Water Sports | Surf Fest

Take the Plunge with Scuba Lessons

Scuba diving is intimidating to most people. Even though they would love to learn, the idea of being submersed in deep water is frightening. In addition, many scuba accidents frighten people away from scuba diving. Many of the scuba related accidents happen because of the lack of training. If you are interested in scuba diving, you first step should be to take lessons from a certified scuba instructor.

Typical scuba lessons begin with safety. This is the most important class for beginning scuba divers. It is important that you invest time in learning scuba safety. It may save your life or your diving partner’s life.

You will spend a great deal of time learning about scuba equipment including the oxygen tank. Many accidents occur because beginners do not spend enough time learning about the scuba equipment. Most beginners are excited and ready to jump in the water. A reputable instructor will make sure you spend sufficient time familiarizing your self with the equipment.

Many scuba classes are typically held in swimming pools. This helps protect the beginning divers and most beginning divers are more comfortable learning in a familiar place like a swimming pool.

Once you have graduated from diving in a swimming pool, you will get to enjoy your first dive in a lake or the ocean. The dive is supervised by certified divers to ensure your safety. You will continue with supervised dives until you earn enough diving hours to be certified.

Once you become certified, you can join the scuba club where you took your lessons or you can find another club within your community. The scuba clubs plan numerous diving trips and you have the benefit of diving with divers that have years of experience. In addition, joining a scuba club is a wonderful way to meet new people with similar interests.

Before choosing a scuba school, make sure you research the reputation of several schools in your area. Choose a school that has instructors that have been certified for a number of years. The more experience the instructors have, the safer you will be.

Filed Under: Equipment, Water Sports Tagged With: Oxygen tank, Scuba diving, Scuba set

Beginner’s Guide to Wakeboarding

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Wakeboarding was developed from several techniques derived from snow boarding, water skiing and surfing. It is similar to water skiing except instead of skis you use a board similar to snow boarding. The wake boarder is pulled behind a boat at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

After snowboarding became popular in the earlier 1980s, wakeboarding developed in the late 1980s. The sport quickly caught on and is one of today’s most popular water sports.

If you are interested in learning wakeboarding, you can find many wakeboarding organizations that offer introductory classes. Most of them require you take a water safety course in addition to the beginning wakeboarding classes.

Many of the organizations will provide you with everything you need to get your through the classes. Once you have completed the classes, you can purchase your own board and gear. The wakeboarding organization will give you information on the equipment you will need and the best board to buy.

Once you begin wakeboarding, you will love it. It is a phenomenal water sport and as you get better, you will be able to incorporate many tricks. Wakeboarding is a fun sport and easy to learn especially if you already know how to water ski. If you are a beginner to water sports, you will learn to wakeboard quickly.

The most important thing to learn is water safety. Learning water safety is crucial for any water sport. While many people assume they know how to be safe in the water, there are numerous tragic accidents that could have been prevented if proper water safety guidelines were followed.

Do not assume you know every thing there is to know about water safety. Take the necessary water safety courses to ensure your time on the water is safe and enjoyable for you and your loved ones.

Filed Under: Surf, Water Sports Tagged With: Sport, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing

Listening to a Lifeguard

Whether you have been swimming all of your life or just started to head out into the water for the first time, the lifeguard is the person that has complete control over the pool and everyone in it. There are times that you may hear the whistle and not realize what is going on or what you are being asked to do, but it is so important to look over and make sure that you find out what they are saying. Even if you are in the middle of water polo practice or swimming your laps to prepare for the big race this weekend, the lifeguard’s instructions are to be followed.

While you are at the pool to have a good time or practice a sport, a lifeguard is there to keep an eye on all that goes on inside the walls of the pool. You might be caught up in a game and not realize that there is a commotion going on at the other end. You trust the lifeguard to keep an eye out while you are able to continue what you are working on. However, if you hear the two long whistles, it is time to drop everything and get out of the pool.

There are several reasons that a lifeguard would blow the whistle. The first might be a person that needs some type of assistance. Many times, if a person is struggling, a lifeguard will reach out a floatation device to them or in the case of children, the guard might jump in after them. If you see the lifeguard blowing the whistle but still not getting in, this doesn’t mean that there is no emergency. If someone has a potential injury to their neck and back, it is important for the lifeguard to gently enter the water and look to stabilize that person as best as possible. If it is an emergency, call 911.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Lifeguard

Importance of Correct Water Chemicals

Everyone talks about the levels of chlorine in the pool and the overall acidity of the water, but as a water sports athlete, what does that mean to you? It is always important to check the chemical content of the pool to make sure that the water is safe and maintained in a way that is beneficial to all patrons using it. You may have seen a lifeguard or pool manager getting water from the pool and putting drops of various colors in. This is a chemical check of the pool

Chlorine is one of the most important parts of pool maintenance. It should be checked regularly, especially if there are a lot of people in the pool or there have been recent problems with the chlorine pump. A person takes a certain amount of water from the pool and adds a white tablet to the water to check for chlorine. Typically, the darker pink the water turns, the more chlorine in the pool. If you see this test being done and the water not changing, it is time to exit the pool until the problem can be solved.

The other test that is performed frequently is the check for the acidity of the pool. So many times, people’s eyes burn as they swim in the pool. Everyone blames it on the chlorine, but it is actually the acidity of the pool that makes this happen. Instead of a white tablet, drops are poured into a measured amount of water. Depending on the color, the pool will have a low or high ph. The lifeguard or pool manager will then decide how much acid, if any, should be added to the pool. Usually, when the acid is being added, patrons are asked to leave the pool for at least 20-30 minutes. These tests are key to make sure that patrons can enjoy the pool without fear of health risks.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Chlorine, Water

Workout Mixes Can Be Made For Swimming

Most runners create a playlist that keeps them motivated as they look to make it over the next hill and onto the next mile. Music can be motivating. It can be the one thing that pushes a person to just keep running, or swimming, a little bit longer or getting just a little bit further than last time. For some, the athlete’s workout playlist is sacred.

Today, swimming has that same luxury with waterproof mp3 players that make it easy to keep up with the pace and work hard while listening to your favorite songs. There are various brands available with different options. Some even claim to have a case that will keep your own music equipment away from the water while you swim. Either way, this music can be motivating and something that you want to hang on to while you swim.

When it comes to team sports, each one usually has some type of music that they listen to as they warm up for the big game ahead. They may do drills to it and look to get the fans motivated. But when it comes time to swim, there is nothing by you and the water and silence. For some, the thought of adding in a soundtrack is completely out of the question. However, for those that have tried it, they rarely go back to the silence.

When swimming, it is important to find something that is comfortable for your ears and doesn’t become a distraction as you are working through your laps. You also want to find music that encourages you. For some looking for just a relaxing swim, it may be the notes of classical piano that transport them to a whole new world. For others, it may be the sound of electric guitars and banging on the drums. In the case of workout music, to each his own.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Swimming

Kids and the Water

No matter what type of water sport that you participate in, there is a chance that kids are going to be in and around the water. Because of this, there are certain precautions that need to be taken no matter what is going on. Someone always needs to be responsible for nothing but watching the kids around water.

Many times that designated person is a lifeguard. If there is a swim meet going on in one area of the pool, there may be a special place that the kids can play and be supervised. One of the best individuals to supervise children around the water is a lifeguard. He or she is trained to take care of individuals that may run into problems around the water. They know the rules that keep kids safe.

If you are bringing your child with you while you swim laps, even if they know how to swim, it is important to make sure that someone else is watching them. Don’t think that just because they can swim and know there way around the water that they are going to be okay. Bring a responsible person with you. Let that person know what your expectations are for the kids as well as the things that are acceptable and the things that aren’t.

Even with a responsible person around, it is also important to teach kids to be careful of the water. You just want them to have a healthy fear of the water and the unpredictability that it brings with it. Teach them not to run around the water. Teach them to never swim alone. Teach them to make good decisions when it comes to pool, lake and ocean safety. Then, show them that you take these rules seriously by leaving someone in charge of them while they are around it.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Lifeguard, Water

Water Sports Must Have: Sunscreen

While there are all types of equipment that people need when it comes to participating in water sports, very few can compare to the need for sunscreen. Being out on the water can make a person think that they don’t need sunscreen. They are staying cool with the water and around them and don’t realize that the sun is beating down on their skin.

Find sunscreen that is waterproof. Take note: just because it is waterproof doesn’t mean that it will last all day. It still needs to be applied regularly. In fact, better to apply it too frequently than not enough. Every part of your skin that is not covered up by clothing needs to be covered in sunscreen.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that a hat is protecting them from the sun. The sun can come off the water and still burn your face, even if you have on a hat and sunglasses. Put plenty of sunscreen in your hands and work from top to bottom to over all parts of your face. Many times people forget to put sunscreen on their ears and the back on their necks. If any part of your back and shoulders are showing, be sure to cover them well. You can ask someone to help you if you can’t reach.

If you are participating in any type of water sport that involves wearing a life jacket, it is important to take it off while you apply or reapply the sunscreen. The jacket may prevent you from getting certain areas of the body and it can hurt to find that there is just one small area of your body that is left sunburned. There are all types and brands of sunscreen on the market, so most people search until they find one that is best for them.

Filed Under: Equipment, Water Sports Tagged With: Sunscreen, Water

Lap Lane Etiquette

Most pools set up lap lanes for patrons interested in working out or practicing their strokes. These lines float above the surface of the water and give people a line from one end of the pool to the other. When the pool gets busy, extra lanes can be set up to accommodate everyone that wants to swim. However, when things get full, it may be necessary for two or more people to swim in one lap lane.

If there are two people in the lane, try to keep one person going down each side at one time. Like driving cars, each person stays on the right hand side as they swim. When it comes to the point where the two pass each other, it is important to give the other person as much room as possible. It keeps everyone in line and prevents them from running into each other.

The pace and speed is one of the most important parts of lap lane etiquette. Because of the limited amount of space, there isn’t a lot of room to try and pass the other person. It is best to find a person that is swims at your speed in order to make it all go smoothly. Once you find the lane, it is important to get the other person’s attention in order to let them know that you are going to be swimming in the lane. While you don’t have to ask, it is always nice to present it in that way.

Once you get ready to swim, wait until the other swimmer is down at the other end of the pool. Kick off and get started, trying to keep distance between the two of you. Remember that in situations like these, you may be able to do all of the things that you ad planned or swim at the place you were planning to, but it will get you in the water.

Filed Under: Equipment, Water Sports Tagged With: Swimming

Pulling Someone Out of the Water

Whether a person can’t swim or they just ran into a little trouble, they may be looking to you for a little help. While you want to do all that you can, you need to make sure that you take care of yourself first and foremost. People that are struggling have a tendency to grab onto anything they can reach to keep themselves above water and you don’t want to be what they try to use to stay afloat.

Throw something into the water for them to use. Most pools and boats have some type of flotation device that you can throw out to them. Yell for them to grab on and try to calm down. Next, if a rope is attached, you can use it to pull them to the side of the pool or boat. You don’t want to just stand there at the edge and pull. The person can still pull hard enough to have you fall into the water as well. Stay as low to the ground as possible and pull them in. If there are other people around, be sure to have them help.

Once they have gotten close, you can lay on your stomach and stretch your hand out into the water. If there are other people there, have them hold onto your feet or legs to stabilize you. You can pull them close enough to the side to get them out. If you are by yourself, you may not be able to pull them out. You may have to just keep them to the side until assistance arrives.

Remember that the last option is to go in after them, however, make sure that you are trained to handle something like this. Lifeguards are taught to even push a person away until they calm down and accept the help.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Pull buoy, Water

Learning to Dive Into the Water

Diving is one of the most dangerous things that you can do in the water. Because you are going head first into an area (with your arms extended) you run the risk of hitting something with your head and damaging your spine. Because of this, some swimming lessons have removed the diving portion for safety reasons. If you are working on diving, it is important to be in an area with a lifeguard or some other instructor to make sure that you are doing it correctly.

One of the easiest ways to start is to sit on the edge of the pool with one leg below you. You other leg is pulled up to your chest with your toes on the edge. This will give you a little bit of a push when you begin the dive. Stretch your arms out above your head and let your hands meet. Lean over your knees so that you are hunched over and your fingers are pointing towards the water. From here, you can almost lean over into the water.

With diving, the point is not to get down as deep into the water as possible. You only want to enter the water and skim your body just below the surface. For most people, diving is a way to get in the water quickly and get moving. Some people don’t pay attention when they dive and just try to make it in as quickly as possible. Don’t make that mistake. Just take your time, make sure the area is clear.

Also, when you dive in, make sure that the water is deep enough. Even though you aren’t planning to go down very far, you want to have some room for error. Also, when it comes to open waters, like an ocean or lake, don’t jump in unless you are sure that the water is okay.

Filed Under: Water Sports Tagged With: Diving, Water