Sorry to sound ignorant or stupid but how much different is it diving in fresh water to the normal sea that we're used to. The plus side is you can telan the air la (translation: can swallow the water) if you get thirsty... I am just guessing ere...
Hmm...my first answer should you asked what is the difference between saltwatr and freshwater would be 'water', which is the pure components of the different molecules that make the difference.
If you were to look at the difference in scuba diving aspects related, I believe it will be pretty much relevant to your buoyancy on how you should trimm and how much weight need to be carried accordingly to the amount of weight of your equipment. The difference of saltwater and freshwater density varies a bit, the average is 1.025 that of fresh water from saltwater. For each hundred pounds total for your weight plus the weight of your equipment, you need to add 2.5 pounds to achieve the same buoyancy in saltwater as you had in freshwater. But if you try this in 'Red Sea', i'm affraid it wont' help at all as the level of salt in 'Red Sea' is very high and that will make you float on the surface at all time.
Apart from that, visibility would be another aspects that shows there are differences between diving in saltwater and freshwater. Diving in freshwater the visibility depends on where do you choose to dive whether in a lake, dam or an aquarium. There was one my lady friend diver who dived in Sunway Lake informed me, the visibility recorded in the lake was 1 meter only from the surface up to 18 meters deep. But as she descend more, it was unbelievable when the visibility reached up to 20 meters. There were different layers of visibilities recorded at certain depths especially when it goes deeper. For angle of saltwater diving, i'm rather not to touch on it as i believe everyone here knows what are the factor that can affect the visibility diving in saltwater.
And of course, diving in freshwater especially in a lake just be ready for the well known behaviour of 'Ikan Toman'. Big toman can be very aggreasive and they can attack when they felt threatened by a moving object. Freshwater snake can be harmful too and anaconda will be your number one enemy. And don't forget 'lintah' also got in freshwater. hehe
Another aspect that we have to look into when diving in freshwater will be the ambient down there. Diving in saltwater, we oftenly get to see beautiful corals, colorful fishes and worst would be just a sandy seabed. But if you are to dive in a lake, i believe we might get to sight some rubbish like bottles, plastic bags, coca cola and don't be surprise if there's a car down there. haha.
Oh well, again it all depends on a person. If you are the kind who's daredevil to explore the curiosity within it, then just go for it. But if you are the kind of person who only envy and fancy beautiful sight such as corals and colorful fishes. My advice would be better don't.
I think that's all that i could think of and done few research on it. Hope it will benefit all of us in this diving arena. thanks
