Scuba Diving Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – breathing, equalisation and buoyancy as the foundation of safe dives.

Equipment

Item	Priority	Tip
ABC gear	High	Mask, snorkel, fins – the foundation for movement and vision.
SCUBA & BCD	High	Regulator and buoyancy jacket must fit perfectly – rent first, buy later.
Suit	High	Matched to the water temperature – shivering drives up breathing rate and air consumption.

The 3 golden safety rules

Factor 1: Never hold your breath

Concept: On ascent the air expands – held breath severely injures the lungs. Tip: The most important rule of scuba diving: always keep breathing calmly and continuously.

Factor 2: Equalise early

Concept: Every 10 metres the pressure rises by 1 bar – the middle ear suffers first. Tip: Equalise early and regularly, never with force – and never dive with a cold.

Factor 3: Buoyancy with the lungs

Concept: Constantly filling and dumping the jacket burns air and calm. Tip: Coarse via the jacket, fine via lung volume – the right amount of lead is half the battle.

Buddy system

Never alone: Diving is a team sport – your buddy is your redundancy in every emergency.
Buddy check: The systematic pre-dive check prevents most equipment problems.
Hand signals: Learn the standard signals cold – underwater there is no second language.

Safe ascent

Max. 10 m/min: Ascend slowly – the last 10 metres are the most critical.
No flying: No flights or mountain drives for 12–24 hours after diving – the nitrogen needs time.
Pre-dive check: Check O-ring and hoses – a small leak at the surface is a big problem at depth.

Trim & efficiency

Lie horizontal: The horizontal position drastically cuts drag and air consumption.
Nothing dangles: Secure hoses and consoles close to the body – streamlining also protects the reef.
Slow fins: Calm, controlled kicks are more efficient than frantic paddling.

Pro tip: Your air consumption is your report card: breathe calmly, trim cleanly, lie horizontal. Dive relaxed and you dive longer – and safer.