Scuba Gear

Scuba gear is used to breathe underwater, as well as stay warm, protected and comfortable. Scuba gear can be purchased second hand, or brand new from all over the world. Scuba gear will be more expensive from place to place, so be sure that you search around for a good deal. Not all scuba gear is necessary; you can get away with only having a few bits and pieces, but it is important to be aware of putting your safety first. Snorkeling is a less risky activity, but in saying this, scuba diving is safe if you use common sense.

The first piece of scuba gear is the tank. This holds a mixture of normal atmospheric air, although sometimes Enriched Air Nitrox is used, which is basically more oxygen and less nitrogen. Scuba gear needs to be maintained regularly, and tanks need to be kept in service. Seek professional advice to get this done, and you will need the tanks filled up after each dive (if you use it all up)

Scuba gear is all linked together, and what follows from the tank is known as a regulator. Regulators allow for air flow along a tube and into your mouth, whilst preventing water from entering. Scuba gear is truly a world changing invention, and the regulator is the main part of this. The next part of scuba gear is a mask. These can either cover the whole face, and be connected to the regulator, or they are normal snorkeling masks. These allow you to see the underwater life, and take in the amazing views that are offered.

Also connected to the tanks are computers, or gauges. These are a highly necessary piece of scuba gear, because they tell you how long you have been underwater, how much longer you can stay, when you need to start going up, how fast your air will be used up at certain depths, and ultimately decide how safe you’re diving will be. Scuba gear can be highly complex, so you can have a fully functioning computer, but in many places simple gauges and tables is enough scuba gear.

Another very important piece of scuba gear is a BCD. A BCD is a buoyant control device, and is used in emergencies to rise to the surface, and to provide neutral buoyancy when you are wearing heavy equipment. When in danger, your BCD can be inflated via air from the tank, and as a result you float to the surface. BCD’s are very important to be working, because they are the scuba gear which may save your life.

The next important part of scuba gear is fins. These are attached to the feet, and are used to propel you along underwater. It’s so much easier to swim long distances with decent fins, so make sure you test some out and find ones which are quality and at a good price. A wetsuit is another piece of scuba gear which will make your diving experience much more comfortable. Wetsuits vary from 1mm to about 15mm, and the colder the water is in your area, the thicker wetsuit you will need. A very expensive piece of scuba gear is a dry suit, which keeps your body completely dry – you can wear clothes underneath!

Other scuba equipment includes hoods, torches, cameras, spear guns, gloves, bags, knives, weight belts and battery powered vehicles which are able to pull you along underwater. These are not all required scuba gear, but may make your diving experience more pleasant.