Scuba diving, a sport to explore the unknown
When the word “sport” is mentioned, the last sport that comes into one’s mind is scuba diving. But scuba diving is considered a recreational sport instead of competitive. Most new divers make the same mistakes when they first dive and some of them are deadly
if not corrected in time.
However, these are simple mistakes that can be fixed with practice and instruction. Scuba diving is very enjoyable, allowing the diver to delve into the depths of oceans, allowing them to discover the underwater world and explore underwater caves, ship wrecks,
and deep sea life.
Before even getting in the water, the diver’s equipment must be in proper working order. Even a slight problem in the equipment is the difference between life and death underwater. A beginning diver will first need a scuba mask.
The mask allows the wearer to see the underwater world, so a high quality mask that will not leak and provides a comfortable fit is necessary. Water leaking into the goggles is dangerous, especially for a diver deep underwater as it may cause them to panic
and ascend rapidly.
The next piece of equipment required is scuba booties. Booties are like socks that zip up to protect the diver’s feet from rocks, sharp objects, burns, and abrasions. They also prevent blisters from scuba fin straps. In cold water, the booties help to keep
the diver’s feet warm.
Swim fins are another must-have for any diver, as they assist in moving through the water with ease and speed. Diving without fins is a nightmare, considering the weight of all the equipment that the diver carries. Fins allow the diver to propel themselves
forward in a much more efficient way than with bare feet.
The next task for the new diver is to purchase scuba weights. Weights help to counteract the effect of buoyancy, which makes a diver without a belt float towards the surface instead of staying in the water. Weights hook onto the weight belt and the weight
required differs with the diver’s weight and condition of the water.
These four items are required to start scuba diving and must be purchased, as each diver will have a different size of each. Dive shops will not provide these on rent, and it’s better to find one that fits the diver perfectly.
Aside from these, the next item an enthusiast would want to purchase is a wet suit. Instead of having to rent one every time they dive, divers tend to purchase their own wet suit that is both warm and comfortable.
Aside from these, the rest of the equipment required for scuba diving is expensive and too much of a hassle to own. This includes the scuba tank that holds the compressed air for the dive and the scuba regulator which controls the flow of oxygen from the
tank into your mouthpiece.
Without the regulator, air would come gushing out of the tank into the diver’s mouthpiece at more than 2000 psi, but the regulator keeps that from happening the same way a faucet keeps water from gushing out. Inside the regulator are valves and pistons that
change the rate of air flow based on your depth by measuring water pressure.
Apart from these, there are also many gadgets that make scuba diving more enjoyable and safer. They include underwater cameras, dive computers, that detect the nitrogen level in your body based on depth and time, “sub ducks” which are used to attract fellow
divers’ attention, and most importantly the gauges that display oxygen level, depth, pressure, and other useful information.
Scuba diving is fun, easy, and popular. Since over 70% of the world is covered by water, humans have a natural curiosity to explore the unknown. Scuba diving allows them to do so for long periods of time as compared to snorkelling and diving.
Before modern scuba equipment, breath-hold diving, although quite dangerous, was the main technique for generations in collecting precious commodities from the water, such as sponges and pearls. Scuba diving makes this much easier and even the most novice
swimmers can dive and explore the wonders of the underwater world with this tranquil, satisfying sport.
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