Training

5 Tips for Your First Open Water Dive

Heading into your first open water dive? Here are five things every new diver should know before descending.

📅 29 July 2026 ⏱ 6 min read

Equalise early and often. Don't wait until your ears hurt - start clearing pressure as soon as you begin descending.

Check your buddy, not just your gear. A quick hand signal every few minutes keeps you both calm and aware.

Slow is smooth. Rushing your descent or ascent is the fastest way to waste air and miss the reef life around you.

Trust your training, not your nerves. First-dive nerves are normal - your instructor has seen it a hundred times.

Log it afterwards. Your first logged dive is one you'll want to look back on in five years.

Need advice?

Talk to the academy team.

If this article raises a course question, we can help you choose the right next step.