Many advanced scuba divers breathe specialized gas mixtures such as nitrox. Nitrox contains a lower percentage of nitrogen and a higher percentage of oxygen than normal air. The low percentage of nitrogen in this breathing gas gives Nitrox diving...
Air is made up of a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and minute percentages of other gases. As divers dive to deeper depths, the pressure of gas mixture they breathe must match the pressure of the water around them. The term Nitrox refers to the...
Scuba divers carry tanks filled with compressed air or other breathing gas mixtures. Whenever a diver inhales, her regulator passes air from the tank into her mouthpiece. Depending on the size of a tank and the size of the diver, a full tank of...
Compressed air tanks attached to regulators allow scuba divers to breathe underwater for an hour or longer. Divers wear their tanks on their backs, strapped into their buoyancy compensator devices. Scuba tanks have evolved and improved since their...
Suunto dive computers use proprietary algorithms to calculate safe diving times at varying depths. Types of dive computers include wrist-mounted, hand-held consoles or wireless, air-integrated models. The updated Cobra3, Vyper and HelO2 computers...
Scuba divers carry a supply of compressed air in tanks on their backs. Refillable, pressurized tanks have come a long way since their 19th century beginnings, allowing divers to make longer and deeper dives. Scuba certification courses train...
Scuba divers face a variety of health risks, most of them related to breathing compressed air and exposing the body to increased atmospheric pressure. All open-water scuba diving certification classes cover these risks in depth and train...
Scuba divers carry their supply of breathing air in an aluminum or steel tank. Divers strap their tanks into the back of their buoyancy compensator vest, or BC, and carry them like backpacks. Scuba tanks carry enough compressed air to allow divers...
Technical diving is considered to be diving at its extreme. Technical divers go beyond the normal depths of conventional divers. These specialized divers plunge into depths over 130 feet. They use special equipment to regulate their breathing and...
Advanced technical, cave and wreck diving often requires advanced gear beyond the basic open water diving gear. The increased length, depth and danger of advanced diving calls for additional tanks of air, additional back-up regulators and other...
Scuba tanks have evolved significantly since their appearance in the 19th century. Early scuba tanks, such as the one invented in 1865 by Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouse, carried compressed air with pressures of about 250 psi, meaning...
Scuba tanks carry compressed air or breathing gases at pressures as high as 3,500 psi, or pounds per square inch. These tanks can pose safety threats if they have sustained any damage that compromises their ability to hold air at high pressures....
Scuba equipment enables you to explore the underwater world and discover the incredible diversity of our planet's ocean life. Before beginning an open water diver certification course, you'll want to familiarize yourself with basic pieces of scuba...
Scuba diving offers an appealing way to visit underwater destinations. Since you can’t breathe naturally while underwater, you’ll need an external air supply. Unless you’re using a hookah system, with surface-supplied air using...
Scuba tanks hold a finite amount of air, so the amount of time you can stay underwater is directly related to how efficiently you use that air. More time under the surface means more time to photograph reefs and fish, explore shipwrecks or swim...
Scuba divers use special equipment to explore and enjoy the underwater world. The word scuba is an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. In order to begin scuba diving, you have to complete a certification course....
Scuba diving is a fun and challenging underwater experience. Many people learn to scuba dive for recreational purposes, while others wish to pursue a career in the diving field. In order to dive safely, you must take a class and become certified....
Most scuba tanks contain compressed air containing 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Enriched nitrox is sometimes used for deeper or longer dives. It contains up to 32 percent oxygen which reduces the likelihood of decompression sickness...
Maryland has a decent coastal region, with just over 20 easily accessible dive sites. As with many other coastal diving regions, this has resulted in many opportunities for scuba diving certifications from different diver centers. Most of the dive...
If you scuba dive and plan on visiting the Florida Keys, you'll find you have a myriad of dive resorts to choose from for lodging. From Key Largo to Key West, dive lodges cater to divers of all skill levels. Some dive lodges have scuba on-site...
The scuba tank allows you to carry a supply of compressed air to breathe under water. The tank supplies air directly to your mouthpiece through the regulator. Most divers do not own their own tanks, but rent them from a dive outfitter before each...
Scuba equipment is the life support system for divers. The breathing apparatus and gauges must be serviced on a regular basis. Tanks must be inspected and certified annually. Qualified repair technicians fully understand the operation of diving...
PADI, or the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, offers certification courses for prospective scuba divers all over the country. These courses provide you with the training required to dive safely and avoid accidents. Dive shops...
Organized training courses in scuba diving have existed since 1959, when the YMCA offered the first national scuba certification course. Once you earn your basic open water certification, you can progress to technical diving training. Technical...
Scuba diving requires practical skills training and specialized knowledge of gear, safety risks and basic dive science. When you successfully pass a scuba certification course, you will earn a certification card as proof of your training. Most...
If you love diving or you need to brush up on your diving skills, a visit to Twin Lakes may meet your needs. Twin Lakes is located in Manvel, Texas, which is about 20 minutes south of Houston, near Pearland. The lake is spring-fed, and the park...
Scuba diving requires a lot of specialized equipment and gear. If you'll only be diving once or twice a year on vacation, you can rent most of your gear, and only need to bring a few basics. If you plan to dive frequently, you should consider...
Many scuba diving shops are available in New York to accommodate different budgets and requirements. More than 10 shops dot the center of Manhattan alone, each offering alternative brands, service options and business hours. Most shops are...
