Scuba diving remains a prominent recreational sport in tropical areas such as Jamaica and the Hawaiian islands. Scuba stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus. The scuba tank allows you to breath underwater while exploring coral reefs and ancient shipwrecks. The scuba diving gear often varies due to the climate and location of the dive.
History
Early deep sea divers of the 1700s utilized heavy metallic suits that featured an air hose. Boat attendants would secure the air hose above the water as the scuba divers were submerged. According to Scuba Snorkeling Adventures, the legendary marine biology Jacques Cousteau developed the first self contained breathing apparatus in the early 1940s. The Cousteau breathing device featured an air tank and a mouthpiece. This groundbreaking development in diving equipment allowed average people access to the growing sport of scuba diving.
Identification
The wetsuit refers to the piece of scuba equipment that resembles a spandex body suit. The wet suit helps you to maintain an average body temperature while diving into deeper and colder water. According to AMC Outdoors, the wetsuit keeps you warm by trapping a small amount of water between your skin and the suit. The insulation of the wetsuit allows your body heat to warm the water. A dry suit remains a similar-looking piece of equipment yet has distinct differences. The dry suit does not allow your skin to make contact with the water. The dry suit remains a necessary piece of equipment for cold water dives.
Function
The scuba mask remains a vital piece of equipment as it enables you to see clearly while submerged in the water. According to "Scuba Diving" magazine, comfort and a proper fit remain the two most important components of a scuba diving mask. Certain models of scuba masks have a single piece of flat circular glass that fits over your eyes and nose. These one piece masks often hinder your vision. More advanced models of the scuba mask feature two separate angled lenses that decrease your blind spots.
Features
Swimming fins enable you to add your speed to your underwater maneuvers. Swim fins feature an adjustable strap that fits around the back of your heel. "Scuba Diving" magazine states that top-quality models of the swimming fins feature silicon bands that allow you to adjust the rigidity of the fin. Cheaper versions of the scuba fins have a lightweight plastic design. Soft diving booties help to protect against the skin irritation caused by plastic fins.
Size
The size of the scuba diving tank determines the amount of air it can hold. Tanks with a larger capacity will allow you to stay submerged for longer dives. A standard-sized aluminum scuba tank, known as the AL80, can hold around 80 cubic feet of air. Scuba tank capacity ranges from approximately 65 to 100 cubic feet of air. Young teens as well as petite-sized divers often prefer the lightweight smaller capacity tanks.
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