10 Things Every New Scuba Diver Should Know

Online   Nov 02, 2026

1. Never Hold Your Breath

One of the most important rules in scuba diving is to breathe continuously and never hold your breath. As you ascend, the air in your lungs expands as the surrounding pressure decreases. Holding your breath during an ascent can cause serious lung injuries, including an arterial gas embolism.

2. Your Dive Computer Is Your Best Friend

Modern dive computers provide important information throughout your dive, including your depth, bottom time, ascent rate, and remaining decompression time. 

Every diver should understand their computer rather than relying entirely on their buddy's readings. Your dive computer is an important tool for monitoring your dive and staying within your planned limits.

3. Buoyancy Control Takes Practice

If there's one skill that separates a comfortable diver from an inexperienced one, it's often buoyancy control.

Proper buoyancy allows you to hover effortlessly underwater without constantly kicking, grabbing onto things, or adjusting your position. It also helps protect the underwater environment by preventing accidental contact with coral, marine life, and the ocean floor. 

4. Communication Is Essential

You can't exactly have a conversation underwater, so scuba divers rely on standardized hand signals to communicate.

Before entering the water, review common hand signals with your buddy. Make sure you both understand how to communicate important information, such as remaining air supply, problems, direction, and ending the dive.

Good communication helps prevent misunderstandings and allows buddies to work together throughout the dive. Never assume your buddy understands what you're trying to communicate.

5. Always Complete A Buddy Check

Before entering the water, take the time to check your equipment and your buddy's equipment.

A buddy check helps verify that everything is properly assembled, functioning, and ready for the dive. Check your BCD, weights, releases, air supply, and final equipment before entering the water.

6. Always Ascend Slowly and Maintain Control

Ascending is an important part of every dive and requires just as much attention as descending.

Always follow your training, dive plan, and computer's ascent-rate recommendations. Make any required safety or decompression stops, and maintain control of your buoyancy throughout the ascent.

7. Monitor Your Air Supply Frequently

It's easy to become distracted by the incredible things happening around you, but checking your pressure gauge should become a regular habit. Don't wait until you're low on air to start thinking about ending your dive.

Check your air frequently, communicate your pressure with your buddy, and follow your planned turn pressure and reserve requirements. Your air supply is something you should always be aware of, not something you only check when prompted.

8. The Right Equipment Makes a Difference

Not all diving environments are the same, and the equipment you need can vary significantly depending on where you're diving.

For example, diving in Monterey requires considerably more exposure protection than diving in a tropical destination. A properly fitted wetsuit or drysuit, hood, and gloves can make a huge difference in your comfort.

9. Stay Within Your Training and Comfort Level

As you gain experience, you'll encounter different environments, depths, currents, and visibility conditions. Not every dive will be appropriate for every diver, and that's okay! Choose dives that match your experience and comfort level. If you're interested in exploring more challenging environments, consider additional training and build your experience gradually.

10. Relax, Be Patient, and Enjoy the Experience!

Your first few dives can feel overwhelming. Between managing your equipment, monitoring your air, controlling your buoyancy, and communicating with your buddy, there's a lot to think about!

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Every experienced diver was once a beginner. Take your time, practice your skills, ask questions, and enjoy the experience. As you become more comfortable underwater, you'll find yourself spending less time thinking about what you're doing and more time appreciating everything around you.