Going Scuba Diving?

Who wouldn't want to explore the world under the sea? Mankind has always been fascinated with life underwater. Because of this great fascination, extensive researches and amazing inventions have given us the chance to breathe underwater so we can observe or simply have fun in dealing with aquatic animals.

However, breathing underwater isn't just simply bringing a tank full of air with you when you dive. There are many things that you need to consider. Staying underwater is totally different from living on land.

For one, humans don’t have the gills that can extract oxygen from the water. Air pressure is also significantly different from water pressure. The human body isn't adapted to high pressure changes. Controlling your buoyancy and avoiding losing body heat when underwater are also major considerations.

Fortunately, probably everything that a scuba diver needs to safely explore the depths of the ocean is available. There’s the mask, snorkel, fins, regulators and diving suits to name just a few. These equipments allow the diver to breathe, control their position and stay warm underwater.

To breathe underwater, a scuba diver wears a metal tank full of compressed air. A regulator is attached to this tank, which adjusts the air pressure to match that of the surroundings so the diver can breathe comfortably. The regulator delivers air through a mouthpiece which the diver uses to inhale and exhale. Breathing through your mouth comes naturally, so you don’t need to add that to your worries.

Another hose is attached to a regulator to control the diver’s buoyancy. It is attached to an air bladder which is adjustable. Since the diver wears this as a vest, adding air into it would make him more buoyant, and thus, he rises. When he releases the air, the opposite happens.

These buoyancy compensators also help a scuba diver achieve neutral buoyancy. When you are in neutral buoyancy, you can stay at a constant depth without much effort. This minimizes gas consumption due to swimming.

Divers also wear lead weights as a belt to allow them to descend and stay underwater. The weights are evenly spaced to achieve proper balance. During emergency situations, a diver can just quickly release these belts to rise to the surface.

A diver’s suit is really incredible. It is made of compressible substance, thus when you descend, it reduces the volume, and when you ascend, it expands. They are very helpful in conveniently controlling one’s buoyancy.

A suit can also provide thermal insulation. A wetsuit, for example, is usually made of neoprene that has poor thermal conductivity, which minimizes body heat loss to the surrounding water.

Another way which a driver’s suit can reduce loss of body heat is by trapping a layer of water between the suit and human skin. The wetsuit is very well sealed at the neck, wrist and legs thus water flow rate is reduced. This technique in reducing heat loss is known as convection, which is the same principle used in the concept of semi-dry.

A drysuit on the other hand keeps the diver dry, as apposed to a wetsuit. Frigid water couldn't possibly penetrate a drysuit. Preferably, drysuit undergarments are also worn for better insulation. A drysuit keeps thin air layers inside that helps keep a diver warm.

Of course, to be able to familiarize yourself better with these scuba diving gears, it would be best if you get yourself a certification by passing a scuba diving course. In the course, you’ll not only learn about these equipments, you’ll also be taught how to adapt to diving.

During the course, student divers learn how to achieve neutral buoyancy. Through various swimming exercises, they will learn how to control their breathing rate. A diver should know how to breathe in a slow but continuous manner.

At the end of the course, you are expected to know some safety procedures in diving, such as how to clear your mask if in case water leaks in, how to avoid any mishaps while underwater, and of course, learn to help a fellow diver in need. Conventional hand signals are used underwater to communicate since divers don’t have another way to talk to each other.

By being a certified diver, you could refill your air tanks, buy scuba diving gear and scuba dive anywhere in the world. Scuba diving businesses require this certification as proof that you can well manage yourself underwater.
 

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