Scuba Diving
Exploring the Underwater Paradise
No Frames

Scuba Diving opens up an underwater paradise. Nothing compares to going down on  reef!

Scuba diving requires specialized training by professionals. However, in a single morning, a reasonably fit person can take a resort course and get a taste of scuba diving.

Equipment. Scuba divers use the basic snorkeling equipment, such as mask and snorkel, fins, boots and tropical dive clothing. In addition, the scuba diver has the scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) apparatus, including the BCD, regulator and tank, that is put on as the one piece scuba unit.

The BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) is basically a flotation jacket, usually with a built in backpack to hold the compressed air tank (with its air value and knob at the top) and a large diameter hose that goes from the jacket's top down toward the left hand where its inflation-deflation controls can be reached.

To descend, the hose is held up by the left hand and the deflation control pressed, letting air escape from the jacket's top. To inflate the jacket the inflation control is pressed and air via an attached low pressure hose from the regulator supplies air to control the diver's buoyancy.

The Regulator basically consists of a "first stage" cylinder/clamp/knob mechanism that attaches to the tank via an o-ring and a "second stage" breathing mouthpiece/diaphragm that attaches to the first stage by a hose. Also encompassed by the term regulator is a pinwheel shaped collection of hoses (usually four) that come off the "first stage" cylinder.

Two of these, on the right side, are the aforementioned breathing regulator and a second, redundant regulator called an octopus. The other two, on the left side, are the low pressure hose leading to the BCD's inflation/deflation controls and a hose leading to the pressure, depth and other gauges.