How Scuba Works?

In 1943, the famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, along with Emile Gagnan, invented the aqualung, more commonly referred to as scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). Scuba made divers more mobile and revolutionized exploration of the oceans. Since then, many advances in scuba technology have made the equipment easier to use, safer and more affordable, allowing many people to enjoy this fascinating adventure. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) says that each year, almost 1-million people get certified for recreational scuba diving. You can undertake weekend outings to explore offshore shipwrecks and coral reefs or go on longer dive vacations to exotic locations, perhaps meeting such creatures as sharks, dolphins and whales.

In this article, we will look at the underwater world, examine the scuba equipment and explore how your body reacts to the underwater environment. You'll also find out what you need to do to take part in this sport.

The underwater environment is hostile to humans and offers unique challenges to the scuba diver with respect to breathing, temperature control, visibility and buoyancy. The basic equipment that you need for scuba diving allows you to cope with the underwater environment. In total, you carry 60 to 75 pounds (27 to 34 kg) of equipment with you into and out of the water.

Let's take a closer lo­ok at the equipment. First we'll find out what it takes to control temperature and buoyancy... 

(more can be found at:

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/scuba.htm)

How to Become a Certified Scuba Diver

TV shows like “Sea Hunt” and “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” gave American audiences their first taste of the beauty and excitement that lay beneath the seas. Then, as now, learning to scuba dive gave entry into that new world of adventure and discovery.

The word scuba is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus and refers to the equipment which allows properly trained scuba divers to safely explore the underwater environment. At the heart of a scuba diver’s training is learning how this equipment works and the procedures and techniques for its safe use in a course of study that leads to certification.

Scuba training is done by instructors who are themselves trained and certified to conduct courses for beginning divers by one of more than a dozen organizations known as training agencies*. With a couple of nonprofit exceptions, scuba training agencies are for-profit companies that design and publish training manuals and materials, promulgate training standards, certify and monitor the performance of instructors and issue diver certifications, the coveted C-Cards which serve to vouch for a diver’s qualifications.

Instructors operate under the rules and regulations of the agency to which they belong and teach scuba classes either independently or, more commonly, employed by and under the umbrella and supervision of a dive store and training facility.

Diver training consists of three components: 1. Academic or classroom study, 2. Confined Water or pool training and 3. Open Water training. Entry requirements, training procedures and qualification tests vary around the world. The purpose of this article is to make the reader aware of the requirements and training necessary to qualify as an entry level scuba diver in the United States and throughout most of North America and the Caribbean.

/*retrieved from: http://wikihow.com

How to Repair Wetsuits

If your scuba diving wet suit still has some life left in it, it is possible to repair some tears and gouges.

If a seam comes apart or you put a fingernail through the material (be careful!), you can usually fix these with no problem. You need to buy a neoprene glue or cement. You can usually find this at any good dive or surf shop or online. Commercial wet suit repair kits are also available in abundance online.

I have heard of people using the glue that is used to fix inner tubes for their wet suit repair. I have never tried this, so I can't comment on its effectiveness (or lack thereof).

The typical scenario to repair a wetsuit tear: First you fold the tear open so the two surfaces that need to adhere are exposed. You then put the wetsuit cement on the exposed surfaces and let it dry (only a couple of minutes). Then put the two surfaces together and press. You should be good to go.

Neoprene glue is flexible and will stretch with the suit. Aquaseal isn't quite as flexible and should be used where there isn't alot of strain on the repair.

Some tears can be sewn but you have to be careful about piercing the neoprene. You might also use a neoprene patch to cover the repair to make it more watertight. If you say pretty please, the dive shop might have a spare piece laying around that you can use if you don't have any available.

If you have a gouge and need to replace the neoprene, there are liquid fillers available. They are usually referred to as liquid silicon or liquid rubber. You fill up the gouge until level and let it dry. You can usually find liquid silicon for your wet suit repair in a dive or surf shop or a hardware store.

So there you have it, scuba diving wet suit repair. May all your scuba diving wetsuits last you for years to come.

*/reblogged from: http://scuba-diving-smiles.com

Free Diving Tips

Free diving is a kind of aquatic activity which depends on the breathe-hold principle. Actually it seems weird when compared to scuba diving. As all scuba-divers would know, first rule is not to hold your breath !

So, what is it all about? Here some tips for the beginners.

      1. Time your breath-holding capacity underwater, and record it for future reference.

     2. Take your pulse rate by putting both your index and middle finger together and either hold on your wrist or side of neck. You only need to apply slight pressure and wait a few seconds to feel slight "pumps" count for two minutes. Divide this by 2 (makes for a more accurate pulse rate) and you should now have your pulse rate. Record this and keep track of it.

     3. Figure out how far down you can go on one breath, but do it with a partner in case of blackout. Record this depth.

     4. Practice taking slow, deep breaths -- 10-15 seconds or more on the inhale and the same on the exhale. After you've mastered this, remain still and do it while having somebody else record your pulse.

     5. Practice this until you can hold a pulse of under 80 beats a minute before starting the next step.

     6. Try going down after deep breathing at the same location you did your last dive. If you went down 7-10 feet the first time, try to get it to 16 feet, 11-19 feet try to go to 25 feet, 30+ just try to beat it by ten feet.

     7. Try practicing the above steps over and over. Your pulse should get to 60 or below after about a month, so try getting fins and testing how far you can go.

     8. Practice slow, deep, refined kicks with the biggest fins you can find and you will decend faster with fins later on.(Get proper freediving fins with a soft action)

     9. Try spending 1 minute under water and 1 minute out of the water to let the co2 escape from your lungs.

     10. Grab a rock to help prevent your body's natural buoyancy.

*retrieved from http://wikihow.com

Tips about Masks

Your window to the underwater world, scuba masks are an important piece of scuba giving gear. They are also one of the first pieces of gear you’ll want to own rather than rent, even as early as your first scuba certification. Most divers put a great of effort into finding and selecting the right kind of mask with the perfect fit for themselves. It’s no wonder then that a Dive Mask is also a piece of equipment that divers are fondly attached to. So if you’re as fond of your scuba diving mask as I, here’s a look at some tips I’ve found useful along the way regarding problems with your mask or just tips on taking better care of it.

When buying a scuba mask, it’s very important to look at the silicon skirting around the mask. The skirting and shape of the mask must fit your face well to provide you with a comfortable fit. The quality of the silicon should be good. Higher quality silicon is usually found in the more expensive models and will feel softer and more flexible than poorer grade silicon.

Another important consideration to make while picking out a dive mask is the nose pocket. Different types of masks have different shaped nose pockets. Check that your nose fits comfortably in the pocket without touching your nose. This will help protect and cushion your nose as well as have necessary air pockets that’ll help equalizing and purging water out in case any gets in.

Brand new masks usually have a coating of silicone left over from the manufacturing process on the lens that will cause it to fog constantly, no matter how many defogging agents you try. So, first you’ll have to treat it to remove any traces of this coating before using it on a dive. You can rub the inside and outer glass surfaces with a tiny pearl of toothpaste using your index finger and leave it overnight, before wiping it off with a soft cloth or washing it. Another way to go is to burn the residual coating on the lens by running the tip of a flame over the lens.

If you frequently face a foggy mask, pay closer attention to your breathing. More often than not you’ll notice you tend to try breathing out your nose unconsciously before you expel air out your mouth. When you breathe out through your nose, even slightly, the warm air from your body creates condensation, or fog, on the inside of your mask. Breathing out your mouth only will help your mask will stay crystal clear. Adjust your breathing technique and pay closer attention to consciously avoid breathing out your nose, unless you’re clearing your mask. This will prevent your mask from fogging up despite using a de-fogging agent.

One of the most important things to ensure your mask stays with you a long time is to keep it out of contact with direct sunlight as much as possible. Harsh Sunlight and high temperatures attack the rubber and silicone of masks, turning the translucent soft silicone into a yellowing harder mass, that causes mask leaks and degradation over time. Mask bands and straps exposed to sunlight, form cracks and may break easily when stretched. Always store your mask inside its case in a cool dark place but not moist. If you have a silica gel packet or desiccant, place this inside your mask case to keep the moisture at bay.

*reblogged from http://aquaviews.net

How to Assemble Scuba Equipment

It's the challenging thing to do at the begining. I found I good video demonstrating how to assemble a scuba equipment.

Bubble Rings !

It is the ultimate fun for me when I'm in the water.

So what is this bubble ring thing?

I'm giving a link from youtube for you to see some bubble rings if you haven't before. 

If you know what bubble ring is but you don't know how to make it, the video still concerns you :)

Watch it 'till the end !