Scuba diving gear

Since scuba diving takes place in the water, people often think that they don’t have to worry about being exposed to the sun’s damaging rays. The complete opposite is true. The places where scuba diving is typically enjoyed are generally associated with extremely warm temperatures. Since you will spend a significant amount of time in the water, your exposure is intensified. So what can you do to limit your exposure to the sun while still enjoying scuba diving? Quite simply, you will need to protect your skin from UV rays.

Your wetsuit will provide a significant amount of protection from ultra violet rays. While maximum coverage is ideal, you don’t have to resort to a fullbody wetsuit. With an SPF of 50 and made of soft and lightweight neoprene and nylon, the Camaro Neoprene Wetsuit UV 50+ Shorty Mono Heat is designed to provide both comfort and protection from the sun. Although this wetsuit provides heavy duty sun protection, you will still need to wear a sunscreen on those areas of your body not covered by the wetsuit.

At the very minimum you should wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Sport Xtreme Sunblock spray has an SPF of 30 and is formulated to provide extra protection from ultra violet rays for people who participate in outdoor activities such as scuba diving. This sunscreen is also formulated to stay in place when you are in the water and when you sweat. In addition, this sunscreen is in the form of a spray so that you are able to obtain more even coverage. Most sunscreen products are formulated for the body. You will also need to purchase a sunscreen to protect your lips. Mentholatum Natural Ice is a lip balm with an SPF of 30. This sunscreen for you lips is water resistant and contains vitamins that will keep your lips moist.

Probably the most important piece of equipment required for scuba diving that will undoubtedly cause you the most distress because of its weight, is your scuba diving tank. You need a controlled air supply when you go scuba diving. There’s no way around it. Human lungs are designed to breathe air and not water. Although it may seem to be an easy process, how a scuba diving tank works is somewhat involved.

If you were to view a scuba diving tank, you would see a regulator on the top. As the name implies, this part of the scuba diving tank regulates air pressure that flows from the tank. It also provides the air you need. There are two handles on the regulator connected to a single hose. The two handles provide two stages of air supply. The first stage refers to the valve that is fastened directly to the scuba diving tank. The second stage refers to the handle that lies just beyond your mouthpiece. The first stage is important because it manages the amount of air that is supplied to you. Before each dive you will need to make sure that your tank is full of air. This amount is generally 3000 psi. The regulator manages this air supply so that you have what you need to breathe while under water without putting too much pressure on your lungs. If the air pressure is too high this can cause damage to your lungs.

The valves within the first stage will automatically adjust the air pressure as your depth changes. The air pressure amount dictates the amount of air that is delivered to your mouthpiece in the second stage of the regulator. The two stages operate in tandem to create a continued balance of air pressure and air supply. The first stage only has to handle one-way air compression while the second stage is responsible for managing both the air content when you inhale and exhale. Each time you exhale a valve in the second stage of the regulator allows the air to flow from the area.

Scuba diving is one of the most fun, safe, and adventurous recreational activity that you can perform solo or with a group of people. While the number of fatalities associated with scuba diving is low in respect to the millions who participate in the sport worldwide, you should not neglect the general safety concerns that abound. While scuba diving is safe, it is not for everyone. People with some health conditions are more predisposed to risks associated with scuba diving. The first step you should take before you signup for any scuba diving courses is to make an appointment to visit a health practitioner for a complete physical and mental evaluation.

While there are no specific health standards for scuba diving, there are some health conditions that if you have them you probably shouldn’t consider scuba diving. If you have conditions such as pregnancy, the flu, and colds you should not go scuba diving. These conditions are only temporary so you are only avoiding the activity for a limited time. There hasn’t been conclusive evidence whether or not an unborn baby suffers any damage when the mother goes scuba diving. However, there are risks to all divers such as Decompression Sickness, and these risks can be passed on to the fetus even when the mother is not experiencing any symptoms. In regards to colds and flu, if you have these conditions your respiratory system may be affected and you may have trouble clearing your air spaces.

While the health conditions mentioned above will keep you from scuba diving temporarily, long-term health conditions such as asthma will keep you from ever enjoying scuba diving. Numerous environmental conditions can cause an asthmatic attack. It is imperative that someone who suffers with this condition keeps their lungs moist and open. Divers rely on air delivered through small valves, which are basically dry. This can cause a diver with asthma to start coughing and their airways to become constricted. This can result in an asthma attack. If such an incident were to happen, there is very little the diver can do.