| -> | | | | In the same way that fish glide through the water |
| Scuba diving equipment is designed to overcome the | | | | by moving their fins, scuba divers are able to propel |
| limits of human physiology in the submarine world and | | | | themselves through the water by kicking their fins. |
| although the number of items may seem daunting to | | | | Usually made of neoprene for the foot and rigid |
| the beginner, everything has a clear purpose. Below | | | | plastic for the blade, there are two main types; full |
| we look at the main items of scuba diving equipment | | | | foot and adjustable. With the former the diver simply |
| used in recreational diving. | | | | places the boot of the fin over the bare foot, while |
| Mask | | | | adjustable fins have an adjustable heel strap and are |
| Divers wear a face mask for the simple fact that it | | | | usually worn over wet suit boots. |
| allows them to see underwater. The human eye is | | | | Scuba tanks |
| not designed to see in water, which has a different | | | | The scuba tank - also commonly known as a cylinder |
| optical density to air. By simply having an air space | | | | or a bottle - contains the divers breathing gas at high |
| between eyes and water the mask allows the diver | | | | pressure. Usually the breathing gas is air, although in |
| to see, although the optical density means that all | | | | some circumstances other mixtures are also used. |
| objects appear larger or closer when underwater. | | | | The standard configuration in recreational scuba diving |
| Traditionally masks were constructed from neoprene, | | | | today attaches the tank to the BCD (buoyancy |
| which tended to age relatively quickly. Today's scuba | | | | control device), often known simply as a jacket. The |
| masks generally consist of a lightweight plastic frame, | | | | tank is attached to the rigid backplate with an |
| glass lenses and a silicone rubber skirt that seals | | | | adjustable strap and the BCD is then worn like a |
| against the face. Modern masks also allow a smaller | | | | waistcoat and fastened at the front with a |
| volume of air between the water and the face, | | | | cummerbund. |
| which is an advantage because it means it is easier | | | | As well as providing harnessing the scuba tank, the |
| to equalize the pressure in the mask and simpler to | | | | BCD is designed to allow the diver to adjust |
| clear of water. | | | | buoyancy in the water by either adding or reducing |
| Wet suit | | | | the amount of air held inside. Many modern BCDs also |
| While a wet suit is the most common type of suit | | | | have pockets to hold lead weights, traditionally worn |
| worn in recreational diving, it is not the only type. | | | | on a belt around the waist. |
| Primarily to prevent the diver from losing body heat | | | | Regulators |
| to the water, which conducts heat from the body at | | | | The first stage regulator is attached to the top of |
| a much faster rate than air, a wet suit consists of a | | | | the tank and reduces the pressure from the tank to |
| layer of low density neoprene which acts as an | | | | supply the second stage as well as providing the air |
| insulator and traps a thin layer of water between the | | | | for BCD inflation. The latter supplies the diver with air |
| neoprene and the diver's skin, also helping to minimize | | | | at ambient pressure and is located in the mouthpiece |
| heat loss. The secondary function of a wet suit is to | | | | on most modern equipment. |
| protect the diver from abrasions and other injuries, | | | | Scuba diving computers |
| including stings and venoms. | | | | Until relatively recently divers used tables to plan their |
| When the water is too cold for a wet suit to be | | | | dives, designed to reduce the possibility of |
| used divers can wear a dry suit, which as the name | | | | decompression sickness. A depth gauge a dive watch |
| implies keeps the diver dry by sealing at the neck | | | | were essential items to ensure the dive was within |
| and wrists, while in warmer water divers can wear a | | | | the limits of the table. |
| lycra body suit which provides no thermal protection, | | | | While divers are still taught dive table theory, most |
| but prevents against scrapes and stings as well as | | | | recreational divers quickly move on to buying a dive |
| sunburn. | | | | computer, which effectively calculates a custom table |
| Fins | | | | for each dive. |