Scuba diving gear, Equipment, and Courses
There are few areas on the earth more wonderful and majestic than the underwater world. Mostly unmapped by humans, the deep ocean still eludes scientists with its assortment of exotic and mysterious species, many which have remained untouched by evolution for thousands of years. For those curious about our unexplored waters or those who are just seeking excitement, scuba diving is the most intimate way to explore the marvels of the deep.
The word scuba is actually an acronym that stands for self contained breathing apparatus that were developed during World War II. Unlike breath-holding methods like snorkeling or free diving, scuba allows the diver to stay underwater for long periods of time with the aid of an air tank. Early divers found that oxygen alone was not sufficient to breathe comfortably underwater, so scientists developed a technique called gas blending to mix the right amount oxygen and nitrogen in pressurized tanks, enabling a diver to breathe the closest equivalent of air while submerged.
Many types of diving exist and it’s important to look into the specifics while choosing the style that best suits you. Commercial diving includes everything from professional underwater photography to HAZMAT cleanup, and these divers get paid for their work. While underwater photography can expose you to some of the most beautiful images caught on film, HAZMAT and sewage cleanup are some of the most dangerous jobs related to diving, and require hepatitis and tetanus shots. Police diving may sometimes require volunteers to explore submerged evidence or bodies from a crime scene.
Advancements in technology have reduced the cost of diving over the last fifty years, turning scuba diving into an extremely popular recreational activity. Many people from all over the world flock to sub-tropical and tropical climates to explore reefs, sunken ships and look at multi-colored fish. There are also many inland alternatives to landlocked divers like diving tanks and man-built exploration centers. It is also relatively easy to become scuba certified anywhere in the US. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the largest diver training organization in the world that serves over 130,000 professional divers around the world.
All types of diving require the same basic equipment. Each diver is equipped with an air tank, fins, goggles and a suit to protect against hypothermia. Some scuba divers require specialized training and additional equipment, depending on what environment they’re working in. Deep sea divers will obviously need a specialized diving suit and additional training to reach depths over 100 meters.
Since water conducts heat from the body 25 times faster than air, it’s possible to get hypothermia in relatively high water temperatures–that’s why it’s important to have a wet or dry suit. Wet suits are made from neoprene that helps trap a layer of water between the suit and the skin. As long as the neck or sleeve holes are tightly sealed and restrict the flow of water in and out of the suit, the body should be able to heat the layer of trapped water and provide insulation for the wearer. Dry suits are designed to keep the wearer completely dry, requiring the diver to wear an under suit.
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