SCUBA diving involves using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus to explore underwater. The document discusses the history and development of SCUBA equipment from ancient times to modern regulators. It describes the basic gear used in SCUBA including masks, fins, buoyancy compensators, regulators, and wetsuits or drysuits. Various types of dives and safety considerations are covered, as well as statistics on certified divers worldwide and popular dive locations around the world and in the United States.

1. Recreational SCUBA Diving Presented by Shaun Sykes

2. Topics of Discussion SCUBA – Its meaning and history Equipment How to dive/types of dives After you learn, what then? Health and safety Dive sites and statistics Summary

3. What Does it Mean? History? SCUBA – Self Contained Underwater Breathing Aparatus Long history dating back from 332 BC Modern fins, mask and snorkel tubes were developed by fishermen from America, Russia, France and England in the 1920s and 1930s

4. History continued Recreational SCUBA Diving began between 1942 - 1943, after Emile Gagnan and Captain Hacques –Yves Cousteau developed the self-contained “Aqua-Lung” and new regulator that was automatic. Cousteau took many successful, experimental dives with his friends, wife and two sons, making this an experimental family trip and experience.

5. Equipment Mask- Device covering eyes and nose, allowing you to see underwater Fins – Device put on the feet to extend the kicking motion underwater.

6. Equipment continued BCD or BC – ( Buoyancy compensator device) Device/jacket that controls buoyancy up or down Regulator – Device that delivers air to you on demand at reduced pressure

7. Equipment continued Pressure gauge – (SPG- Submersible Pressure Gauge) Device that tells diver how much air they have left Weights – Lead weights used to weigh down divers for depth decent

8. Equipment continued Snorkel – Device used to breath air close to or on the surface of the water Body suit – Warm temperature suit that protects the body against abrasions and stings

9. Equipment continued Wet suit – Insulated suit used to keep the body temperature in Dry suit – Used to keep the diver dry and warm in colder temperatures

10. Equipment continued Scooter Watch Light Air cylinder Or tank Knife Boots Hood Gloves

11. Recommended diving apparel Temperature High 80s 80 º - 90º F 75º - 80ºF 70º - 80ºF 50º - 70ºF Below 50ºF What to wear A Lycra body suit, a shorty, or a dive jacket (the top of a two-piece suit) A shorty, a dive jacket, or a full-length, one-piece, 3mm wet suit A 3mm one-piece jumpsuit, or a two-piece wet suit A 5mm full-length wetsuit, a two-piece wetsuit, or a dry suit with light weight insulating garments A 7mm full-length two-piece wetsuit with gloves and hood, or a dry suit with insulating garments A dry suit with insulating garments, hood, gloves or mitts, and possibly face mask

12. How to dive/types of dives Types of dives – Boat, shore, pier How to enter the water – if on shore, walk into the water without fins, then put them on in the water - If entering rough water, put fins on and walk in backwards If on a boat or pier Giant Stride Backward roll Controlled Seated entry Group entry

13. How to dive/types of dives continued Decent Travel under water Hand signals Ascent Other types of dives – Seawater, Freshwater, Wreck, Cave, Night, Drift and Ice

14. After You Learn, then what? Levels of Specifications Pre-open water certification – Open Water Certified Non – professional certification – Advanced SCUBA diver and Master SCUBA diver Professional – Divemaster, Skin-diving instructor, assistant instructor and Instructor Specialties open to recreational divers – Underwater photography or videography, wreck diving, night diving, boat diving, ice diving, cavern diving, dry suit diving, Nitrox diving, search and recovery, career diver, etc .

15. Health and Safety – the hazards of diving How soon to fly after diving – old vs. new philisophy DCS – Epidermal or cutaneous, muscular, joint and limb pain and neuroligical Hypothermia Hyperthermia Cramps Overexertion Nitrogen Narcosis Overexertion Nitrogen Narcosis Carbon monoxide poisoning Gastrointestinal barotrauma Heart problems Ear infections Nosebleeds Breathing problems Dehydration Diving while pregnant

16. Dive sites Worldwide: Papua, New Guines, Egyption Red Sea, Galapagos Islands, Equador, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Maldives, India, Great White Wall, Fiji, Bunhaken Island, Indonesia, Blue Corner, Palau and the Caribbean United States: The Hawaiian Islands, Florida Keys, Catalina Island, California and many oceans, rivers, lakes and quarrys

17. Statistics 8.5 million certified SCUBA divers in the U.S., and 14.5 to 15.5 million divers worldwide Top 6 states for SCUBA certification: Florida, California, Hawaii, Texas, Illinois and New York

18. Summary SCUBA – Its meaning and history Equipment How to dive/types of dives After you learn, what then? Dive sites and statistics Health and safety

19. Web sites for SCUBA access, research and resources PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)- http://www.padi.com DAN (Divers Alert Network) - http://www.diversalertnetwork.org NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors)- http://www.naui.com The Ultimate SCUBA source - http://www.scubasearch.com About SCUBA diving - http://scuba.about.com Joe Diver America - http://www.joediveramerica.com