Silly Questions

We receive phone calls every day, people booking charters and signing up for classes and adventures.  And sometimes asking the silliest questions.  So without further adieu and in no particular order are some of the favorite things that people have asked us over the last couple of months

Do you have to know how to swim?

This is one of my favorites.  Who doesn't know how to swim?  Seriously, get to a pool, lake, stream, whatever and spend some time in the water.  I don't expect Michael Phelps, but how can you be an adult and never been in water deeper than a bath tub.
Furthermore, if you don't know how to swim why does jumping off of a boat in the middle of the ocean seem like a good idea?  We try very hard to be clear about what we do SCUBA DIVE, in the ocean, from a boat, please be comfortable in the water.  If you are not comfortable, maybe stay on the beach? or in the hotel pool?

Are there sharks out there?

I hear this all the time, and I blame shark week and terrible movies like Sharknado for the misconception people have of sharks.  Of course there are sharks out there, it's the ocean.  That does not mean you will see a shark, nor that a shark is around.  And you will not be eaten by a shark.
Are there mosquitoes in the forest? Are there pigeons in the city?  Nobody asks these questions yet these animals do cause a lot more death and destruction every year than sharks.

I have a cut / on my period, will that attract sharks?
Just stop and think about this one.  How much blood actually oozes out when you cut yourself.  I'm talking about a little "band-aid" sized cut, not a "I need stitches" cut.  The small amount of blood that may get into the ocean is not enough to attract anything, and while it may be true that sharks can smell that one drop of blood, it won't send them into a frenzy.  Don't worry about sharks, if you cut yourself in the ocean make sure it gets cleaned out because the bacteria can be more dangerous than sharks.

I just had major surgery and I'm ready to dive

I'm glad you think you are ready to dive, but what about your doctor?  Now that we know about your medical condition we need a doctor's authorization before we can take you diving.  Unfortunately, I don't have a doctor on staff who can check you over, but I do have the proper forms; so please, if you have a medical condition get the forms to the doctor, have him sign them and clear you to dive.  I can NOT just take your word for it.


Will we see fish?
Nope....fish don't live in the ocean.  Next question

Are we still going even if it rains?

What, are you afraid of getting wet?  You are about to jump into the ocean, who cares if it rains.  People routinely call just to ask this question.  Please just stop and think before you speak.

Where will we go?

I especially love this question from tourists.  Do you know the dive sites?  You just told me that you have never been to Hawaii before, so what am I supposed to tell you?  We are going to Timbuktu, or, Bratislava, or Turtle Canyons; you don't know the difference. My apologies to both of you out there who do know the dive sites and are legitimately interested.  If you are one of them, please let me know before you ask this question and I will make sure you get a good answer.

There are many more silly questions to come.  Please share your own experiences too!

Tank Maintenance

Maintaining your scuba tank and valve is just as important as maintaining any other piece of scuba gear. Tanks often end up getting thrown around, placed on the bottom of the gear piles, and even used as door stops.  While scuba tanks and valves are pretty tough, they are not indestructible and need to be cared for and serviced regularly.

By now we all know that visual inspections need to happen at least annually and hydrostatic inspections must occur at least every five years in the United States.  But do you really know what is being inspected and why these inspections are done?

A visual inspection involves taking the valve off of a tank, placing a light source and sometimes a probe into the tank to look for any kind of corrosion, pitting, or other contaminates in the tank

It is amazing what you find in a tank.  In this case, metal shavings and fuzz

A visual inspection will also detect neck cracks or other imperfections in the tank construction before they fail.

A hydrostatic test is required by federal law in the United States every five years.  This test involves filling a tank with water, pressurizing it, and measuring the expansion of the tank.

Our hydro station

Caring for the tank is not very difficult.  Make sure these tests are done on schedule, give them a quick fresh water rinse once in a while, avoid extreme temperatures and impacts to the tank.  Most tanks have a life span measured in decades if they are cared for.  But a tank is more than just the metal cylinder.

The valve is often forgotten when it comes to cylinder care.  Valves have the hardest job of any piece of scuba gear.  They must seal very high pressures and release it in a controlled manner time after time.

Valves must be cared for in many ways.  Firstly, it is important never to over tighten the valve handle.  The valve seat that makes the seal, closing the tank, does not need more pressure to seal; cranking the handle closed will only bend the valve stem.  Valve stems should give you years of flawless service, but there is no way to repair a bent one and it must be replaced.

A bent valve stem

Corrosion of the valve is another big concern.  If water is introduced to the tank, it will cause the metals to corrode rather quickly.

A corroded dip tube

An annual service of the valve involves disassembling the valve and cleaning all of the pieces individually.

Sometimes small leaks of air come from the valve handle.  These are usually caused by an improperly maintained valve where the seat has worn, the o-rings are beginning to fail, or corrosion prevents proper sealing.

Corroded bonnet nut and valve stem

A damaged crush washer and lots of corrosion

Having your valve serviced regularly will guarantee many many years of operation. I recommend having it done at least annually, when the tank gets visually inspected is a good time for it.  This is a service you may need to ask for since most tank service is usually done ala carte and not combined with other work.

Tank and valve repair can be rather technical requiring specialized tools and procedures

We at Hawaiian Diving Adventures are fully trained and equipped to keep your tanks happy and operational for many years to come.  If your tanks are ready for service or they are suddenly making funny noises, call (808) 232-3193 or bring it in and we can take a look.

The Rules of Scuba

As in many things, scuba has a very distinct and impossible to ignore set of rules.  Yet, everyday I find people who break these rules through simple misunderstanding or inexperience.  Unfortunately, breaking these rules has real and sometimes severe consequences.  I think it is time for a definitive list of the rules of scuba and why they shouldn't be broken.  So here we go:

1. NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!
Remember this one?  It is kind of a biggy and should have been beaten into you during your open water course.  But you may not remember why.
When we descend underwater, the weight of the water above us exerts pressure on us.  This pressure will compress any air space in or on our body.  An easy way to think of this is by imagining a balloon that is filled with air and tied shut on the surface.  Take this balloon underwater and it will shrink.  The air will still be in there, but the overall size of the balloon will be dramatically smaller.  The same thing happens in our bodies, this is why we must equalize our ears and mask since your head doesn't expand and contract like a balloon.  Now, as we go down the air space gets smaller, but as we come up the air expands back to its normal size.  We don't lose any air, it just occupies a smaller space.  When we breathe underwater our lungs are usually filled about to capacity every time we inhale.  If one were to hold his breath with full lungs and ascend even a few feet, the air in his lungs would expand.  Let it expand enough and it will literally pop your lungs like a balloon.

Popping your lungs is bad.  Therefore: NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!!

2. Diving Is All About Looking Good

I know what you are thinking, and no; this rule does not apply to how you look in a wet suit or how much money you spend on gear.  This rule is far more about behaving, and the girl in the picture is not following the rule with that mask on her forehead.  Make sure you have all of your gear in good working order, make sure you know how to use your gear, and please secure your hoses.  Also, use the conventional methods of arranging your gear.  In an emergency, I don't want to have to figure out how you tied yourself into your weight belt because you were too cool to just use the buckle properly.

More than your gear, it is also important to comport yourself well in the water.  Don't use your hands to swim, don't walk with fins on, don't bicycle kick in the water; move as little and as efficiently as possible and your air will last much longer.

DO NOT EVER PUT YOUR MASK ON YOUR FOREHEAD!!!

This is a great way to loose your mask.  When you are in the water a small wave or boat wake will take it off and down into the briny deep it goes.  Then you don't have a mask on to go get it.  Also, your hair is wet and the lenses are facing the sun causing the space inside to warm up and the moisture to condense on the lenses: fog.  No amount of defog can keep your forehead oven clear forever especially if you are diving in cold water.  A forehead mask is also a mark of an improperly trained diver.  Divemasters and instructors use many clues to assess their divers and you want them to know you are well trained and experienced enough to give you a long leash underwater.

3. Slow Down, Relax, and Have Fun

Sometimes people forget that it is supposed to be fun. There is lots to think about, how are the conditions? is my gear in good shape? who is that cutie on the boat? do I have enough air?  It is important to stop and look around to enjoy the beauty of diving.  Your air will last longer and you will see much more wildlife if you swim slowly and take the time to note the details.

4. Always Tip Your Divemaster

Do I need to say more?  These guys are very hard workers, lifting 35 pound tanks all day long.  Putting themselves at risk of DCS, AGE, etc. everyday.  And they don't get paid nearly enough for what they have to go through.  Make sure you take care of them. 15-25% of the price of your trip is usually customary, but leave more if they made you laugh or showed you something cool and unusual.

First Post!!!

                                        First Post!!!

Scuba diving is an amazing activity.  The feeling of weightlessness as we fly over truly alien and bizarre seascapes has captivated us here at Hawaiian Diving Adventures where this sport has become truly a passion.  Our true calling though, has not been just diving every day, but sharing our experiences with others.  This blog will do far more than just be a place for pictures and trip reports.  We will address some of the issues and concerns of modern scuba divers and ocean lovers.  But we will post amazing pictures as well.

The crew at +Hawaiian Diving Adventures has a combined experience of over 25 years as professional divers spanning most of the globe.  We will bring our knowledge and experience to help, entertain, and inspire all divers new and old alike.  

Of course we do go diving every day.  When you find yourself on Oahu call (808) 232-3193 and check us out Hawaiian Diving Adventures and Facebook