children to the marine environment, or looking for some pointers after a Covid enforced diving hiatus, Oshin has tips and insights for you to get the most from your diving holiday.

1 Pre-dive holiday preparation: Whether you’re headed to the Indian Ocean, Pacific, Caribbean, or the Red sea, It’s important to understand the marine environment that you are going to be immersed in.

Do your research. There are several different types of underwater environments; seagrass meadows, coral reefs, wrecks, protected areas and more.

Understand where you’ll be diving or snorkelling and the species you might encounter.

2 Know the wildlife: Knowledge of a species’ behaviour and characteristics can protect you from harm: Triggerfish, for example, protect their eggs and can become aggressive if you get too close to their nests, whilst a fire coral can sting. Make sure you know when to keep a safe distance from particular species.

Read up on different marine habitats to know what to look out for. If there are lots of crevices where you are headed, you can try to spot lobsters, octopus, or giant moray eels.

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3 Packing: Reef-friendly sunscreen, hats or caps, sunglasses, insect repellent, rash guards, sea sickness treatments are a must. Reduce single use plastics by taking a reusable water bottle.

A user-friendly underwater camera or Go Pro is advisable to document your diving/snorkelling experience.

You’ll be more comfortable using your own mask and fins, so it’s worth making space for these in your luggage.

4 Protect the coral: Coral reefs make up a fragile ecosystem. They are the biodiversity hotspots and building blocks of the marine environment, so it’s important to prevent damage to reefs from pollutants and man-made stressors.

With over 200 million people living along coastlines globally, corals also provide a critical source of livelihood and food and generate billions in revenue to support local communities thanks to the tourism industry.

5 How to behave in the water: Never touch or chase marine wildlife. Stay off the sea/ocean bed. A number of marine creatures, such as eels or stingrays, dwell in the sand to camouflage themselves, so avoid disturbing it.

Do not feed fish and marine mammals. Human food, which can be harmful to their organisms and to their environment.

Do not litter. Plastic and all other non-biodegradable material can linger in the ocean for years and can entangle or choke marine animals.

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6 Experiences with ocean giants: When looking for or getting up close to any bigger sea life – Rays, whales, sharks or dolphins – do your homework.

Read up on the animal’s behaviour and blind spots. For example, if diving with manta rays, you should know to never block their paths. Approach from the side only.

Aim to maintain a three-metre distance from the animal to minimise any stress.

7 Introducing children to diving or snorkelling: Education is key. Help to raise children’s awareness and the experience of snorkelling or diving ahead of time, using videos, movies and kid-friendly documentaries such as Blue Planet, Puff: Wonders of the reef, or My Octopus teacher.

Fish ID books and charts are also helpful to identify sea life and create anticipation.

Teaching children how to swim and feel confident and comfortable in the water is imperative ahead of any beach holiday, but especially in preparation for a dive or snorkelling trip.

The recommended minimum age for diving is 10, and some children are introduced to snorkelling as young as two years old, each child is different.

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8 Food and drink: Scuba diving burns a lot of calories, so a good balanced but light meal, without heavy fats and oils is recommended and should be eaten at least an hour before your dive.

Opt for slow-release energy foods such as eggs, cereal, fruits, bagels, yogurt or toast to maximise body temperature and stamina throughout the dive.

Make sure you drink plenty of fresh juices, water, or even energy drinks to avoid dehydration but avoid citric fruits can cause acid reflux.

9 Sun protection: It’s very easy to get sunburnt on a boat and whilst on the surface of the water. Use umbrellas, sunglasses and hats; especially if on a boat.

Wait at least 15 to 20 minutes after applying sunscreen to let the sunscreen absorb sufficiently and apply everywhere, including lips, neck, feet, and the back of your hands to reduce risk of sunburn.

And use an SPF of at least 30 and make sure it is Reef Safe. Studies show that chemicals such as oxybenzone can damage coral health and be toxic to fish so use reef safe, mineral based sunscreen.

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