Except for training in pools, virtually all of your scuba diving will be in the open water of lakes or the ocean. The world beneath the waves became accessible after World War II when Jacques Yves Cousteau perfected the air regulator. Today's diving equipment is vastly more sophisticated and reliable, but safety still comes first. That means having the right equipment and making sure it is in good working condition each time you dive.
Identification
The term scuba is an acronym that stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Originally marketed under the trade name Aqualung in the late 1940s, a scuba breathing system allows you to carry enough air to breathe underwater for extended periods up to several hours. More generally, the term scuba is now used to refer to any of the equipment required for safe and comfortable open-water diving. Masks and fins fall into this category, as does the specialized apparel and equipment divers use.
Scuba
A scuba system consists of an air regulator plus one or more air tanks. Air hoses and a harness to secure the tank to your back complete this basic assembly. The heart of the scuba system is the air regulator. It takes compressed air from the tank and releases it in a controlled manner so you can breathe. A properly functioning air regulator is far and away the most important piece of your equipment because your life depends on this device.
What You Wear
Most scuba gear can be rented at dive shops, and this is the usual course for beginning divers. You will probably need to purchase your own mask and fins. The type of underwater clothing you choose depends on the temperature of the water. A wetsuit is the usual choice because it holds a layer of water against the skin to provide insulation and minimize body heat loss. Wetsuits are essential in colder water. If you dive in a tropical climate you may be able to wear just a swimsuit without risking hypothermia, at least for short dives. You can add a hood for extra warmth as well as gloves and boots to provide protection against rocks and sharp objects underwater.
Buoyancy
Left to itself, the human body will float in water. To dive you must have a means of controlling your buoyancy. The two standard methods are weight belts and buoyancy compensators. The traditional weight belt works by adding enough weight to make you sink. You must physically swim upward to return to the surface or release the belt in an emergency. Buoyancy compensators draw small amounts of air from your tank. You can inflate or deflate the compensator by adding or releasing air. This allows you to achieve neutral buoyancy if you wish and simply drift and enjoy the view. Buoyancy compensators are recommended in ecologically sensitive areas like coral reefs because they reduce the chances a diver will accidentally contact and damage fragile organisms.
Other Equipment
When you enter a dive shop you'll see an endless variety of accessories and equipment for divers. Some is useful and some is just for fun. There are some items you should consider because they add to your safety margin underwater. A waterproof diving watch/depth gauge enables you to keep track of your time underwater and how deep you've gone. Compact dive computers will keep track of this for you and provide an estimate of the time required to return to the surface slowly enough to avoid decompression sickness. Finally, a good diver's knife may be useful in all kinds of unexpected situations.
Member Comments