What is Technical Diving?
Technical Diving, also known as Tec Diving, represents a discipline within the broader field of underwater exploration that pushes beyond the standard boundaries set for recreational scuba diving. This form of diving is characterized by its higher levels of complexity and risk, due to the increased depths reached, the use of multiple breathing gases, and the navigation of overhead environments, such as shipwrecks and caves.
What is Nitrogen?
What is Nitrogen? Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning it does not readily participate in chemical reactions. It constitutes approximately 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, with the remaining 22% made up of oxygen, trace gases, and water vapor. While nitrogen is essential for various biological processes and is harmless when inhaled at normal atmospheric pressure, […]
What is a Certification Agency?
What is a Certification Agency? A certification agency is an organization responsible for training and certifying individuals to scuba dive safely and competently. These agencies develop, maintain, and disseminate standardized educational materials and guidelines for scuba diving instruction. They also issue certifications to divers who successfully complete their courses and demonstrate the required knowledge and […]
What is Scuba Orienteering?
What is Scuba Orienteering? Scuba orienteering, a competitive underwater sport, marries the thrill of scuba diving with the intellectual rigor of navigational challenges. Participants in this sport traverse an underwater circuit delineated by buoys without surfacing, utilizing tools such as a compass and mechanical distance measurement devices to guide their path. Competitors are scored based […]
What is Residual Gas in Scuba Diving?
What is Residual Gas in Scuba Diving? Residual gas, a significant concept in scuba diving, refers to the volume of gas that remains in a diving cylinder from a previous fill. Understanding and managing residual gas is crucial for divers, as it can have implications for safety, dive planning, and equipment efficiency. Definition and Relevance […]
What is a Regulator Freeze when Scuba Diving?
What is a Regulator Freeze when Scuba Diving? Scuba diving is a popular underwater recreational activity that allows divers to explore the underwater world. A crucial component of scuba diving equipment is the regulator, which delivers breathing gas from the tank to the diver at a safe and comfortable pressure. One of the potential hazards […]
What is a Certification Card (C-card)?
What is a Certification Card (C-card)? A C-card, or certification card, is a plastic identification card issued to scuba divers by recognized certification agencies as proof of their successful completion of diver training and the necessary experience required for a specific level of certification. As scuba diving is a specialized activity that demands comprehensive knowledge, […]
What is Ascent when Diving?
Ascent refers to the upward movement a diver makes as they transition from being submerged underwater to reaching the surface. This process is an essential phase in scuba diving, directly impacting the safety and health of the diver. Ascent is not necessarily a straightforward or continuous journey from depth to the surface; it may require planned pauses, known as decompression stops, to help the body adjust to pressure changes and avoid decompression sickness, a condition commonly called “the bends.” In scuba diving, a controlled and deliberate ascent is crucial to maintaining well-being, preventing injuries, and ensuring a safe return to the surface. This article will explore the importance of ascent, its stages, best practices, and the potential risks divers face during this critical part of the dive.
What is Altitude Diving?
What is Altitude Diving? Altitude diving refers to the practice of scuba diving at locations where the water surface is at an altitude that requires modification of decompression schedules, typically more than about 300 meters (980 feet) above sea level. Altitude diving presents unique challenges for divers, as the reduced atmospheric pressure at higher elevations […]
What is Anoxia?
What is Anoxia? Anoxia, a medical condition characterized by an acute deficiency of oxygen in the body, is a critical concern for scuba divers. It can occur due to various reasons and poses severe risks to divers’ health and safety. In the context of scuba diving, it is essential to understand the causes, symptoms, and […]