|
SCUBA is an acronym for
“self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”. Scuba diving is a sport that is done
underwater. It is done by using a breathing apparatus called a regulator
that is connected to a air tank. This breathing system allows the user of
it to stay underwater for longer amounts of time than the human lungs will
allow. Certain precautions need to be taken to ensure safety, but
otherwise scuba diving is more safe than most other sports including
soccer, baseball, and tennis. Scuba diving is not a competition sport in
that it is not played for competition. Scuba diving is a sport of
exploration and excitement. By using the ability to stay underwater for
prolonged periods of time, you can explore the wonders of the most
uncharted part of earth. Some of the most magnificent and exotic sights
are found under the sea. The exhilaration of being in a world that is not
naturally the human's habitat is indescribable. The adventure to the
depths of the sea is not one to be miss. Scuba diving essentially is swimming
underwater while carrying your own supply of breathing
air.
The sport of scuba diving is
one that can be participated in by almost everyone. The minimum age
for training now is ten years old, and there is no maximum
age. That’s why there are so many retired people
pursuing the sport. It can be done safely and with little effort due
to the abundance of resorts available with personnel who are willing to
help you with every aspect of your dive. You don’t even have to
carry your own equipment.
You must obtain training
before you can safely engage in the sport of scuba diving.
This training is relatively inexpensive – especially when
compared to the cost of other sports. Classes range from $200-300
excluding the cost of any trips to complete training. A normal class
consists of several weeks of classes which are held in the classroom and
in the swimming pool. In the classroom you learn all the safety
aspects which pertain to the sport. In the pool you learn how to
safely and competently use the equipment you must wear while diving.
Private classes are available for those on a tighter time schedule
or for those whose work schedule does not easily allow them to
attend regular
classes. There are two major scuba diving organization in the
world. They are PADI and
NAUI
After the initial lessons,
you must complete 4-6 dives in what is called an “openwater”
environment. This basically means that you must swim somewhere
outside in an environment which is not so tightly controlled as a swimming
pool. For many people in the interior of the
United States this training occurs in fresh water lakes or abandoned
rock quarries. For those who are fortunate
enough to live on the coast (or who choose to complete their training by
taking a trip), these final “openwater” dives can be conducted in the
ocean.
After you are trained, you
receive a card (similar to a driver’s license) which states that you have
been trained in the sport of scuba diving. This card can be shown at any
dive store or resort in the world, and you will be allowed to
purchase equipment, rent equipment, or fill air tanks without
problems. Without this card, reputable stores and resorts will not
sell or rent anyone life support equipment or provide the person with
air. This is a method the industry uses to assure that
only trained individuals participate in the sport.
Diving can be dangerous when someone who is not trained
engages in the activity. There are safety rules taught
in class about which the general public is unaware. Breaking
these rules can cause serious injury and/or
death.
There are many organizations
through which you can obtain training. These companies set the
standards for the minimum level of education which must be provided during
scuba diving classes. In this way the industry polices itself to
assure that new divers are properly trained. All instructors work
through a certifying
organization.
After you have received
initial training, you can scuba dive in any country in the world.
Any place that has access to either fresh or salt water is considered fair
game. Most divers choose to travel to tropical destinations where
the water is consistently warm and the climate inductive to outside
activities. In these zones you can dive in magnificent colonies of
coral which are beautiful beyond description. Diving can be relaxing
and almost effortless in many of these areas. The islands in the
Caribbean and in the Pacific Ocean are popular
sites. However, there are some excellent
cold water areas of the world that are well known and frequented by
divers. Many divers opt to visit these places because the visibility in
these areas is often fantastic, and they contain unusual attractions to
view. For instance, the sea on the coast of California is always cool to
cold. Yet, if you dive here, you have the opportunity to dive in giant
forests of kelp with specialized life forms that live only there (i.e.
seals). In the Great Lakes of North America the fresh water has preserved
numerous shipwrecks much better than the ocean can. Many divers love to
view these sunken ships. Another area of the world which attracts untold
divers is the Pacific Ocean near the island of Truk. Here many Japanese
ships were sunk during the war. Because these wrecks are often very deep,
the water is cold despite the fact that the surface temperature is
tropical. These wrecks are very different from those in the fresh water of
the Great Lakes. Here the outlines of the wrecks are often difficult to
discern in the confusion of sea life which has grown on the
ship.
No matter what your reasons
for exploring the sport of scuba diving, there is something for you.
You can choose to enroll in one or in numerous classes to increase your
diving skills. You have a choice of environments to visit, and you
will always have a group of fellow divers with whom you can
socialize. This aspect of diving is often one of the most pleasant
aspects of the sport. The camaraderie encountered in dive trips is
unparalleled, and you can meet people from all areas of the
world.
Revised:
04 May, 2009 | 