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 the measurement Feet of Sea Water?
What is the measurement Feet of Sea Water? Feet of Sea Water (FSW) is a crucial concept for scuba divers to understand in order to safely navigate the underwater environment. As a unit of the Imperial system, FSW is used to measure pressure experienced under water, with 1 FSW representing the pressure in 1 foot […]
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 Isobaric Counterdiffusion?
What is Isobaric Counterdiffusion (ICD)? Isobaric counterdiffusion (ICD) is a critical physiological process that occurs during scuba diving, particularly in technical diving scenarios involving the use of mixed gases. The phenomenon involves the diffusion of gases in and out of a diver’s tissues in response to changes in the composition of the breathing gas, while […]
What is a Swim Thru?
What is a Swim Thru? A swim thru is a noteworthy term in the realm of scuba diving, referring to a short underwater tunnel or opening that divers navigate through during their subaqueous explorations. It can be a natural feature like an opening in a coral reef or a rock formation, or an artificial feature […]
What is Sidemount Diving?
Sidemount diving is a scuba equipment configuration where diving cylinders are placed along the diver’s sides rather than on the back, as is typical in traditional backmount setups. This system allows for enhanced flexibility, mobility, and safety while underwater. The cylinders are positioned below the shoulders and extend along the hips, giving divers more freedom of movement compared to conventional systems. Divers appreciate sidemount configurations for their ability to streamline the diver’s profile, which is particularly advantageous in environments with tight spaces like caves, but the setup is also widely used in other forms of diving, from recreational to professional.
What is an Underwater Breathing Apparatus?
What is an Underwater Breathing Apparatus? Underwater Breathing Apparatuses (UBAs) are key components of scuba diving equipment, designed to supply a breathing gas that enables divers to breathe comfortably underwater. They are a crucial innovation that has allowed for the exploration of marine environments beyond the shallow depths reachable by breath-hold divers, transforming our understanding […]
What is Solo Diving?
What is Solo Diving? Solo Diving, often characterized by the absence of a traditional “dive buddy,” is a practice in the scuba diving community that, while controversial, has gained recognition and acceptance over time. This unique form of underwater exploration, requiring heightened vigilance and self-reliance, deviates from conventional scuba guidelines that universally prescribe the buddy […]
What is Reserve Gas in Scuba Diving?
What is Reserve Gas in Scuba Diving? Reserve Gas, a term of paramount importance in the world of scuba diving, refers to a portion of gas supply that a diver sets aside exclusively for emergency situations. It is an integral part of the diving planning and execution process. This reserve is not meant to be […]
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 […]