Practicing sports and having a healthy life are constant concerns of people. And the best of all is to know that this activity can be associated with direct contact with nature.
There are several types of diving that provide moments of leisure and exploration of marine life. And it is not necessary to be an athlete for that, all you need is the courage to stay submerged and the will to discover new environments at the bottom of the sea.
What are the reasons to practice diving?
More than just a swimming technique, diving is a way to benefit your body and improve your health. So, before you start practicing it is interesting to know its benefits. Here, we will present some advantages of this practice. Check them out!
Improves flexibility and increases strength
In the practice of diving, some musculatures of our body are quite worked, after all, it is necessary to make an impulse to get away from the surface. In fact, the effort employed tends to be even greater than if you had to make the same movements out of the water. This happens because there is the water resistance factor and the current.
Improves breathing
Obviously, the dive forces the practitioner to apply some breathing techniques to stay in the water. Initially, inhaling and exhaling the air are done in a slow and deep way, so the heart rate is reduced. In addition, this stability caused by this breathing tends to reduce mucus and the possibility of lung lesions, besides being great for people with asthma.
Decreases stress
In the previous topic, we talked about how diving helps to decrease the heartbeat. Well! In addition, moving at the time of practice brings a decrease in hormone linked to stress, cortisol. While, on the other hand, there is an increase in endorphin, bringing more sense of well-being to the practitioner.
It exposes the diver to the benefits of the sea water
Especially for those who practice diving techniques in the sea, know that salt water brings some benefits to human skin. Contrary to what you might think, it does not irritate the skin.
Besides having many mineral salts and metals such as iron and magnesium, this composition helps in skin healing. It also contains calcium, sodium and potassium, and can help reduce skin allergies and strengthen the immune system.
What are the types of diving?
As you can see, diving brings some very interesting advantages to the adepts. But did you know that the practice consists of more than just keeping the body submerged? There are several ways to dive, and here we will present some techniques. Understand!
Free diving
Free diving is the submersion activity that does not require the use of breathing apparatus. Thus, the diver fills his lung with air and stays under water for as long as he can. This modality is divided into two types: apnea and snorkeling.
Apnea
Apnea is a diving technique used by professionals, such as underwater hunters. In it, the diver descends to high depths for a time considered long for an average human being.
Due to its difficulty and risks, it is recommended that only experienced and trained people, who know the techniques applied and have good physical conditioning, practice this modality.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a quiet activity with no major problems. The equipment used consists of a snorkel mask and fins. It can be practiced by anyone. In this modality, the individual has the first contacts with the submarine environment. It is considered the easiest way to start in the world of diving.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a more elaborate activity, as it requires the use of underwater breathing apparatus. These are cylinders with oxygen reservoirs, masks and fins suitable for the practice, besides the balancing vest.
Generally, in cases of recreational diving, the device used is the SCUBA – Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Aparattus. Besides the cylinder, the depth and air pressure gauges are necessary, instruments that help the diver to orient himself and control his activity.
Professional Diving
Professional diving is a more complex activity and can only be practiced by individuals who have attended courses and hold specific certification. This is because this type of diving is performed at great depths and for a long time, which makes the practice dangerous and risky.
It is usually performed by professionals who work with underwater research – marine biologists, oceanographers, archaeologists, etc. Therefore, if you want to reach this level, it is important to specialize.
What is the care for diving?
Although it is an easy practice to perform, diving requires some care when diving. In cases of apnea, for example, it is necessary to be aware of the safety rules.
For example, never do this technique alone, even if it is in a pool. In these cases, try to warn that you are there and how long you will be submerged. Not being aware of this can lead to very serious complications, such as eye and ear barotrauma, besides the possibility of loss of senses.
If you are at sea, try to compensate the ears so as not to cause damage to the eardrum because of pressure. Finally, in any environment, avoid cold diving; the airways cannot be congested, as they make it impossible to balance the water pressure in the ears.
To explore the world below the sea has always caused fascination and curiosity. Many people have this desire, but feel fear or do not know where to start. The good news is that there are different types of diving and the number of lovers of this activity grows every day. And the best of all is that they can be practiced by amateurs or professionals, depending on one’s level of experience.
