In his 1953 book "The Undersea Adventure," author and underwater explorer Philippe Diole said, "A vivid sense of delight takes hold of one, when for the first time one penetrates the surface." That vivid sense of delight has lured millions of people to scuba diving in the years since Diole penned those words. As of 2010, more than half a million Americans each year become certified scuba divers. In order to "penetrate the surface," beginning divers will need familiarize themselves with the sport's equipment.
Personal Gear
Before you begin taking classes, most dive shops will require that you buy some personal equipment including a mask, fins, weight belt, booties and snorkel. All of your personal items should be bought with comfort in mind. The last thing you want to worry about when you're diving is ill-fitting or uncomfortable gear.
Since scuba diving is all about the undersea sights, your mask should provide a large field of vision and fit well.
Fins should easily propel you underwater without tiring you out.
Neoprene booties help protect your feet both above and below the surface. Get ones with good traction and a snug fit.
A weight belt should be appropriate to your size and buoyancy. Have your dive shop professionally fit you with the right one.
Buy a snorkel that fits your mouth well and allows you to breathe easily at the surface.
Wetsuit
Wetsuits, which can be rented from your dive shop, usually vary in thicknesses from 2 mm to 9 mm. For cooler water, most people choose a full-body suit--although those who chill easily may prefer the added warmth of the two-piece Farmer John or even a drysuit. Shorties are the common choice for warmer climes.
Buoyancy Compensator Device
A buoyancy compensator device, or BCD, is a jacket or vest that inflates using air from your tank so you are able to control your ascent and descent below the surface. In addition to providing a harness for your scuba tank, it also comes with straps and clips to control your spare regulator, gauges and hoses.
Tank
Most scuba tanks are made of aluminum but durable steel tanks also are available. A tank holds the compressed air that allows you to breathe underwater. A tank is the one piece of equipment that scuba divers almost always prefer to rent rather than buy.
Regulator
The scuba regulator reduces the pressure of the air from your tank to the ambient water pressure around you, allowing you to breathe underwater. It has two "stages." The first stage connects to your tank, while the second controls the amount of air you breathe into your mouth. The regulator also comes with a safety backup called an "octopus," a hose that inflates your BCD and all of your gauges.
Gauges
Today, most dive gauges or computers are integrated in a single unit. Gauges provide you with important information including depth, air consumption and time so you can maximize the "vivid sense of delight" while minimizing the risks inherent to the sport.
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