Scuba Diving is an individual activity where participants swim underwater while connected to an oxygen tank.

Scuba diving began as a recreational pursuit in the late 1940's and 1950's. Divers make use of large portable cylinders filled with oxygen and mouths pieces designed to regulate inhaling and exhaling. Learning how to properly dive is incredibly important, and should only be learned from a licensed and experienced instructor.

Swim under water without the need to surface for air.

Scuba diving has no standardized rules or central governing body. However, there are several common practices that all divers should observe. Divers should always plan their dives in advance, making sure to check water and weather conditions. Equipment should also be checked thoroughly for any malfunctions. Divers should never dive alone, and should always use a surface marker to alert boaters of their relative location. Above all, divers should never take unnecessary risks.

Scuba diving as a recreational pursuit began in 1943 with the advent of the aqualung breathing system. Throughout the 1950's several scuba schools opened around the world. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was founded in 1966 as the world's first group dedicated to teaching scuba diving. Today, scuba diving is cheaper and more accessible than ever before. Equipment and instruction can be obtained in thousands of towns and cities around the world.

Buoyancy Compensator
Diving Cylinder
Diving Regulator
Depth Gauge
Drysuit (optional)
Fins
Mask
Wetsuit (optional)

Scuba diving is a relatively dangerous activity due to the unpredictable nature of water and the adverse effects it can sometimes have on the body. As such, one should never dive without first obtaining proper certification from a licensed instructor.

Proper instruction is absolutely necessary before attempting to dive. Thousands of schools have been established around the world to provide beginners with the skills necessary to dive on their own.

Buoyancy Compensator - piece of equipment that provides emergency buoyancy and the ability to adjust and control overall buoyancy, to allow the diver to control depth

Diving Cylinder - tank used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas

Diving Regulator - pressure regulator that supplies the diver with breathing gas at ambient levels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_equipment
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