diver girl

        Scuba, a common word, is actually an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus originated in 1939 to refer to US military diver's rebreather sets used by the Navy. A Scuba set is basically an independent breathing equipment, equipped with breathing gas that enables divers to stay underwater for considerably long periods of time. The Aqualung was the first modern scuba diving equipment invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan in 1943.

        Scuba diving, which was initially intended for military and scientific use, has now become one the most popular recreational water sports around the world today. Children, as young as 10 years old, can now get Open Water Diver Certification (junior) from various centers. Scuba diving can be a lot of fun for people who love marine life, commonly used by recreational divers for fish identification, search and recovery, underwater photography or videography, etc. However, since scuba diving is a fairly dangerous sport, it is recommended by experts to take necessary lessons or certifications before pursuing the sport as a hobby.

        Commercially, scuba diving is used for underwater constructions such as oil platforms, bridges, docks, dams, nuclear power plants and other coastal structures. Scuba diving, which involves scientific surveys and inspections, is known as scientific diving, which is exclusive to scientific purposes such as underwater experiments and underwater archaeology. As for the military, scuba diving has been put to use for naval ship repair and construction, and includes specialized diving divisions such as explosives ordnance disposal and combatant divers.

        A person has to be at least at least 15 years old to get the open water diver certification, in good health and be able to swim 200 yards using any stroke, and float or tread on water for about 10 minutes. Some of the most popular and biggest scuba diving certification agencies include PADI, NAUI, YMCA, Scuba Schools International, and PDIC. These organizations offer some of the best scuba courses and training instructors available. There is also a Junior Open Water Diver Certification for people between ages 10 to 15, provided by agencies such as Bubblemakers, Scuba rangers, and SASY.

        Basic scuba diving equipment includes accessories such as the mask, fins, snorkel, weight belt etc. There are two main types of scuba sets - open-circuit and closed-circuit.

        Most scuba divers use standard air - 21% Oxygen, 79% Nitrogen - for their open-circuit scuba sets, which is much more cost-effective than using mixtures such as heliox and trimix. The open-circuit scuba set (also known as Aqualung) itself is quite simple so is also cheaper and more popular than other types. Basically, the user breathes in from the set and out to waste, with the gas cylinder worn on the back. There are 2- and 3 backpack cylinders open-circuit scuba sets available.

        Closed-circuit scuba sets use rebreathers. In this system, exhaled air is reprocessed by the rebreather to make it fit for re-inhalation. This can be very economical for people who need to take long dives. The three types of rebreathers include oxygen, semi-closed circuit and fully-closed circuit rebreathers.

        Scuba diving is a sport that many people indulge in, and it is a fun experience for almost anyone, except perhaps those who can't swim and are terrified of water. It isn't without it's risks, however, and like any outdoor hobby or sport, injuries can be sustained, sometimes even fatal ones, by undertrained or poorly equipped divers. For the newbies out there, here are a few preparatory steps that you must take and some information you need to make sure that you can enjoy your first dive in safety.

        Certification and Training - take up a course that actually gives you certification to scuba dive. If you're just doing scuba for kicks however, like maybe just renting gear out at a beach resort while on vacation, then make sure you are accompanied by one a professional instructor when you do your dive. Also, keep in mind that scuba divers must have skills in swimming and snorkelling as prerequisites for scuba diving. If you're not proficient in both of these areas, it's best to try them out first before doing something as serious and complex as scuba.

        Equipment Checks - make sure that your equipment is in proper working order. As stated earlier, get proper training before doing a dive. Part of any good scuba instructional course includes the care and maintenance of equipment, as well as spotting potential weaknesses in equipment that can lead to it's failure underwater. Many divers have suffered accidents during dives due to faulty air lines, but aside from that be sure to check the rest of your equipment just as thoroughly, down to your compass and first aid kit.

        First Aid - you'll need special training in treating underwater injuries, as well as the ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of common maladies incurred by divers, which include hypothermia, decompression sickness, and in hot weather, heat stoke and dehydration. Make sure your first aid kit is well stocked before the dive.

        Know Ascents and Descents - part of diving successfully is to keep a pressure gauge and depth gauge that monitors water pressure around you and the depth you're at. Water pressure increases drastically the deeper you go, and divers can sometimes suffer dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and muscle cramps from descending too quickly. On the opposite note, even with a good, controlled descent, a rapid ascent can also lead to system shock and trauma if the diver just suddenly dumps his diving weights and rockets to the surface. The body won't be able to adjust to the sudden lack of pressure, especially once the diver leaves the water.

        Buddy Diving - never dive alone if you're a newbie. Always have a more experienced and trained diver with you. Keep your buddy in sight at all times, and be sure to follow his or her lead once the dive begins. Do NOT go off on your own, no matter how safe the surrounding waters seem to you. Tempting as it may sound for the adventurous, even if you and a friend take the same scuba course at the same time, remember that he or she does NOT count as a diving buddy if you're both newbies. There's nothing more dangerous in any outdoor exploratory sport than a pair of people blundering around in a dangerous environment.

        Communication - learn the hand signals used underwater by divers to communicate. Even with a high tech open face scuba mask that has an integral comm radio, these hand signals are a must for any diver. For one, your radio may break down and run out of batteries. For another, you might run into a cute girl on your dive who's not wearing a comm system...

        Navigation - know how to navigate underwater. The training course that you take should include the recognition and use of simple tools like an underwater compass, as well as more advanced things like using underwater floater buoys and line markers that will allow you to backtrack to your starting point once you're done with your dive. Losing sight of your buddy and getting lost underwater is scary, take my word for it, and having the capability to backtrack and meet up at a predetermined rendezvous point takes a load off your mind if this happens.

        A misconception is that you do not need to have a wetsuit in warm of tropical climates. This is definitely not the case, as people discount the cold water currents and the temperature of the water. This coupled with the fact that water acts as a conductor of heat away from the body determines that you do in fact need a wetsuit. The women's shorty wetsuit is arguably one of the best investments that you could possibly make.

        Traditionally the women's shorty wetsuit, even all the wetsuits were predominantly black, and not very stylish, well not at least as stylish as they are today. Over and above the style factor, the women were really left to use wetsuits that were designed for men and didn't make allowances for the female form. Of course this had to change, as many women found the wetsuits to be extremely restricting and downright uncomfortable. Hence the developers and designers, after realizing that this niche portion of the wetsuit market was actually quite lucrative did they progress into designing and manufacturing the women's shorty wetsuit, full dive skins and many more accessories specifically for women and girls.

        There are many stories where female professional surfers started out wearing men's wetsuits and didn't really have a choice, as that was all that was available at the time. As surfing took off and the popularity increased so did the interest in the clothing and accessories surrounding this popular culture and spread from one beach town to the next, taking with it in its 'wave' the female supporters and participants of this sport.

        The women's shorty wetsuit is also ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling, even in the warmer waters. This offers the protection of scraps and scratches from coral, rocks and other potential hazards under the water. The suit will also offer sun protection as well as a buffer against wearing belts and related diving equipment. It is recommended that you wear a rash guard under the suit if you intend following a fairly active sport such as surfing, as the rubbing of the suit's rough material against the skin causes the dreaded wetsuit rash, which is neither pleasant nor very comfortable.

        Fashion has also caught up with the women's shorty wetsuit that nowadays is available in a variety of designs and colors, complete with functional features that allow the wearer to enjoy full utilization of the suit. Technology also promises to continue to benefit the development of the suit which currently enjoys heated panels powered by either solar, batteries or even chemically. This is great for those that tend to get cold very quickly in the water, and for those that go vacationing at colder water venues.

        The women's shorty wetsuit will provide extra warmth and therefore a longer time in the water while you enjoy your surfing, diving or snorkeling in whichever location you have chosen for your vacation.