Scuba Diving and Buoyancy Compensating Devices
Scuba diving attracts millions of participants each year. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, more than 2.59 million individuals participated in scuba diving in the United States alone in 2020. Although casual divers constitute the majority of that number, over 700,000 are more serious divers who dive at least eight times a year.
Part of the allure of scuba diving can be attributed to the beauty and mystery inherent in oceans and other deep waters. However, it also offers a workout with aerobic benefits similar to ice skating and power walking, as well as mental health benefits deriving from the serenity of the undersea world.
The word SCUBA is an acronym for “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.” Scuba divers must wear regulators that allow underwater breathing, along with a scuba mask that helps the eyes focus while equalizing pressure in deep water. Divers also must wear fins that help them move efficiently through the water.
In addition, scuba divers must wear wetsuits, form-fitting neoprene rubber or spandex suits that offer insulation against cold water and, in some cases, protect against scrapes and other injuries. Cylindrical pressure vessels, also known as scuba cylinders or air tanks, are also required for prolonged dives below the surface.
Air tanks, which store compressed air that feeds into the diver’s breathing apparatus, are available in a variety of dimensions and capacities that cater to different diving conditions. Popular choices include aluminum or steel tanks that can hold anywhere from 50 to 150 cubic feet of air with pressurization between 2,400 and 3,500 pounds per square inch. Some tanks are uncoated, while others are painted or galvanized.
Advanced equipment may also be required, depending on the depth of the dive. This includes dive computers that help monitor decompression, as well as buoyancy compensating devices (BCDs).
Arguably the most complex piece of scuba diving equipment, BCDs hold and support all of the gear carried by scuba divers that otherwise would pull them to the bottom, enabling divers to achieve neutral buoyancy at any depth. With neutral buoyancy, the weight of the diver and gear is equal to the displaced water. This means that scuba divers can hover at any depth with minimal effort. Neutral buoyancy differs from positive buoyancy, in which the diver and gear are lighter and float, and negative buoyancy, in which the diver and gear are denser and sink.
A variety of BCDs are available. The horse-collar model, worn around the neck, places much of the flotation on the chest and back of the neck. The jacket style, the most popular BCD model, surrounds the torso with buoyancy. This allows divers to float upright while swimming underwater efficiently. Some jacket-style models offer front-facing adjustments so they can be fitted to a number of divers.
The back flotation model, the most advanced BCD, places the flotation devices on a harness between the diver’s wetsuit and air tanks. This placement enables divers to hover effortlessly. This BCD works well in confined spaces and helps balance heavy gear. A variety of other BCD gear, as well as aesthetic options such as color and design prints, are available to scuba divers.
