As a novice diver, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the equipment necessary to dive. Basic scuba diving equipment consists of a pressurised air cylinder (cylinder with pressurised air), regulator, mask, snorkel and fins.
Additional essential equipment includes a depth gauge and submersible pressure gauge, dive computer for key safety information, signal tube or surface marker buoy in case you become trapped at the surface, surface marker buoy as a signalling tool, surface marker buoy for surface marking purposes if trapped on surface, signal tube for signalling to surface marker buoy if trapped at surface and signal tube if trapped underwater.
Regulator
The regulator is an essential piece of diving equipment that enables divers to breathe underwater. While all modern regulators sold at professional dive centers are reliable, different models and styles exist for specific diving conditions and needs. A professional dive retailer or instructor can help guide you in finding the best regulator suited to you.
A regulator consists of two “stages,” or mechanisms, which work in concert to reduce the high pressure air found in your tank to an intermediate pressure suitable for breathing. It takes air directly from your scuba tank and passes it on to the second stage via a comfortable mouthpiece for delivery to you.
Regulator stages come in both balanced and unbalanced designs, determining how easy breathing will be between stages. While unbalanced first stages may be more popular for rental inventory use and under most recreational diving conditions, an investment into a balanced first stage might be worthwhile for divers planning to do multiple dives per month.
Regulators work by having you breathe into them to cause pressure to drop, which causes a diaphragm to move inward and move a lever attached to a small valve which then opens and releases air into your mouthpiece.
Octopus
Octopuses are among the most intelligent marine invertebrates. Although its eyes may appear small, its sensory receptors help it explore the seafloor, detect chemicals and taste its environment. Furthermore, its suckers contain thousands of texture and chemical receptors for tasting its environment as well as changing shapes to grip rocks or debris from beneath its feet.
Octopuses can adapt their skin colors to blend in with rocks, coral reefs, algae patches or the surface of water, becoming invisible against threats by changing colors accordingly. When feeling threatened they may use ink spraying as a form of defense while their soft limbs allow them to squeeze tighter than pencil gripping objects and even regrow lost arms!
Octopuses differ from fish in that they lack internal skeletons and can move their arms freely in all directions, giving them great flexibility when swimming through water or approaching new objects such as divers in their environment. Their curiosity often leads them to investigate objects from outside such as divers that enter their habitat – like divers! Some varieties, like blue-ringed octopuses, carry powerful neurotoxins like tetrodotoxin.
An octopus’ initial response to any object or substance is usually gustatory: Can they eat it? But, if not edible, they will play with it instead. A researcher at Lethbridge University in Alberta discovered that some octopuses would playfully push pill bottles around with their jet, bobbing back and forth on water flowing out from their tanks’ intake valves until finally abandoning their quest and going elsewhere.
Dive Computer
Your dive computer monitors how much nitrogen you’re taking in during a deep dive and computes a no decompression limit (NDL), which indicates how long you have before being forced to ascend from a particular depth or risk incurring mandatory decompression stops. Different brands may offer more generous calculations that allow more time.
A good dive computer will also track surface intervals, display a maximum operating depth for your gas mixture and monitor ascent rate. Additionally, audible alarms will sound when running out of no-decompression time or surpassing certain ascent rates (ie any threshold that increases risk). Alarms may come in the form of simple symbol displays, audible alerts, flashing displays or text messages or combinations thereof.
Your options for a dive computer include both console-mounted units that attach directly to your BCD, and wrist models resembling large watches. Some computers offer features like air integration that displays tank pressure alongside dive data on one screen; and an onboard compass for navigation purposes; each feature should be carefully considered when choosing which diving computer suits your preferences and needs best. Also important when purchasing diving computers: understanding their functionality, reading its data displays correctly, and maintaining them out of direct sunlight to extend its lifespan.
BCD
Scuba divers use BCDs (buoyancy control devices) to stay neutrally buoyant in the water by filling their BCD with air and then venting it as necessary to adjust their buoyancy. They also allow divers to rest before and after diving or during surface swims or to float at the surface waiting for their dive partner or boat to pick them up.
The primary function of a BC is maintaining neutral buoyancy for divers, even with all their gear in tow. Without it, divers would quickly sink to the bottom. A well-designed BCD will feature features like puncture resistance and quick release dump valves to easily vent air in an emergency.
There are various kinds of BCDs, from jacket style (the most popular choice among recreational divers) and sidemount BCDs that allow divers to mount tanks on either side. Before diving underwater it is important to become acquainted with how your BCD works and feels on your body – being too big may cause discomfort and too small can even be dangerous! Practice wearing it before getting wet will ensure a better diving experience and should also help ensure it fits appropriately; too large could make diving less comfortable while too small could pose dangers!
Snorkel
Snorkels are designed to allow divers to breathe easily underwater without lifting their heads out. Most snorkels contain a breathing tube running from its supply end on top to its mouthpiece on the bottom; usually made of plastic, light metal or hard rubber material with multiple bends in its barrel that determine its resistance for breathing. The length and bore size as well as number of bends will all impact breathing resistance levels.
Many snorkels feature a one-way purge valve to drain excess water from your breathing tube if it gets accidentally filled up during use, especially while diving. A flexible section at the bottom allows you to tuck away your mouthpiece so it doesn’t flap about when not needed.
Modern snorkels typically use silicone rubber for both the mouthpiece and breathing tube because it offers superior resistance against degradation in water environments, doesn’t oxidize or degrade like natural rubber, and requires less maintenance than older designs using natural rubber which deteriorates over time under UV radiation from sunlight, often leading to sticky clearing valves or leakage due to failure of its seat seal to seal properly.
Some snorkels feature an integral float which provides support if you become fatigued while snorkeling and allows boats to locate you more easily. Others offer more comfort with a comfortable seat noodle for when taking breaks or adjusting masks.
Fins
The fins are appendages used by aquatic vertebrates for locomotion and steering. They consist of dorsal, ventral, dorsoventral fins to balance them as well as caudal tail fins used for propulsion; their fin rays may be made of cartilaginous boney tissue with soft joints (soft rays) or stiff hard structures called fin spines for propulsion.
Longer fins generate more thrust with each kick by moving more water. But they require greater force from divers to gain speed and maintain momentum, potentially straining legs if their kicking technique is not perfected – something it is essential for dive buddies to practice together on.
Many fins feature bolsters and rails to direct water off of their edges into one direction for improved thrust efficiency. This improves thrust efficiency.
Surfers often tailor their fin settings based on their surfing style and board size. The center fin typically lies flat to increase stability while side fins may be angled toward the board to improve maneuverability.
Fins are an integral component of a surfboard and must be constructed from high-quality materials. Their purpose is to flex under water pressure, helping create lift when surfing. Their construction and material determine their flex characteristics: fins with less flex are designed for more power while those with more provide easier use by beginners.
