Scuba Diving Equipments: Scuba diving is an underwater activity and to survive in that environment many types of equipment are required. These equipments are:
(a) Breathing Apparatus: Scuba is an apparatus to breath underwater. It is completely independent of surface supply. In underwater, compressed air is used as breathing gas, divers carry source of breathing gas while diving. Compressed air gives more freedom and longer time to remain underwater than the breath-hold divers.
(b) Open circuit: There is an open circuit which discharges the exhaled breathing gas into the environment, and diving cylinders containing breathing gas at high pressure which is supplied in a proper amount to the divers through a regulator. In open circuit, once gas is used for breathing, it can’t be used again for breathing.
(c) Re-breather: Re-breather is a closed or semi closed circuit system which allows recycling of the exhaled gas. It releases few to no gas bubble in the water. Rebreather is more complex than open circuit scuba. Proper maintenance and use is required for their long durability.
(d) Diver Mobility: Swim fins are used for underwater mobility. As option, one can use dive propulsion vehicles. For diving, fins are attached to the feet of diver.
(e) Mask: Recreational scuba diving is done using a half mask which covers eyes and nose of the diver. The other kind of mask is a full face mask which covers eyes, nose and mouth of the diver. It enables the diver to take breath from nose. Generally, professional divers use full face mask. Mask is designed in such a way that it also helps diver in his underwater vision.
(f) Buoyancy Control: While diving, it is a must that the diver gets able to control his / her rate of descent and ascent in the water. Overall buoyancy of the diver determines that he / she will ascend or descend. Buoyancy compensator or diving suit is a jacket which decreases in volume when a diver descends and expands again when the diver ascends. It is basically to help one to float on the surface of water to maintain one’s desired depth underwater.
(g) Swimwear: Dry, wet or semi dry suits are used for diving according to the temperature of the water. These suits are used for protection of heat loss in cold water. Wetsuits are generally made of foamed neoprene and is complemented with neoprene boots and gloves. Good fitting of wetsuit makes it waterproof.
Safety: Scuba divers are trained up to a level, which enables them to be a certified diver. They are trained for operational procedures of equipments, dealing with general hazards of underwater environment, emergency procedures, self-help and assistance of divers of need. If it is easy for one to breathe through one’s mouth, learning diving will be easy for him / her. Floating, kicking and breathing are basically three activities to focus upon while learning diving. Minimum level of fitness and health are made sure before diving. It is advised to follow ‘safe diving guidelines’. Remembering the proper diving hand signals is a must for the safety while diving.
Training: Qualified and certified instructors who provide the scuba training are member of one or more diver certification or are registered under a government agency.
Basic training involves preparation for diving like wearing diving suit, assembly and pre diving test of all equipment, breathing through demand valve, clearing water from the mask, making safe movements, finning techniques, buoyancy control, assisting another diver for emergency, returning safely to the surface if breathing supply got interrupted and diving hand signals to communicate underwater.
The ticket price for scuba diving changes according to the duration of the diving. It varies from beach to beach. The prices are quoted for per person and time-duration basis. Normally a session is considered to be of 20 minutes. In case, weather is inappropriate, the diving can be cancelled and money is refunded. October to May is the perfect season suitable for scuba diving.