I hate wasting time (and precious air) descending slowly to my dive depth. Fortunately, the only real limitation when descending is how fast you can equalize. Here are five steps for reaching the bottom quickly, and safely.

1. Be properly weighted

   Do a proper weight check to make sure you can actually sink, but don’t overweight yourself.

2. Cross your legs

   I learned this from a divemaster during my open water certification. Take one of your fins and cross it behind the other ankle. This keeps your legs from flailing around and slowing your descent.

3. Take a breath and let all the air out of your BCD

   If properly weighted, this should allow you to sink until your eyes are level with the water.

4. Pinch your nose

   With a free hand, pinch your noise in preparation to equalize as often as necessary during descent. You may look like a newbie, but keeping your hand on your nose lets you reach depth quickly.

5. Release your breath

   Breathe out slowly for as long as you can. You should steadily descend as you release your breath. Your descent will slow down when you take in more air, so let it out for as long as you reasonably can. By the time you must take another breath, you should be deep enough where wetsuit compression and other factors allow a continual descent.

Of course, keep an eye on your depth gauge and anything you may plummet into. Be ready to put air into your BCD as you approach your desired depth.

I think everyone has trouble with their mask when wearing a hood. It’s hard to get a good seal around your face and water constantly seeps in.

Next time, try putting your mask on first, then slipping your hood over it. With the mask under the hood, you can get a proper seal without your hood messing it up.

Thanks to the awesome Gabe Scotti, of Kaimana Divers for the tip. If you’re ever in Oahu, Hawai’i, be sure to give Gabe a call.

Interested in diving? Need a good reason to get certified? Here are 10:

1. It’s an activity for everyone

   Grandparents, children, paraplegics, and even quadriplegics can dive (the latter two are a subject for a separate post). There’s no excuse for anyone not to dive.

2. The reefs are dying

   It’s true. At this rate, 60% of the world’s reef systems will be dead by 2030. Do everything you can to help at home, but don’t hesitate to get out there and see what you’ve been missing!

3. It motivates travel

   There is great diving to be had all over the world. Diving takes you to places you’ve never even heard of (who but divers have ever heard of Bonaire?), and in my experience, a passion for diving has given me a huge list of future vacations. No more meandering around Europe.

4. Sea life

   Marine life is seriously diverse. While after a handful of dives you may think you’ve seen all the parrotfish and sergeant majors you can handle, as you gain experience you will also gain appreciation for the huge diversity of life, even within a single reef system.

   Under the sea I feel I can observe animals much closer than I ever could any creatures on land. I’ve been face to face with giant sea turtles, sea lions, and stingrays. All without even trying or waiting hours for the creature to become acclimated to my presence.

5. Unlimited advancement opportunities

   Just want to complete basic open water? Fine, but it doesn’t have to stop there. You can quickly move on to an advanced course, followed by basic rescue diver training. If you feel the bug, continue to the professional level as a divemaster and then certified instructor, each level making you a better diver through knowledge and experience.

   This is just the regular certification path, there are a myriad of additional specialties to complete. Do you have a fascination with history? Maybe wreck diving is for you. Are you into photography above the waves? Give underwater photography a go. Even if you run out of tangents to explore, PADI lets you design your own specialty courses.

6. Gadgets

   Divers love their toys. Suits, regulators, BCDs, cameras, tanks, computers, and more will keep even the most enthusiastic (and richest!) gearhead busy for a long time.

7. It’s social

   Some may have the misconception that diving is a solitary activity. Nothing could be further from the truth. To start, no recreational diver should really be in the water without a dive buddy. This buddy is your friend, your partner in exploration as you experience all that each dive has to offer. This person is also your lifeline should anything go wrong. What could be less solitary than that?

   And this is just in the water. On the boat, at docks, and in shops you’ll meet a variety of people from all over the world. Rather than just running into someone randomly, you have a tie with these people, a common ground that these waters have brought you together from your disparate lives.

   When you return from your trips don’t be surprised if you often find yourself the most interesting person in the room, with tales of rays and whale sharks. You will soon see that far more people you know have dove than you probably expected.

8. You can do it with your loved ones

   Get the spouse and kids involved and take them diving with you. What a great opportunity to create lasting memories on your next vacation!

9. It’s meditation under the sea

   Diving is quiet observation. You, the ocean, and the gurgle of your breath through the regulator. This isn’t like meditation, this is meditation. Just like “real” meditation, the focus and clarity obtained from dives will often leak over into your daily life.

10. It’s like nothing you’ve ever done or ever will do

    Wreck diver Richie Kohler dreamed of being an astronaut as a child. Once he began diving this desire faded. Not because it was too hard or an impossible dream, but rather he found everything that attracted him about outer space could be found in the sea.

    Most of the ocean remains unknown, and even the explored parts are constantly changing. This is your chance to be a part of something unique.

So what are you waiting for? Contact a local dive shop and get in the next class. Your life may never bethe same.