Since the Greek sailor Scyllis used a primitive snorkel made out of a reed to cut mooring lines on enemy warships to help defeat the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars in the fifth century B.C., people have been coming up with better ways to stay underwater at greater depths for longer periods of time. It wasn't until the 20th century, however, that scuba equipment, perfected by Jacques Cousteau and others, allowed human beings to begin to conquer the sea. Today, worldwide, nearly a million people take up the sport of scuba diving each year.
Step 1
Get certified. You must have a scuba certification card, or C-card, from a recognized scuba association like the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, PADI, or the National Association of Underwater Instructors, NAUI, before you can rent gear from a dive shop or arrange an excursion with a dive operator. Training includes academic study, pool training and open-water checkout dives. Advanced courses like search and rescue and underwater photography are also available.
Step 2
Get equipped. Because some equipment requires a personalized fit, most dive instructors will require you to purchase a mask, fins, snorkel, dive booties and a weight belt before you even get started. Other equipment, like wetsuits, regulators, gauges, buoyancy compensator devices and tanks may be rented from most dive shops. Without any of the above equipment—except perhaps a wetsuit in tropical waters—you won't be able to scuba dive.
Step 3
Go diving. Almost any place there is water offers a potential scuba opportunity, but not all dive locations are created equal. Tropical climates typically offer warmer water and better visibility and, therefore, are the preferred destinations for scuba enthusiasts. Places like Bonaire, Belize and Cozumel in the Caribbean are popular destinations along with Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Pacific island of Palau and the Florida Keys.
Tips and Warnings
- Rent your equipment from a reputable shop or resort to be sure that it is well-maintained and in proper working condition.
- If done properly, scuba diving can be a relatively safe sport, but it does come with inherent dangers and should never be attempted by someone without a firm grasp of the basics.
Things You'll Need
- Scuba certification
- Mask
- Fins
- Snorkel
- Dive booties
- Wetsuit
- Regulator
- Gauges
- Buoyancy compensator device
- Weight belt
- Tank
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