| Scuba, a common word, is actually an acronym | | | | |
| for Self Contained Underwater Breathing | | | | A person has to be at least at least 15 years |
| Apparatus originated in 1939 to refer to US | | | | old to get the open water diver |
| military diver's rebreather sets used by the | | | | certification, in good health and be able to |
| Navy. A Scuba set is basically an independent | | | | swim 200 yards using any stroke, and float or |
| breathing equipment, equipped with breathing | | | | tread on water for about 10 minutes. Some of |
| gas that enables divers to stay underwater | | | | the most popular and biggest scuba diving |
| for considerably long periods of time. The | | | | certification agencies include PADI, NAUI, |
| Aqualung was the first modern scuba diving | | | | YMCA, Scuba Schools International, and PDIC. |
| equipment invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau | | | | These organizations offer some of the best |
| and Emile Gagnan in 1943. | | | | scuba courses and training instructors |
| | | | available. There is also a Junior Open Water |
| Scuba diving, which was initially intended | | | | Diver Certification for people between ages |
| for military and scientific use, has now | | | | 10 to 15, provided by agencies such as |
| become one the most popular recreational | | | | Bubblemakers, Scuba rangers, and SASY. |
| water sports around the world today. | | | | |
| Children, as young as 10 years old, can now | | | | Basic scuba diving equipment includes |
| get Open Water Diver Certification (junior) | | | | accessories such as the mask, fins, snorkel, |
| from various centers. Scuba diving can be a | | | | weight belt etc. There are two main types of |
| lot of fun for people who love marine life, | | | | scuba sets - open-circuit and closed-circuit. |
| commonly used by recreational divers for fish | | | | |
| identification, search and recovery, | | | | Most scuba divers use standard air - 21% |
| underwater photography or videography, etc. | | | | Oxygen, 79% Nitrogen - for their open-circuit |
| However, since scuba diving is a fairly | | | | scuba sets, which is much more cost-effective |
| dangerous sport, it is recommended by experts | | | | than using mixtures such as heliox and |
| to take necessary lessons or certifications | | | | trimix. The open-circuit scuba set (also |
| before pursuing the sport as a hobby. | | | | known as Aqualung) itself is quite simple so |
| | | | is also cheaper and more popular than other |
| Commercially, scuba diving is used for | | | | types. Basically, the user breathes in from |
| underwater constructions such as oil | | | | the set and out to waste, with the gas |
| platforms, bridges, docks, dams, nuclear | | | | cylinder worn on the back. There are 2- and 3 |
| power plants and other coastal structures. | | | | backpack cylinders open-circuit scuba sets |
| Scuba diving, which involves scientific | | | | available. |
| surveys and inspections, is known as | | | | |
| scientific diving, which is exclusive to | | | | Closed-circuit scuba sets use rebreathers. In |
| scientific purposes such as underwater | | | | this system, exhaled air is reprocessed by |
| experiments and underwater archaeology. As | | | | the rebreather to make it fit for |
| for the military, scuba diving has been put | | | | re-inhalation. This can be very economical |
| to use for naval ship repair and | | | | for people who need to take long dives. The |
| construction, and includes specialized diving | | | | three types of rebreathers include oxygen, |
| divisions such as explosives ordnance | | | | semi-closed circuit and fully-closed circuit |
| disposal and combatant divers. | | | | rebreathers. |