When you reach your dive site, you must set the anchor. After the anchor is set, it must be checked at the beginning of the dive to make sure it is secure. At the end, the anchor must be clear for lifting. For complete security, someone who can operate the boat should remain on board at all times. Whether you dive from a large or small boat, you must remain near the vessel and upcurrent from it during your dive. A trail line with a float extended behind the boat is essential when even the possibility of a current exists. Diving properly from boats requires training and diving with an experienced boat diver. This is particularly true for specialized activities from boats, such as drift diving. Learning about diving from someone more experienced helps to greatly reduce the risk of embarrassment, frustration, and unpleasant incidents. POPULAR DIVING AREAS After you complete your NAUI Scuba Diver certification course, you will be able to dive on your own under conditions similar to those in which you did your open water dives. If you are like most divers, you will want to travel to other areas and experience new and different dive sites. Following are descriptions of some different locales to give you an idea of the variety of diving you can find throughout the world. California California is one of the most popular diving areas in the world. With its mild year-round surface temperatures and good water conditions, diving is a favorite sport with many people in this part of the United States. Most diving in California is concentrated among the giant kelp beds found offshore along the coast and nearby islands (figure 8-28). These kelp beds are home to numerous animals and fish, including sea lions and seals, many species of rockfish, lobsters, scallops, and thousands of other creatures. Diving in a kelp bed is like swimming through a forest, with light filtering down from the surface through the long kelp stalks. Visibility in California can range from 3 meters (10 feet) along the beaches to over 30 meters (100 feet) at the islands. The average visibility is from 10 to 15 meters (30 to 50 feet). The water temperature ranges from a low of 10°C (50°F) in the winter to a high of 21°C (70°F) in the late summer and early fall. The average water temperature is 17°C (62° F). NAUI Scuba Diver 192 Diving Environment FIGURE 8-28. KELP BEDS PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL DIVING ENVIRONMENT.
20490TC
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