| For centuries, people have tried to explore the | | | | however are known to stay underwater for several |
| aquatic environment. Before, their main reason was | | | | minutes. |
| to gather food or to salvage some items from rivers, | | | | The main difference of skin diving from scuba diving |
| lakes and oceans. Also, young girls and boys were | | | | is the device used by scuba divers. Scuba stands for |
| trained to free dive to gather shellfish and seaweed, | | | | "self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus", |
| and even sponges from the sea floor. | | | | which is basically just a metal tank filled with air. This |
| In modern times, although people still continue to dive | | | | tank should be connected to a valve regulator for |
| for valuable objects and food, diving's popularity | | | | pressure adjustment so the diver can breathe |
| grew especially in warm vacation destinations. | | | | comfortably even at greater water pressures. |
| Tourists and diving enthusiasts skin dive to explore | | | | Also, since scuba diving involves exploring the water |
| the underwater world. Without any special training | | | | at greater depths, there are other major |
| and equipment, they were able to observe the | | | | considerations. A scuba diver needs a suit to keep |
| beauty of aquatic life. | | | | him warm enough while underwater. |
| Basically, skin diving is defined as a water activity | | | | Scuba divers also make use of buoyancy |
| wherein swimmers depend on their lung capacity, a | | | | compensators to help them control their position |
| diving mask, snorkel, and fins to move about | | | | while underwater. A diver just controls the amount |
| underwater for several minutes. It is an extension of | | | | of air in these buoyancy compensators to adjust |
| snorkeling, where a person views the underwater | | | | their overall buoyancy. |
| environment from the water surface. | | | | Of course, there are several pressure related injuries |
| Skin diving is termed as such because of the little | | | | which a scuba diver is exposed to. Ascending or |
| equipment it requires. Its basic requirements are only | | | | descending too quickly causing significant rapid |
| a waterproof mask, fins for the feet, and a snorkel. | | | | changes in the pressure difference between a diver's |
| A snorkel is just a tube about 38 cm long with a | | | | body and his surroundings may be fatal. That's why, |
| mouthpiece on one end, used for breathing | | | | scuba divers need to go through specialized training |
| underwater. | | | | to be able to stay safe and remain alive even when |
| The diving mask should allow the skin divers to see | | | | more than a hundred feet below water. |
| clearly even when underwater. A mask which | | | | That's basically the difference between scuba diving |
| completely encapsulates the nose and eyes to form | | | | and skin diving. When you scuba dive, you are largely |
| an air space between the water and diver's eyes is | | | | dependent on your diving gears for survival. Skin |
| preferred. | | | | diving on the other hand is a simpler form of |
| Fins, or also called flippers are like the webbed feet | | | | exploring the underwater environment, that's |
| of a duck. These enhance the divers' movements | | | | probably what makes it very popular. As mentioned, |
| below the water, and helped to propel them in a | | | | you only need to rely on your own swimming |
| smooth and efficient motion. All fins have a foot | | | | prowess. You won't need to pay for any expensive |
| pocket to secure your feet in, and large sheets of | | | | special breathing equipment. |
| flexible plastic. | | | | So if you plan to stay at greater depths for a longer |
| Snorkels are also helpful in observing shallow marine | | | | period of time, you can take some scuba diving |
| life. As long one end extends out of the surface, the | | | | lessons. Scuba diving is mostly beneficial for those |
| diver will be able to breathe normally. However, | | | | who wish to study and collect date on marine |
| snorkels shouldn't be more than 15 inches long since | | | | environments. |
| air can't be drawn to greater depths. | | | | Skin diving is mostly used for food gathering |
| If you want to go deeper into the water, you have | | | | underwater. In some parts of the Caribbean, it is |
| to hold your breath. Since you can't possiblily live | | | | illegal to catch lobsters using any scuba equipment, |
| without breathing for hours, you could only stay | | | | thus, those who are good in skin make hundreds of |
| beneath the ocean for brief periods, usually about | | | | dives each day to collect lobsters. |
| two minutes. Experienced skin divers, however, | | | | |