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Scuba Diving Equipment

Scuba Diving Equipment

Tips for Scuba Divers Venturing into the Underwater World

Scuba diving equipment makes it possible for us to become, for a short time, like the mystical dolphin and stay for short periods of time underwater. A diver needs to have a good understanding of this dive gear to be able to dive safely and to be confident in the water.

All scuba certification courses will teach divers the ins and outs of dive gear. Students learn everything from how to put it all together so it works properly to how to use the gear responsibly. The one thing that scuba certification courses do not spend a lot of time on is how to choose the dive equipment that is right for you. Let's look at some tips that can help divers find that perfect set of dive gear.

Most dive shops will rent everything you need to dive. But there are things a diver should buy because they are personal and hard to fit.

Three Key Pieces of Scuba Diving Equipment

Normally students are required to have their own scuba mask, swim fins, and snorkel. Comfort while diving requires that these pieces fit properly. Fins that do not fit will be uncomfortable while swimming. A scuba mask will always leak and cause a diver to constantly clear the mask while diving if it does not fit properly.

Another piece of dive gear that requires a good fit is a wet suit. This is like a second skin and provides a diver with proper thermal protection while diving. If a wet suit fits to tightly, it can cause a divers breathing to be restricted. One that is too loose will allow wet to get in between the suit and the skin.

When a diver's scuba mask, swim fins and wet suit fit properly, they have a more comfortable and enjoyable dive. This is why most divers will choose to buy these pieces of scuba gear instead of renting them.

Core Scuba Diving Equipment

Core scuba diving equipment is essential for any scuba diving. This core equipment is made up of a buoyancy compensator or BC, a scuba regulator, scuba gauges, dive computer, a scuba air tank and a weight system.

A buoyancy compensator or BC is a jacket that you can inflate to keep afloat at the surface, adjust your buoyancy while diving and holds your scuba tank and regulator as well as other dive accessories. A BC should fit like a comfortable jacket. Snug but not too tight.

A scuba tank contains pressurized air for breathing underwater. The tank will have a valve that delivers air to the scuba regulator. The tank is attached to the BC where is sits comfortably on the divers back.

A scuba regulator is one of the most important pieces of dive gear. The regulator supplies air from the tank to the diver at a pressure that allows a diver to breath properly underwater. Attached to the regulator is a primary second stage, an additional second stage, often called an octopus and a set of scuba gauges that are used to give a diver important information while diving. These gauges will tell a diver how deep they are and the remaining air pressure in their tank. Some gauges will tell you how much dive time is left based on the remaining air pressure in you tank.

Scuba dive watches are important pieces of scuba gear because they are used by divers to manage their bottom time while diving.

A scuba weight system works in harmony with the BC to help a diver maintain proper buoyancy while diving. Weights can be worn on a belt around a diver's waist or integrated in the BC. Weights worn around the waist can sometimes be uncomfortable so some divers prefer an integrated weight system. The important thing about scuba weights is that a diver must be able to release them quickly in case of an emergency.

An underwater flashlight is another important part of your scuba dive gear and safety equipment. A scuba light will help you see underwater and will let other divers see you.