SCUBA is an abbreviation for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, in other words, equipment to allow us to breathe underwater. Scuba diving is mainly done for the attraction of the unattainable undersea world.
It is one area of nature that mankind has not been able to fully control, we simply are not able to breathe underwater. Hence, scuba diving gives us an opportunity to be in that underwater world, even if it is just for a limited amount of time.
Of course, the underwater world is beautiful as well, with many people opting for scuba diving in Asia or scuba diving in the Red Sea or the Great Barrier Reef, said to be some of the world’s best scuba diving locations. The different colors and marine wildlife are so impressive in all these locations that people find themselves returning over and over again.
Technical Points to Remember
Diving underwater is something that has attracted mankind since they figured out that there was a living world under the seas. The air that is in the tanks is compressed air as we know it outside, so parts nitrogen, parts oxygen, and some other gases as well. Many people mistakenly believe that the air is pure oxygen, but that would actually poison the divers!
A more serious effect of nitrogen is known as Caisson’s Disease also known as decompression sickness, which is when nitrogen starts to form bubbles in the diver’s body. This becomes an issue when the diver returns to the surface and normal air pressure and can lead to death.
Table of Contents
Safety Precautions
The main thing to remember with scuba diving is that [you need to be safe]. Do not go diving on your own and don’t be tempted into buying diving gear and simply giving it a go without the proper training.
Equipment required
Air cylinder
Scuba divers use pressurized air because the pressure of the inhaled breath must balance the surrounding or ambient pressure to allow inflation of the lungs.
Regulator
The regulator has two stages; the first stage reduces the pressurized air from a high (300 bar) to intermediate (10 bar) pressure and the second stage further reduces the intermediate pressure to ambient pressure for ease of breathing.
Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) from Aqualung
The BCD is an integral part of any scuba diving set up able to stay at a certain depth without needing to exert force by kicking with your fins. This will help you conserve energy, use less air and therefore prolong your dive time!
Scuba mask with mask tamer on the strap
Important feature of a scuba mask is that it encloses a divers nose, allowing the diver to equalize the pressure in the mask so it doesn’t suction painfully onto their face.
Neoprene wetsuit
Wetsuits trap a layer of water between your skin and the suit which your body heats up to your body temperature, and the neoprene material of the wetsuit slows heat loss due to its insulating properties.
