Divers off Key West, Florida

Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. This article refers to underwater diving by humans For other uses of the term diving see Dive and Diving Underwater diving is A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the Breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during Scuba diving.

History

Recreational scuba diving grew out of related activities such as snorkelling and underwater hunting. Snorkeling ( British spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of Swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a Diving mask, a Spearfisherman redirects here For the former diving gear company see Spearfisherman (company. For a long time, recreational underwater excursions were limited by the amount of breath that could be held. Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of Water where the water exists in a natural feature (called a body of water) such as an Ocean However, the invention of the aqualung in 1943 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and its development over subsequent years led to a revolution in recreational diving. Aqualung was the original name for the first open-circuit scuba diving equipment, developed by Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau in 1943 Jacques-Yves Cousteau ( 11 June 1910 – 25 June 1997) was a French naval officer explorer, Ecologist, However, for much of the 1950s and early 1960s, recreational scuba diving was a sport limited to those who were able to afford or make their own kit, and prepared to undergo intensive training to use it.

As the sport became more popular, manufacturers became aware of the potential market, and equipment began to appear that was easy to use, affordable and reliable. Continued advances in SCUBA technology, such as buoyancy compensators, modern diving regulators, wet or dry suits, and dive computers, increased the safety, comfort and convenience of the gear encouraging more people to train and use it. A diving regulator is a Pressure regulator used in a Scuba set that supplies the diver with breathing gas A wetsuit is a protective garment used for watersports such as Scuba diving, Surfing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, and Triathlon A dry suit or drysuit provides Thermal insulation or passive thermal protection to the wearer while immersed in water and is worn by divers, A dive computer or decompression meter is a device used by a scuba diver to measure the time and depth of a dive so that a safe ascent rate can be calculated

Until the early 1950s, navies and other organizations performing professional diving were the only providers of diver training, but only for their own personnel and only using their own types of equipment. Hardhat diving redirects here Often "hardhat diving" is used to specifically mean diving in the old-type Standard diving dress. The first scuba diving school was created in France to train the owners of the Jacques Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan designed double hose scuba. The first school to teach the modern single hose scuba was started in 1953, in Melbourne, Australia, at the Melbourne City Baths. RAN Commander Batterham organized the school to assist the inventor of the single hose regulator, Ted Eldred. However, neither of these schools were international in nature.

There were no training courses, in the modern sense, available to civilians who bought the first scuba equipment. Some of the first training started in 1953 Trevor Hampton created the first British diving school, the British Underwater Centre and 1954 when Los Angeles County^[1] created an Underwater Instructor Certification Course. (Captain Trevor Hampton AFC (1912 - 2002 was one of the United Kingdom 's first Scuba divers and helped to develop Sport diving in the UK Warfleet Creek is a small triangular tidal inlet in the west side of the River Dart Estuary in England. Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. Early instruction increased in the form of amateur teaching within a club environment, as exemplified by organizations such as the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club and the British Sub Aqua Club from 1953, Los Angeles County from 1954 and the YMCA from 1959 ^[2]. The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by the Sports Council as the governing body of Recreational diving in the United Kingdom Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. The Young Men's Christian Association (" YMCA " or " the Y " was founded on June 6, 1844 in London England by a young man

Professional instruction started in 1959 when the non-profit National Association of Underwater Instructors was formed ^[3], which later effectively was split^[4], to form the for-profit Professional Association of Diving Instructors in 1966^[5]. The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI is a United States -based SCUBA diver training organization concerned with promoting dive The Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( PADI) is the world's largest Recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded NASDS the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools started with their Dive Center based Training programs in 1962 followed by Scuba Schools International in 1970^[6]. PDIC professional diving instructors college was formed in 1965, later changing its name to PDIC professional diving instructors Corporation in 1984, providing training in a retail environment^[7].

Diving today

Further developments in technology have reduced the cost of training and diving. Scuba-diving has become a popular leisure activity, and many diving locations have some form of dive shop presence that can offer air fills, equipment and training.

In tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world, there is a large market in 'holiday divers'; people who train and dive while on holiday, but rarely dive close to home.

Technical diving and use of rebreathers are increasing, particularly in areas of the world where deeper wreck diving is the main underwater attraction. Technical diving (sometimes referred to a Tec diving) is a form of Scuba diving that exceeds the scope of Recreational diving (although the vast majority A rebreather is a type of Breathing set that provides a Breathing gas containing Oxygen and recycled exhaled gas Wreck diving is a type of Recreational diving where Shipwrecks are explored Generally, recreational diving depths are limited to a maximum of between 30 and 40 meters (100 and 130 feet), beyond which a variety of safety issues make it unsafe to dive using recreation diving equipment and practices, and specialized training and equipment for technical diving are needed. Technical diving (sometimes referred to a Tec diving) is a form of Scuba diving that exceeds the scope of Recreational diving (although the vast majority

Standard equipment

Buoyancy Control Device (BCD); Regulators; Scuba Mask & Snorkel; Scuba Fins; Wet or Dry suit; Weight belts; Air tanks (usually 3000psi of clean air)

Issues

There are several recreational diving issues that are currently topics of discussion within the diving community. They include:

Training levels

There is a certain amount of disquiet over the level of training and experience necessary to qualify as a diver. Under most entry-level programs (SDI,PADI, BSAC, NAUI, SSI, PDIC and CMAS) divers can complete a certification with as few as four 'open-water' dives. Scuba Diving International (SDI is a SCUBA training and certification agency. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( PADI) is the world's largest Recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by the Sports Council as the governing body of Recreational diving in the United Kingdom The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI is a United States -based SCUBA diver training organization concerned with promoting dive Scuba Schools International or SSI is an organization that teaches the skills involved in Scuba diving and supports Dive Businesses and Dive Resorts The Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC is an international SCUBA training and certification agency. The Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS is the World Underwater Federation Such a qualification allows a diver to rent equipment, request air fills, and dive without any higher supervision, provided they do so with a buddy. The buddy system is a procedure in which two people the buddies operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other Critics claim that five dives is too few to prepare new divers for such a level of responsibility, and that either the total should be raised or the certification qualified. Certification agencies normally answer that they advise their students to dive within the envelope of their experience and training, and to seek to extend both through properly supervised (and frequently revenue-producing) programs, but in the 1980s, several of the Agencies with DEMA did collaborate to author ANSI Standard Z86. 3 (1989), Minimum Course Content For Safe Scuba Diving which now serves to limit their potential liability from lawsuits on training adequacy issues by defining their training as the definition of Accepted Industry Practices.

Regular vs. leisure

Some divers see a split beginning to emerge in recreational diving between regular recreational divers, who often dive in their home communities, and leisure divers, characterized as those who dive occasionally, normally when abroad on holiday and in more benign conditions. It is sometimes observed that there is a tension between the two, and that leisure divers are often inexperienced, either under-trained or over-qualified, and sustain only a minimal empathy with the underwater world. The call is usually not that these divers be restrained from diving, but that they be encouraged to dive more regularly in their home communities so as to gain experience and support their local diving scene. However, as recreational diving has a very low accident and death rate, it is a commonly claimed view that current training requirements are adequate.

Specialties

There are many diving activities which need further training than that provided by the initial courses:

• Altitude diving
• Cave diving
• Drift diving
• Free-diving
• Ice diving
• Identifying and surveying sea life and freshwater life: see marine biology
• Maritime archeology or Underwater archeology
• Night diving
• Snorkeling
• Underwater photography
• Underwater search and Underwater recovery
• Underwater videography
• Wreck diving

Many diver training agencies such as ACUC, BSAC, CMAS, IANTD, NAUI, PADI, PDIC, SDI, SSI and YMCA offer training in these areas, as well as opportunities to move into professional instruction, technical diving, commercial diving and others. Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. Altitude diving is scuba diving where the surface is 300 meters (1000 feet or more above Sea level (for example a mountain lake Cave diving is a type of Technical diving in which specialized SCUBA equipment is used to enable the exploration of natural or artificial Caves which are Drift diving is a type of Recreational diving where the diver is transported by the currents caused by the Tide or in a River. Free diving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-holding Underwater diving. Ice diving is a type of Penetration diving where the dive takes place under Ice. Marine biology is the scientific study of living Organisms in the Ocean or other marine or Brackish bodies of water Maritime archaeology (also known as marine archaeology) is a discipline that studies human interaction with the Sea, lakes and rivers through the study of vessels Underwater archaeology is the study of past Human life behaviours and cultures using the physical remains found in salt or Fresh water or buried beneath Night diving is a type of Recreational diving which takes place in darkness Snorkeling ( British spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of Swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a Diving mask, a Underwater photography is the process of taking Photographs while under water Underwater Videography is the branch of Underwater photography concerned with capturing Underwater moving images either as a Recreational diving or commercial Wreck diving is a type of Recreational diving where Shipwrecks are explored Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of Diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and The 'Association of Canadian Underwater Councils' was formed in 1969 by several large diving|recreational] Scuba diving clubs represented regionally by provincial underwater councils The Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS is the World Underwater Federation International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD is a SCUBA diving organization concerned with certification and training in Enriched Air Nitrox The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI is a United States -based SCUBA diver training organization concerned with promoting dive The Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( PADI) is the world's largest Recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded The Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC is an international SCUBA training and certification agency. Scuba Diving International (SDI is a SCUBA training and certification agency. Scuba Schools International or SSI is an organization that teaches the skills involved in Scuba diving and supports Dive Businesses and Dive Resorts The Young Men's Christian Association (" YMCA " or " the Y " was founded on June 6, 1844 in London England by a young man Technical diving (sometimes referred to a Tec diving) is a form of Scuba diving that exceeds the scope of Recreational diving (although the vast majority Hardhat diving redirects here Often "hardhat diving" is used to specifically mean diving in the old-type Standard diving dress.

Bodies of water for diving

Most bodies of water can be used as dive sites:

• Seas and Oceans - these consist of salt water and a huge variety of flora and fauna. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. In Botany, flora ( Plural: floras or florae has two meanings The first meaning flora of an area or of time period, refers to all Fauna is all of the Animal life of any particular region or time
• Lakes - small lakes are often used for diver training. A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of Diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and Large lakes have many features of seas including wrecks and a variety of marine life. Man-made lakes, such as clay pits and gravel pits, often have lower visibility. A clay pit is a Quarry or mine for the extraction of Clay, which is generally used for manufacturing Pottery, Bricks or Portland Gravel pit is the British English term for an open cast working for extraction of Gravel (river-deposited rounded stones
• Caves - these are more adventurous and dangerous than normal diving. A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter See cave diving. Cave diving is a type of Technical diving in which specialized SCUBA equipment is used to enable the exploration of natural or artificial Caves which are
• Rivers - are often shallow, murky and have strong currents. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there
• Quarries - abandoned rock quarries are popular in inland areas for diver training as well as recreational diving. A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or Minerals are extracted Rock quarries also have reasonable underwater visibility - there is often little mud or sand to create mid-water particles that cause low visibility. As they are not "wild" and usually privately owned, quarries often contain objects intentionally placed for divers to explore, such as sunken boats, automobiles, aircraft, and even structures like grain silos and gravel chutes.

Dive site features

Many types of underwater feature make an interesting dive site, for example:

NASA image [1] showing locations of significant coral reefs, which are often sought out by divers for their abundant, diverse life forms. Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of Water where the water exists in a natural feature (called a body of water) such as an Ocean The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water

• Wildlife at the site. Popular examples are coral, sponges, fish, sting rays, molluscs, cetaceans, seals, sharks and crustaceans. Corals are Marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small Sea anemone –like Polyps typically in colonies of many The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus "pore" and ferre "to bear" are Animals Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Dasyatidae is a family of rays, cartilaginous marine Fishes related to Skates and Sharks Dasyatids are common in tropical Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 The Order Cetacea (sɪˈteɪʃiə L cetus, whale includes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises Cetus is Pinnipeds ("fin-feet" lit "winged feet" or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semi-aquatic marine Mammals comprising Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting

• The Topography of the site. Coral reefs, drop offs (underwater cliffs), rock reefs, gullies and caves can be spectacular. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water In Geography and Geology, a cliff is a significant vertical or near vertical rock exposure In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter Deep dive sites mean divers must reduce the time they spend because more gas is breathed at depth and decompression sickness risks increase. Decompression sickness (DCS, the diver’s disease, the bends, caisson disease is the name given to a variety of symptoms suffered by a person Shallow regions can be investigated by snorkeling. Snorkeling ( British spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of Swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a Diving mask, a

• Historical or cultural items at the site. Ship wrecks and sunken aircraft, apart from their historical value, form artificial habitats for marine fauna making them attractive dive sites. A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink the stranding of the ship on rocks A habitat (which is Latin for "it inhabits" is an Ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular Species.

• Underwater visibility varies widely. In Meteorology, visibility is a measure of the Distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned Poor visibility is caused by particles in the water, such as mud, sand and sewage. In computer gaming, a MUD ( Multi-User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension) is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of Sand is a naturally occurring Granular material composed of finely divided rock and Mineral particles Sewage is the mainly liquid Waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water Feces, Urine, laundry waste and other Dive sites that are close to sources of these particles, such as human settlements and river estuaries, are more prone to poor visibility. Currents can stir up the particles. Diving close to the sediments on the seabed can result in the particles being kicked up by the divers fins.

• Temperature. Warm water diving is comfortable and convenient. Although cold water is uncomfortable and can cause hypothermia it can be interesting because different species of underwater life thrive in cold conditions. Hypothermia is a condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal Metabolism and bodily functions Cold water means divers tend to prefer Dry suits with inner thermal clothing which offer greater thermal protection although require training and experience to use properly.

• Currents. Tidal currents can transport nutrients to underwater wildlife increasing the variety and density of that life at the site. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment Currents can also be dangerous to divers as they can result in the diver being swept away from his or her surface support. Tidal currents that meet solid underwater vertical surfaces can cause strong up or down currents that are dangerous because they may cause the diver to lose buoyancy control risking barotrauma. In Physics, buoyancy ( BrE IPA: /ˈbɔɪənsi/ is the upward Force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in Pressure between an air space inside or beside the body and the surrounding Gas or Liquid

See also

• Diving activities

References

1. ^ Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Association Official Homepage
2. ^ YMCA Scuba Official Homepage
3. ^ NAUI Official Homepage
4. ^ History of PADI from divinghistory. Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. com via Archive. org
5. ^ PADI Official Homepage
6. ^ Scuba Schools International: 35 Years of Experience. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen
7. ^ PDIC Offical Homepage

External links

• Sport Diver Magazine - The official magazine of the PADI Diving Society
• On the Red Sea, as Hotels Go Up, Divers Head Down The New York Times (April 8, 2007)
• BSAC Where to Dive - Dive site atlas from the British Sub Aqua Club
• Asia Dive Locations - Dive locations in Asia and dive supply. The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by the Sports Council as the governing body of Recreational diving in the United Kingdom
• Dive Site Directory - Global dive site location atlas created with contributions from the diving community
• ScubaZine Divers Community - Global GPS based dive site and services location that can be viewed in Google Earth