Scuba Diving
Insider Info
It's a whole new world. A beautiful liquid realm full of life, colorful
fish, swaying plants, fluorescent coral -- scuba diving lets you see it all
up close and personal.
Diving can be an exciting and fun sport for people of all ages. You can
dive in the ocean, a lake, or even in a swimming pool just for practice. There
are even places where there are sunken ships to be discovered.
And when you go beyond the fun and the sport, there are the divers that
revealed the Titanic for all to see, those who found gold doubloons and pirate
treasure and those who discovered new forms of marine life. Scuba diving really
is an adventure.
"Scuba" isn't really a word. It is an acronym for self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus. Take the first letter of each word and you have scuba.
The scuba gear we use now was invented in the 1940s by famous marine explorer
Jacques Cousteau and his partner, Emile Gagnan. They designed tanks that would
give you air when you took a breath. Before this, divers wore bulky suits
that gave them a constant stream of air.
Scuba diving used to be called a rich man's sport, but modern technology
has made it cheaper, easier and safer for even children to become divers.
The truth is, diving can be a dangerous sport. But most accidents happen
because people ignore their training or safety rules.
As obvious as it may sound, drowning is the most likely cause of trouble.
You're underwater, you need air -- this is why you pay careful attention to
your tank's gauges and your surroundings.
The chance of being attacked by a shark is low, but scuba divers should
always dive with a buddy.
Wetsuits are used for most kinds of diving. They come in different styles
for different kinds of diving. The suits are protection from the cold temperatures
and from scrapes and scratches underwater.
Some other diving equipment:
Depth gauge-- A device that indicates how far a diver is below
the surface of the water.
Descent or ascent line-- A line suspended from a boat or buoy,
which is used by divers to control their rate of descent or ascent.
Dive flag-- A dive flag may be either a red rectangle with a diagonal
white stripe or a blue and white double-tailed pennant. These flags are used
to warn watercraft and skiers to stay away because there are divers in the
water.
Dive lights-- Specially designed underwater lights used for night
dives or dives in dark places such as wrecks or caves.
Regulators-- Regulators allow divers to breath comfortably underwater
at ambient pressure. The air source is a tank of highly compressed air.
Diving can lead to several careers. You can be an instructor or guide for
new divers or run a dive shop. If you're into the science of the sea, you
can use your diving skills as an oceanographer or a marine biologist
Getting Started
Do you know how to swim? It may sound like a silly question, but being
a good swimmer will keep you safe. You don't have to be a champ, but being
comfortable in the water is a must.
You must be at least 12 years old to be certified in scuba. Classes take
about six weeks.
It's best to begin with snorkeling (a small tube that fits in your mouth
that sticks out of the water so you can breathe). With a diving mask and swim
fins, you're ready to swim in warm water. With snorkeling, you float barely
under the surface of the water.
When you're a beginner, you can learn basic techniques such as clearing
water from your mask, clearing your ears and swimming with fins on.
If you love snorkeling, look for a diving class in your area. The local
YMCA may have classes or you can check with the diving associations for recommendations.
Never take a class from an uncertified school. Your health and safety could
be at risk.
Your first scuba lessons will be done in a pool. Don't be in a rush to
jump in a lake. Take the time to learn properly so you can be a relaxed and
confident diver.
More accidents happen because people ignore the rules or act cocky. You
don't have to keep up with anyone. Only do what's comfortable for you.
Scuba divers must also learn to take care of their own equipment. You will
learn how to read gauges, check for items in need of repair and properly store
your tanks.
When you begin diving, you will want to rent equipment. If you dive a lot,
you can begin investing in your own. A low-end price is $1,000. It can run
up to $5,000.
Many clubs are designed to include disabled divers, and there are clubs
set up just for that purpose. Visually handicapped, mentally handicapped and
physically handicapped people have all been able to dive safely.
There are special training classes for instructors who want to teach handicapped
divers. Since your body weight is different underwater, it is a great sport
for people who are wheelchair-bound or have limited use of their arms and
legs.
Associations
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Internet
:
http://www.padi.com/
International Diving Educators Association
P.O. Box 8427
Jacksonville
,
FL
32239-8427
USA
Internet
:
http://www.idea-scubadiving.com/
Links
How Scuba Diving Works
Learn all about the ins and outs of scuba diving from the folks
at HowStuffWorks
A Brief History of Diving
Questions and answers on scuba diving
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