ADAPTING TO THE UNDERWATER WORLD

New to Scuba Diving? Read This First

Are you a new scuba diver or thinking of taking the plunge? Whether you’re planning your first experience or already enrolled in a beginner course, there are a few must-know tips that can help you feel more confident, stay comfortable, and get the most out of your first underwater adventure — especially if you’re heading to a tropical destination like Pattaya, Thailand.

Whether you are a PADI Open water Diver fresh out of class and submerging below the waves for the first time since your scuba diving course or not being diving in some time and just taken a scuba refresher, adapting to the underwater world can be strange so here is some advice and things to expect underwater the ocean when you go diving.

SEEING AND HEARING UNDERWATER

Water is a lot denser than air. Around 800 times denser in fact, so light, sound act differently to what you are used to on land.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

You may try to reach for a decent line and miss it all together! Why!? This is not because your eyesight is bad that’s for sure. It’s because light travels at different speeds through water and air. The mask traps air in it to allow your eyes to focus however when the light travels through water and then through the air, it changes speed and shifts direction slightly. This is called refraction and you learn all about it in your PADI Open water Diver course. Ultimately it means that in the beginning compensating for this change isn’t so easy as it causes magnification which means things appear closer than they actually are. You lean to compensate for this in time.

WHERE ARE THE MULTI-COLORS WE SEE ON TV & MAGAZINES?

They are right there in front of you! The reefs color, and in fact all colors are also affected by the water. Due to the density, the water absorbs light and the weaker light waves such as Red, cease to exist in deeper waters leaving your eyes only able to detect colors such and blue and green and yellow accurately. Want to see the reefs true color? Use a diving flashlight to reintroduce the light required to see the true colors! The videos and Photographs use lights to bring the color back; you learn this in the Underwater Photography Course. This is especially effective on night dives, with the absence of natural light you get the full effect and see corals in full techno-color! Ask about Night Diving Specialty or the Night Adventure dive during your PADI Advanced Open water courses!

WHAT DOES THE OCEAN SOUND LIKE?

You will quickly learn that there are a lot of new sounds to process under the waves! There are so many new sounds to discover when you go diving, such as the blowing of your own bubbles, the crackling of the corals, the grunts of fish and the passing boat engines can be overwhelming in the beginning.

The largest thing to adjust to though is the direction of the sound. Due to the density of the water, sound travels four times faster than in air. This results in the sounds reaching both your eardrums much faster and almost exactly at the same time, this result is sound seeming much louder and appears to come from close to above your head. As for talking, unless you use specialized communication gear you won’t be saying too many things underwater people can understand, so to communicate or get attention, try banging a metal clip or such against your cylinder to get attention and then use hand signals once your buddy is looking at you.

WANT TO EXPLORE MORE WONDERS OF THE UNDERWATER DIVING WORLD? LEARN TO DIVE OR JOIN A DIVE TRIP NOW AND LET GO DIVING AND FIND OUT WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT!

Must Know Tips For New Divers

Why Wear Socks with Full-Foot Fins?

As a beginner, you probably haven’t invested in your own fins yet. In tropical locations like Thailand, cold water isn’t a concern, so divers often use full-foot fins instead of boots and open-heel fins.

However, full-foot fins can sometimes cause discomfort or blisters, especially if the fit isn’t perfect or your skin becomes soft from being in the water.

✅ Tip #1 – Bring Sports or Neoprene Socks

To prevent rubbing and blisters, wear padded sports socks or neoprene dive socks under your fins.
Even regular socks will do the trick in a pinch. Around 1 in 10 new divers experience this issue — be ready, and your feet will thank you.

The Importance of Staying Hydrated

Scuba diving is a physical activity, and dehydration can sneak up on you — especially in hot, humid climates like Thailand.

What many new divers don’t realize is that the air in scuba tanks is extremely dry. That’s because compressors remove moisture before filling the tanks to avoid internal corrosion. Combine this dry air with tropical heat, and you can get dehydrated fast.

✅ Tip #2 – Hydrate Early and Often

Drink 2–3 liters of water per day, especially the day before and the morning of your dive.
Consider adding electrolytes to your water. And no — beer and soda don’t count!

Why a Dive Computer is Essential

If you’re doing a try-dive, your instructor will manage your depth and time. But once you’re taking a full certification course, you’ll likely be given your own dive computer.

Dive computers track your personal depth and bottom time, helping you stay within safe limits and plan your dive with precision. They’re much more accurate and convenient than traditional dive tables — though those are still useful backups.

✅ Tip #3 – Make a Dive Computer One of Your First Gear Investments

A dive computer isn’t just a safety tool — it helps you dive smarter. From tracking nitrogen exposure to alerting you to safety stops, it’s arguably the most important piece of gear after your mask.

Should You Use a Snorkel When Diving?

Many new divers skip using a snorkel, especially during boat dives, thinking it’s unnecessary or awkward. But on the surface, a snorkel can be incredibly useful.

Using your snorkel instead of your regulator at the surface saves air and helps you breathe comfortably — particularly when swimming to or from your descent line.

✅ Tip #4 – Use Your Snorkel at the Surface

A snorkel helps:

• Save your tank air

• Keep water out of your airway in choppy conditions

• Let you look below the surface easily
  It’s a simple skill with big benefits.

Why Divers Swim With Legs Only

One of the first things you’ll hear from your instructor: “Use your legs, not your arms.”
While swimming naturally uses both, scuba fins are designed to move large amounts of water efficiently with leg kicks alone.

Using your arms underwater creates drag, burns more energy, and increases air consumption — which shortens your dive time.

✅ Tip #5 – Keep Arms Tucked, Focus on Kicking

Tuck your arms in or rest them by your sides.
Watch how your instructor stays streamlined and copy their positioning. It’s a habit that will improve your control and make you look like a pro.

The Most Important Tip of All: Relax and Enjoy It

Scuba diving isn’t a race — it’s an experience. Stay calm, take your time, and immerse yourself in the underwater world.
You’ll discover an entirely new side of life that you’ll never want to leave behind.

Bonus: Do You Speak Scuba?

After your first dive, you’ll notice that scuba divers “talk” with their hands more than their voices. Learning the standard hand signals may take a little time, but it’s essential for clear communication and safety underwater.

Practice them often, and soon you’ll be speaking fluent scuba without saying a word.