I-Search: Scuba Diving

By Tori Singley

Part 1

For the focus of my I-search, I chose to do scuba diving. I've always

wanted to learn about it because someday I wish to do it; I’ve just never
gotten the chance. About a month ago, there was a scuba diving course at
the pool I swim at but I was too busy with swim team that I didn’t get the
chance to do it. I don't know that much about it so after doing this project, I
hope to learn more.
Right now, I know that you can swim underwater using an oxygen tank.
This tank allows you to breathe underwater without having to come up for
air. If it runs out, you have to fill it up in order for your safety. You also wear
a wet suit, flippers, goggles, and other gadgets and devices that are
necessary. You are able to swim beneath the surface with turtles, fish, and
other underwater life. I already love to swim so being able to do it so far
beneath the surface would be an adventure that I can’t wait to experience. I
already know that being able to scuba dive will come in handy if I ever visit
somewhere like Hawaii.
Part 2

To begin my I search, I set up an account on Mr. Gibbs’ class discussion

board. I then chose a topic that I was interested in doing research on. Scuba diving
has always intrigued me so I picked it. I then had to write everything I already knew
about it, which wasn’t really that much. After stating my common knowledge about
it, I set up a powerpoint of essential and scaffolding questions. I researched all of
the questions I had using the internet, the library, and a close source, my friend
Camille. When I found good sites, I would save them on my acount on Delicious.
One day, we as a class went to the library so that the librarian, Ms. Hansen
could tell us about a good researching site called Infotrac and other helpful tips. I
then continued my research and found books on Amazon and articles on Infotrac.
After finishing my powerpoint and collecting all of my facts, I was able to start
writing my paer.
Part 3

My research was very thorough and I found out all of the basic and
necessary things you need to know about scuba diving. Having this
knowledge enables me to try to get certified and take classes. I was able to
talk to my friend, Camille Miguel about scuba diving. She is recently a
certified diver and told me that taking classes is definitely worth it because
in the end, being certified comes in handy when you go to places like Hawaii
or the Bahamas on vacation.
First of all, before you even get in the water, you have to know all of the
safety precautions you need to take. According to Maldives Diving Safety, a
diver should follow these diving safety steps:
○ Attend all the classes before actually stepping inside the world of
water.
○ Before diving in the water, one must check and recheck all the dive
equipments to ensure standard of safety.
○ Know local weather before diving.
○ Never dive without your trainer and without fellow divers.
○ Follow all the instructions given to you by your professional trainer.
○ When there is heavy or strong current flowing, try to stick to the reef
away from the main current point.
○ Take extra underwater torch with you to support visibility while diving.
○ Do not descend deeper than 30 meters and indulge in no-
decompression diving.
Knowing these precautions will come in handy when you are getting ready to
dive in. It will make the diving experience just that much safer and there is a
less chance of getting hurt if you follow these steps.
Secondly, you have to know all of the devices and gadgets that are
necessary in order to scuba dive. According to scuba-diving-smiles, the
absolutely necessary items for scuba diving are a scuba mask, scuba booties, scuba
fins and scuba snorkel. Some other items that are good to have is a scuba
regulator, scuba diving computer, dive table, tank bangers, knife, dive slate, diving
gloves, scuba wetsuit, dive light, safety aids, and a mesh dive bag. If I want to buy
all of these items for myself, I can go to scuba diving smiles and purchase them.
They are costly though so if I don’t want to buy them, I can borrow my friend
Camille’s gear because she owns most of her own.
Third of all, I want to take classes to learn how to scuba dive and get
certified. I wanted to take them at the Cunningham pool in Valliejo but I recently
found out that they aren’t offering classes anymore. So I went online and found the
Scuba Fusion Dive Center in Monterey that’s rated the third best dive center in the
U.S. There are classes in October and November so I am able to work around my
own schedule. These are the available classes:
 Oct 2nd Weekend Open Water Class starts
 Oct 10th-11th Weekend Ocean Dives in Monterey
 Oct 16th Weekend Open Water Class starts
 Oct 23rd Weekend Open Water Class starts
 Oct 31st-1st Weekend Ocean Dives in Monterey
 Nov Nov 6th Weekend Open Water Class starts
 Nov 13th Weekend Open Water Class starts
 Nov 21st - 22nd Weekend Ocean Dives in Monterey
Thanksgiving Break
When I first wanted to learn how to scuba dive I was worried about the costs but
after I found this place in Monterey, I can probably afford it. Depending on what
class I take, the costs will vary. These are the costs:
 $179 Open Water
 $119 Referral
 $64 Student Kit
 $99 Open Water Rental
 $64 Referral Rental

Before I get in the water, I want to know how many people get hurt while
scuba diving so I know what I’m getting myself into. According to the Scuba
Guide, scuba fatality estimates at around 5 fatalities per 100,000 divers whom of
which are usually irresponsible and reckless. But about a third of those are the
result of heart or circulation problems and the most common of which is a heart
attack or cardiac arrest which is tragically almost always fatal if it happens while
submerged. After hearing that, I don’t really have anything to be that concerned
about which soothes me.
I then wanted to know how many people actually scuba dive. But since Scuba
Diving is not a regulated industry it’s hard to pin down an exact answer. The most
accurate estimate is on Scuba Diving Smiles from The University of South Carolina's
scuba diving club. They report an estimated 2.5-3.5 million Americans participate in
recreational SCUBA diving. They also state another 500,000 become certified each
year in the United States. I just hope I am able to add to that number.
 Finally, if I do get certified, I want to know where the best places to scuba dive
are located. According to PADI(Professional Association of Diving Instructors), these
are the most popular places to scuba dive:
1. The Great Barrier reef, Australia
2. Sulawesi Island
3. Little Cayman, British West Indies
4. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
5. Sharm El-Sheikh, Egyptian Red Sea
6. Cocos Island
7. The Maldives
8. Belize
9. Turks and Caicos
10.Cozumel Island, Mexico
Since these places are a little extreme and far away, I won’t be able to visit these
until the very near future hopefully.
After completing my research and talking to my friend, I feel that it’s time for
me to go out and take lessons to get certified. This has enlightened me and now
that I have all of this knowledge, I want to use it.Works Cited

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