Scuba diving is one of the most exotic, adventurous experiences one can have. To be able to visit an entire habitat that is still a mystery to man, words can not describe it. If it was not for scuba diving the ocean would be vastly undiscovered. Scuba diving allows you to look at life under the water. The creatures that are seen are ones of spectacular intelligence that we have yet to uncover.

Scuba diving can be extremely dangerous when subjected to certain situations. Knowing how to remain calm and act rationally can be the determinant between life and death. There are several situations you could experience when scuba diving, we are going to focus on three.

Remaining calm underwater is key to survival. An elevated blood pressure level or heart rate could develop into a breakdown or panic attack. In the circumstance that your air tank runs out of air there are several reactions you must have in order to survive. When the realization comes to you that your air tank is out of air, you must remain calm having rational and clear thoughts. Locating the other divers and making them aware of the situation is imperative. This allows you to share a breather with another. The pressure you could experience with no oxygen could be detrimental to your lungs. When you begin to share oxygen with your fellow scuba-er, you are able to minimize the amount of pressure you place on your lungs and allows you more time to surface.

When you are underwater you must realize that you are in another animal’s habitat. You must adjust your actions and realize this. You must be highly observatory during this time and cautious to the animals around. This is their home so removing coral can cause sever harm. As a scuba diver you should act no more than an observer.

When scuba diving you must remember all that you were taught when certified. You must never leave the party you are with. Swimming away from the group can cause more damage then adventure. Allowing yourself to swim away from the group opens you up to great danger. If you are alone and a problem takes place there is no one to signal for help and assist you. If you are by yourself, you open yourself up to possible attacks from animals. Worst case scenario, you are away from your group and you run out of oxygen, you have placed yourself in grave danger without any assistance.

When scuba diving make sure you update yourself on your certification rules and practice safe diving.

As long as people have been building boats and ships they have been sinking. And as long as people have been able to dive under the water they have been going down to look at these sunken ships. There is a magical and mysterious lure to that part of our history resting undiscovered on the bottom of the ocean. Scuba divers dive on wrecks for several reasons. Some seek treasure and profit. Some are professional or hobby archaeologists and are interested in historical information. And other divers just enjoy the excitement and adventure of visiting a ship wreck.

Safety is the biggest concern for all scuba divers but even more so for wreck divers. There is a risk of becoming trapped or lost in a wreck. Special training is available to scuba divers where they learn how to use special equipment. Reels of line are used to lay down a safe path through the maze of a ship wreck. Extra tanks of air are slung from the diver. Powerful underwater lights are required to light up the darkness. Wreck divers learn how to plan their dives so that they use one third of their air to reach the wreck, one third of their air to enjoy the wreck and return to the surface and hold the last third in reserve in case of emergency. Wreck divers have to especially cautious of hazards such as sharp and jagged metal.

Many recreational divers enjoy diving on artificial reefs. These are ships that have prepared and sunk on purpose in especially designated spots. Divers can practise their skills in the relative safety of a ship wreck that is well-mapped and sitting a safe depth. These ship wrecks are called artificial reefs because they soon become the habitat for corals, anemones and creatures of all kinds. Some artificial reefs will host up to four times their own mass in living creatures.

Most divers adhere to a policy of "non-disturbance" This means they do not interfere with the wreck or carry anything away. It is only fair to leave the ship wreck untouched so that other divers can enjoy it. But the environment soon starts to change the wreck. Breakers pound the metal or bust up the wood. Down deeper, currents carry away loose pieces and scatter them across the ocean floor. Even the creatures that make the wreck their home slowly start to break it down.

There is a compelling beauty to a sunken ship and great sense of adventure and challenge to learn the skills and become a wreck diver.