Choosing Scuba Gear
Core Diving Equipment and Equipment for Special Diving Environments
© Jim Bray
Aug 21, 2008
Every basic scuba certification course will teach students about scuba equipment. Students will learn what each piece of equipment is used for, how it works and how to properly take care of each piece of dive gear. But most courses do not cover how to choose scuba equipment that is right for the individual diver.
Three Key Pieces of Diving Equipment
Normally each student is required to have his 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 too tightly, it can cause a diver's 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, she has 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 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, a scuba air tank and a weight system.
A buoyancy compensator or BC is a jacket that the diver can inflate to keep afloat at the surface, adjust his or her buoyancy while diving and holds the 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 diver's 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.
Scuba gauges are used to give a diver important information while diving. These gauges will tell a diver how deep he is and the remaining air pressure in his tank. Some gauges will tell you how much dive time is left based on the remaining air pressure in the tank.
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.
The above items make up core scuba diving equipment and are necessary to be able to scuba dive. There are many diving accessories that are required in special diving environments. These are covered in advanced and specialty scuba classes.
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