| Those lucky enough who have had the experience of | | | | difficult to maneuver them. There are many |
| breathing underwater can attest to the beauty, | | | | fin-shapes, which you will learn more about through |
| splendor and mystery down there. Viewing rare | | | | experience. |
| fishes and plant life can make any adventurer giddy | | | | Weights - You've geared up and you're ready to |
| with excitement. | | | | take the first plunge. You jump in (splash!) and... |
| The sport requires certification because there are | | | | you're stuck. Instead of looking at underwater |
| important lessons involved with underwater breathing | | | | marvels, you're stuck on your back and then you |
| and oxygen intake. These lessons will also cover the | | | | remember that you forgot your weight belt. We all |
| basic scuba gear needed for you to venture into the | | | | have varying degrees of buoyancy that help us float |
| deep. But if you want to be ahead of the curve, | | | | in the water, which is a life saver if you're stranded |
| here's a comprehensive guide to the basic equipment. | | | | out on the ocean, but no good to us if we WANT to |
| Masks - What's the point of swimming underwater if | | | | sink - that's why most people need weight belts to |
| you can't see anything? Scuba masks allow you to | | | | counteract their natural buoyancy. A traditional weight |
| view the marvelous world around you providing an | | | | belt consists of a nylon rope and solid weights that |
| airtight seal around your eyes/nose so water can't | | | | can slide on and off the belt. However, you can also |
| get in. Older masks have one lens that covers the | | | | use pouches with weights in them similar to |
| whole mouth/nose area, but high-quality ones now | | | | beanbags. The trick is to become neutral in the |
| have segmented lenses, like glasses. With a clear field | | | | water so you're neither sinking nor floating. |
| of vision, silicone skirt, comfortable nose pocket, a | | | | Wetsuits - Scuba gear is designed to make the |
| high-grade, flexible silicone strap, and a comfortable | | | | swimmer as comfortable as possible, but no other |
| nose pocket - these masks are your best bet for | | | | equipment provides comfort better than a wetsuit. |
| underwater success. | | | | Underwater environments are cold, so unless you're |
| Fins - Don't go into any gear shop and call these | | | | diving in tropical waters at the warmest time of year, |
| "flippers"; you'll get laughed right out of there. Fins | | | | chances are you're going to need a wetsuit to keep |
| increase the power behind your kicks, greatly | | | | warm. Wetsuits work by trapping a layer of water |
| improving your ability to propel yourself through | | | | between your skin and the suit. Without further |
| water. By increasing the area of your feet, fins | | | | circulation, the trapped water becomes warmed by |
| displace more water when you kick and, in turn, that | | | | your body heat, thereby acting as an insulator. There |
| resistance gives you greater speed. Fins are very | | | | are drysuits that prevent water from entering the |
| important because when you're wearing so much | | | | suit altogether, but these are very pricy and not |
| gear - wetsuit, air tanks, etc - it becomes very | | | | necessary for beginner divers. |