Getting Ready to Dive Post Lockdown

Here in Malaysia due to the worsening COVID situation, unfortunately we’re currently locked down again which is the right thing to do due to the strain on the healthcare system, but it doesn’t stop us dreaming about what it would be like to go diving again. Here, it has not been possible to travel interstate for leisure since January and the extended dry period has often had me day dreaming about what it will be like to get back in the water! So, we thought we would put together a list of things to think about before your next dive, which hopefully won’t be too far off!

Would you go for a wreck dive when we can travel and dive again? Picture taken in Pulau Lang Tengah, Malaysia

So, here it goes, our Southeast Asia Diving list of things to do to get ready for your first post lockdown dive!

1. Check Your Dive Gear

   Checking and servicing your dive gear is something we should be doing anyway, but its even more important after a prolonged time out of the water. If you haven’t had your regulator or BCD serviced recently then its probably worth thinking about getting this done. Most dive shops locally will be able to help you to arrange this and will also be glad of the business too.

2. Decide on Your Next Destination

   While international travel for diving won’t happen anytime soon, its worth having a think about where to dive next as this will dictate on how you travel. Fo example here in Malaysia diving is split between the east coast of the peninsula and Sabah. Diving on the peninsula isn’t quite as spectacular as in Sabah, but it does mean you can drive across country to get to one of the islands which means that you dont have to think about baggage allowances. However, Sabah is mesmerising and worth paying a little bit more in baggage fees to be able to get your dive kit and camera gear there. For me, I’ll probably head to the east coast for a warm up/refresher, get a few dives in at one of my favourite destinations such as Tenggol or Perhentian before booking a trip to the magical Sipadan for some truly awesome diving.

3. Work on Your Fitness

   Lockdown has given us the opportunity to do a number of things that we wouldn’t normally have time for, such as learning new skills and getting back into old hobbies. For me, I have started to re-learn about photography which will also hopefully have an impact on my underwater photography as well. However, don’t forget about your fitness. While diving isn’t as strenuous as running a marathon it does require a good level of fitness to ensure you are comfortable, safe and don’t use up all your air. Going for a run is a great way to improve your cardiovascular fitness and stamina which will have a big impact on your diving, but don’t forget about strength training - carrying the tanks down the beach to the boat is never easy and building up some muscle also helps to reduce the amount of weight you need to help you descend too!

4. Check Your Camera Gear

   If like me you are an avid underwater photographer then its worth checking your underwater camera gear every so often to make sure it is ok. You spend a lot of money on it and small things such as o-rings and seals can dry out and crack over time if you are not careful The best piece of advice I was given was to make sure you remove the o-rings and seals where possible and coat them with silicon grease to help make sure they don’t dry out or lose their elasticity.

5. Think About Booking A Refresher Course

   While this may sound a little silly to begin with, let me explain, most of us have been out fo the water for six months or more and while for those who have a large number of dives under their belt will probably be OK, those with just a handful may benefit from a refresher course. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, on the contrary, its more embarrassing having to be rescued on your first dive after a long absence, not to mention dangerous. You could even combine it with another course or a speciality to make it worthwhile.

A beautiful seafan at Bidong Jetty

6. Try To Be More Sustainable.

One of the positive side effects of the global pandemic is the time some of our coral reefs have had to regenerate and regrow after the near constant hammering they take from hordes of tourists smashing into them or standing on them. Why not tea eat opportunity to see how you could help the ocean by becoming more ocean aware. It could be as simple as participating in a beach clean up or picking up plastic on a dive. Everyone can play their part to preserve the ocean for future generations.

7. Have Fun!

The most important thing is to remember to enjoy your next diving trip! We have been out of the water for so long that we may have forgotten the joy of being able to dive. If you prepare carefully, look after yourself then you should be able to enjoy the beauty of the ocean.

So, there you have it, our tips on how to get ready for your next dive trip which hopefully won’t be too far away. Think we have forgotten something? Why not leave us a comment in the section below and we’ll happily look forward to reading it. Take care, and have fun!