Knowing your Scuba Diving Equipment

People have been developing diving equipments for centuries. Jacques Yves Cousteau, a French naval officer, developed the Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA). Cousteau's invention paved the way for the modern scuba equipment.

It is important for you to familiarize yourself with the different scuba diving equipments to ensure a safe, comfortable and enjoyable dive.

Scuba Equipments and its Uses:

• Mask – The mask is your window to the underwater world. It allows you to see clearly by creating an air space in front of your eyes. Do not mistake a goggle for a mask. Goggles only covers the eyes and do not enclose the nose, therefore, impossible to equalize. Removing water from the goggles is also impossible to do underwater.

• Snorkel – The snorkel is a standard piece of diving equipment that allows you to breathe at the without having to lift your head from the water. Scuba divers use snorkels while swimming or resting at the surface to conserve the air in their tanks.

• Fins – Fins provide far less effort and greater efficiency when swimming. By providing a large surface area that your powerful leg muscles can use for swimming, you have more effective propulsion than your arms can provide, and your hands are freed for other activities.

• Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) – The BCD is an expandable bladder than can be inflated or deflated to regulate buoyancy. The modern BCD can be orally or mechanically inflated with air from your tank to increase buoyancy. The BCD is deflated through special air-dump valves or hoses.

• Scuba Tanks – A scuba tank is a cylindrical metal container used to safely store high-pressure air for breathing.

• Tank Valves – The tank valve turns the airflow from the tank on and off.

• Backpacks – A backpack is designed to securely and comfortably hold a tank on a diver's back. Most backpacks today are integrated into jacket and back-mounted style BCDs.

• Regulators – A regulator is designed to reduce the high pressure air of the scuba tank to a level that is breathable. It delivers air to the diver only when the diver inhales.

• Submersible Pressure Gauge – The submersible pressure gauge (SPG) allows you to continuously monitor the amount of air in your tank during a dive. Most SPG’s can be integrated with other devices such as the depth gauge.

• Exposure Suits – Exposure suits are valuable in virtually all diving activities, and serve to reduce heat loss and to protect you from minor scrapes, stings and abrasions.

• Weight Systems – To offset your natural and exposure suits buoyancy, you must use a weight system. The primary component of a weight system is lead, which is so heavy and dense that small quantity easily offsets positive buoyancy. The most commonly used weight system is the weight belt that has pockets for lead weights.

• Diving Knife – Diving knives are practical tools, providing you with means to measure, pry, dig, cut and pound underwater and should not be used to harm aquatic life.

• Equipment Bag – An equipment bag is an essential means of transporting and temporarily storing all your diving equipment.

• Depth Gauge – This particular equipment tells you how deep you are. A depth gauge is a necessary equipment to make sure specific depth limits are not exceeded.

• Compass – This equipment helps you know where you are and where you're going. Compasses are sometimes worn on the wrist like a watch or integrated with the SPG and Depth Gauge.

• Dive Computers – Dive computers are another development in diving instrumentation. Many of the computers on the market provide depth and time information and go one step further by calculating your depth/time limits and telling you when to ascend.

Remember that by being familiar with all these equipments is not enough to give you a safe dive. It is also important that you know how to care and maintain your diving equipment.

There are three general maintenance procedures used in caring for all diving equipment:
• Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each use.
• Keep out of direct sunlight.
• Store in a cool dry place.