Scuba diving is the best way to explore the underwater world on an individual level, but humans aren't meant to breathe underwater and the list of equipment we need in order to do so is fairly complicated. Scuba diving requires a host of items that keep you safe, and understanding what they are and how they are used is the first step toward exploring the deep blue.
Regulators
Regulators provide a way for divers to breathe oxygen from their air tanks. Regulators include a valve that attaches to the air tank, a hose that goes from the air tank to the mouthpiece and a mouthpiece that inserts into the diver's mouth. The mouthpiece allows the diver to breathe in air from the tanks and exhale used air through the mouthpiece. Divers usually carry two regulators, one primary and one secondary as a backup.
BCD
BCD stands for buoyancy compensator device. BCDs are a vest or jacket-style piece of equipment that inflates and deflates with air from the air tank to help adjust the buoyancy of the diver. Scuba equipment is very heavy and as a diver descends the water pressure increases, changing the weight of the diver. For these reasons, an inflatable vest is very useful when controlling the rate of ascent or descent. BCDs also provide a way to hold the air tank and organize regulators, gauges and other equipment.
Gauges
A diver's gauges always include a pressure gauge and a depth gauge. The pressure gauge keeps track of how much air is left in a diver's tank and the depth gauge lets the diver know how deep he is in the water. Other gauges include those for time, temperature and direction. Gauges come in basic forms with simple needles to identify values, and more complicated forms, such as dive computers with digital readouts.
Air Tank
The air tank is the most recognizable piece of scuba equipment. Air tanks are specially designed to hold specified amounts of compressed gas, usually a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, and typically are made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum tanks are lighters but less durable, while steel tanks are heavy but last longer. Common sizes are 80 cubic feet for aluminum and 72 cubic feet for steel. Tanks must meet strict requirements for safety regarding their ability to hold and maintain extremely high pressure gas.
Accessories
Scuba equipment usually includes any number of extra accessories, some of which are necessary. Fins allow divers to propel their bodies through the water much more efficiently. Masks allow divers to see underwater while snorkels provide a way to skim the surface with your face in the water without using your dive air. Wetsuits help keep divers warm and provide a comfortable layer between a diver's skin and the equipment. Drysuits are similar to wetsuits, but keep the diver completely dry. Flashlights, knives, gloves, cameras, underwater writing panels and whistles add to a diver's collection of safety equipment.
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