Outline of underwater diving

Last updated

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:

Contents

Surface-supplied divers riding a stage to the underwater workplace Diving stage.jpg
Surface-supplied divers riding a stage to the underwater workplace

Underwater diving – as a human activity, is the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment.

What type of activity is underwater diving?

Underwater diving can be described as all of the following:

Diving activity, by type

Modes of underwater diving

Surface-supplied diver with helmet, bailout set and umbilical cable Marin du commerce en formation de plongeur de bord a l'I.N.P.P..JPG
Surface-supplied diver with helmet, bailout set and umbilical cable

There are several modes of diving distinguished by the equipment and procedures used:

Diving skills and procedures

Divers decompressing in the water at the end of a dive Tech diving decompression stop.jpg
Divers decompressing in the water at the end of a dive
Divers doing a buddy check Buddy-Check.jpg
Divers doing a buddy check
Sidemount diver pushing a cylinder in front Sidemount 032 Photo by Pete Nawrocky.jpg
Sidemount diver pushing a cylinder in front
Solo diver surveying dive site. The bailout cylinder can be seen slung at the diver's left side. Peter Southwood 2.jpg
Solo diver surveying dive site. The bailout cylinder can be seen slung at the diver's left side.

Diving procedures  – Standardised methods of doing things that are known to work effectively and acceptably safely

Diving support skills and procedures

Underwater diving, by environment

Ice Diving - View from the top Ice Diving.jpg
Ice Diving – View from the top

Underwater diving environment  – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed

Occupational diving

Underwater welding. Working Diver 01.jpg
Underwater welding.
NAUI Nitrox diver certification card NAUI Nitrox Diver certification card PC160014.jpg
NAUI Nitrox diver certification card
Pearl diver in Japan Ama2.jpg
Pearl diver in Japan
Nesconset fire department scuba rescue team on training exercise Nesconset FD Scuba rescue team 14539 1260593349239 6089134 n.jpg
Nesconset fire department scuba rescue team on training exercise
Salvaging a ship's propeller US Navy 110608-N-XD935-309 Navy Diver 2nd Class Justin McMillen, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, maneuvers a sunken ship's scr.jpg
Salvaging a ship's propeller
A diver at work on hull maintenance Working Diver 02.jpg
A diver at work on hull maintenance
Sponge diver putting on his diving suit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Sponge diver John M. Gonatos putting on his diving suit.jpg
Sponge diver putting on his diving suit in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Professional diving , also known as occupational diving – Underwater diving where divers are paid for their work

Recreational diving

Diver returning from a 600 ft (183 m) technical dive Trevor Jackson returns from SS Kyogle.jpg
Diver returning from a 600 ft (183 m) technical dive
Two underwater hockey players competing for the puck OctopushTwoPlayers28092009.JPG
Two underwater hockey players competing for the puck
Underwater photographer Photograph of a photographer underwater.jpg
Underwater photographer
Divers on the wreck of the Zenobia Zenobia 2003 3.jpg
Divers on the wreck of the Zenobia

Recreational diving  – Diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment

Diving and support equipment, tools and weapons

Small high-pressure breathing air compressor Small stationary Bauer HP compressor installation DSC09403.JPG
Small high-pressure breathing air compressor
A small scuba filling and blending station supplied by a compressor and storage bank Scuba filling station DSC09404.JPG
A small scuba filling and blending station supplied by a compressor and storage bank
Three representative wrist-mount dive computers 3 dive computers P3160383.JPG
Three representative wrist-mount dive computers
International code flag Alpha indicates that a diver is underwater nearby Alfa flag.svg
International code flag Alpha indicates that a diver is underwater nearby
A closed bell used for saturation diving Closed diving bell 20151203 132327.jpg
A closed bell used for saturation diving
Lifting bag used to move a heavy object underwater Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Underwater Missions Unit Transfers Equipment Using Special "Lifting-Bags".jpg
Lifting bag used to move a heavy object underwater
The Newtsuit atmospheric diving suit Newtsuit atmospheric diving suit.jpg
The Newtsuit atmospheric diving suit
US Navy Diver using Kirby Morgan 37 diving helmet US Navy 051026-N-0000X-001 Electronics Technician 1st Class Matthew Ammons, a diver assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU-2), is fitted with a Kirby Morgan 37 Dive Helmet.jpg
US Navy Diver using Kirby Morgan 37 diving helmet
Helmeted diver entering the water. He has a back mounted Draeger DM40 rebreather system in addition to the surface supply air hose DM40 thm.jpg
Helmeted diver entering the water. He has a back mounted Draeger DM40 rebreather system in addition to the surface supply air hose
Scuba diver with bifocal lenses in half mask PBS bifocal mask P9251477.JPG
Scuba diver with bifocal lenses in half mask
A diver wearing an Ocean Reef full face mask Full face diving mask - ocean reef.JPG
A diver wearing an Ocean Reef full face mask
U.S. Navy divers in dry suits prepare to dive US Navy 060329-F-3759D-001 U.S. Navy divers assigned to the rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50) prepare to dive.jpg
U.S. Navy divers in dry suits prepare to dive
Two men operating a rotary diver's air pump Diving Stockholm 1951. Air supplied from the boat.jpg
Two men operating a rotary diver's air pump

Diving equipment

Diving equipment  – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving

Autonomous underwater vehicles

Autonomous underwater vehicle  – Uncrewed underwater vehicle with autonomous guidance system

  • Autonomous Robotics Ltd  – UK company developing an autonomous underwater vehicle
  • AUV-150  – Unmanned underwater vehicle in development in by Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute
  • AUV Abyss  – Autonomous underwater vehicle for mapping of the seabed and water column data collection
  • Boaty McBoatface  – British autonomous underwater vehicle
  • DeepC  – Autonomous underwater vehicle powered by a fuel cell
  • DEPTHX  – Autonomous underwater vehicle for exploring sinkholes in Mexico
  • Echo Ranger  – Marine autonomous underwater vehicle built by Boeing
  • Eelume  – Autonomous underwater vehicle being developed by Eelume AS
  • Explorer AUV  – Autonomous underwater vehicle from People's Republic of China
  • Intelligent Water class AUV  – Autonomous underwater vehicle for the People's Liberation Army Navy
  • Intervention AUV  – Type of autonomous underwater vehicle capable of autonomous interventions
  • iRobot Seaglider  – Deep diving autonomous underwater vehicle for long term missions
  • Maya AUV India  – Autonomous underwater vehicle from National Institute of Oceanography, India
  • Nereus (underwater vehicle)  – Hybrid remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicle
  • REMUS (AUV)  – Autonomous underwater vehicle series
  • Sentry (AUV)  – Autonomous underwater vehicle made by Woods Hole Oceanographic institution
  • Spindle (vehicle)  – Ice penetrating two-stage autonomous underwater vehicle
  • SPURV  – Self propelled underwater research vehicle built in 1957 for the US Navy
  • SPURV II  – Special purpose underwater research vessel built to srudy submarine wakes
  • Theseus (AUV)  – Large autonomous underwater vehicle for laying fibre-optic cable

Breathing gas

Breathing gas  – Gas used for human respiration

  • Breathing gases by composition:
    • Argox  – Gas mixture occasionally used by scuba divers for dry-suit inflation
    • Breathing air  – Air quality suitable for safe breathing
    • Heliox  – A breathing gas mixed from helium and oxygen
    • Hydreliox  – Breathing gas mixture of hydrogen, helium, and oxygen
    • Hydrox (breathing gas)  – Breathing gas mixture experimentally used for very deep diving
    • Nitrox  – Breathing gas, mixture of nitrogen and oxygen
    • Oxygen  – Chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8
    • Trimix (breathing gas)  – Breathing gas consisting of oxygen, helium and nitrogen
  • Breathing gases by use:
    • Bailout gas  – Emergency breathing gas supply carried by the diver
    • Bottom gas  – Gas breathed during the deep part of a dive
    • Decompression gas  – Oxygen-rich gas used for accelerated decompression
    • Emergency gas supply  – Alternative independent breathing gas supply carried by a diver
    • Travel gas  – Gas breathed during the descent part of a dive

Decompression equipment

Decompression equipment  – Equipment used by divers to facilitate decompression

Diver propulsion vehicles

Diver propulsion vehicle  – Powered device for diver mobility and range extension

Diving safety equipment

Diving safety equipment  – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving safety

Historical diving equipment

Rebreather types and components

Diving rebreather  – Closed or semi-closed circuit scuba

Rebreather makes and models

  • Carleton CDBA  – Military rebreather by Cobham plc
  • Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment  – British military electronically controlled closed circuit rebreather
  • Cis-Lunar  – Manufacturer of electronically controlled closed-circuit rebreathers for scuba diving
  • CUMA  – Canadian military diving rebreather
  • Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus  – Early submarine escape oxygen rebreather also used for shallow water diving.
  • Dräger Dolphin  – Semi-closed circuit recreational diving rebreather
  • Dräger Ray  – Semi-closed circuit diving rebreather
  • FROGS  – Closed circuit oxygen diving rebreather
  • Halcyon RB80  – Non-depth-compensated passive addition semi-closed circuit rebreather
  • Halcyon PVR-BASC  – Semi-closed circuit depth compensated passive addition diving rebreather
  • IDA71  – Russian military rebreather for underwater and high altitude use
  • Interspiro DCSC  – Military semi-closed circuit passive addition diving rebreather
  • KISS  – Manual closed circuit mixed gas rebreather
  • LAR-5, LAR-6, and LAR-V represented by Dräger (company)  – German manufacturer of breathing equipment
  • Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit  – Early closed circuit oxygen diving rebreather
  • Porpoise  – Australian scuba manufacturer
  • Siebe Gorman CDBA  – Type of diving rebreather used by the Royal Navy
  • Siva  – Range of military rebreathers
  • Viper  – Electronically-controlled closed circuit mixed gas military rebreather

Gas extenders:

Remotely operated underwater vehicles

Remotely operated underwater vehicle  – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crew

  • 8A4-class ROUV  – Chinese work class remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • ABISMO  – Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle for deep sea exploration
  • Atlantis ROV Team  – High-school underwater robotics team from Whidbey Island, Washington, United States
  • CURV  – Early remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • Épaulard  – French remotely operated underwater vehicle of the Ifremer
  • Global Explorer ROV  – Deep water science and survey remotely operated vehicle
  • Goldfish-class ROUV  – Light class of Chinese remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • Kaikō ROV  – Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle for deep sea exploration
  • Long-Term Mine Reconnaissance System  – American torpedo tube-launched underwater search and survey unmanned undersea vehicle
  • Mini Rover ROV  – Small, low cost observation class remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • OpenROV  – Open-source remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • ROV KIEL 6000  – Remotely operated vehicle built by Schilling Robotics, Davis, California for scientific tasks
  • ROV PHOCA  – Remotely operated underwater vehicle of the COMANCHE type
  • Scorpio ROV  – Work class remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • Sea Dragon-class ROV  – Chinese deep diving work class remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • Seabed tractor  – Special purpose class of remotely operated underwater vehicle
  • Seafox drone  – Remotely operated anti-mine marine drone
  • SeaPerch  – Remotely operated underwater vehicle educational program
  • SJT-class ROUV  – Series of Chinese remotely operated underwater vehicles
  • T1200 Trenching Unit  – Remotely operated seabed trenching unit
  • VideoRay UROVs  – Series of inspection class remotely operated underwater vehicles

Underwater breathing apparatus

Underwater breathing apparatus  – Equipment which provides breathing gas to an underwater diver

Diving support equipment

Diving support equipment  – Equipment used in the support of an underwater diving operation

Underwater work tools and equipment

Soviet SPP-1 underwater pistol Podvodnyi pistolet SPP-1M - TsNIITOChMASh 01.jpg
Soviet SPP-1 underwater pistol
Airlift dredging Manga de succion por venturi.jpg
Airlift dredging
ROV at work in an underwater oil and gas field. The ROV is operating a subsea torque tool (wrench) on a valve on the subsea structure. ROV working on a subsea structure.jpg
ROV at work in an underwater oil and gas field. The ROV is operating a subsea torque tool (wrench) on a valve on the subsea structure.

Underwater work tools and equipment – Tools and equipment used for underwater work

Underwater weapons

Underwater weapons – Weapons that are intended for use underwater

Diving support personnel

There are also diver support activities which require assessed competence and registration for which formal training may be required.

Science of underwater diving

The diving environment

Plunging breaker Large breaking wave.jpg
Plunging breaker
Lago Licancabur, site of world's highest ever altitude dive. LicancaburCraterLake.jpg
Lago Licancabur, site of world's highest ever altitude dive.
Entrance to Peacock Springs Cave System Image-Peacock Springs Entrance.jpg
Entrance to Peacock Springs Cave System

Underwater diving environment  – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed

Physics of underwater diving

Views through a flat mask, above and below water FlatMask above-below.jpg
Views through a flat mask, above and below water

Physics of underwater diving  – Aspects of physics which affect the underwater diver

Physiology of underwater diving

Diagram of the human circulatory system Circulatory System en.svg
Diagram of the human circulatory system
Decompression profiles based on the Thermodynamic model compared with the US Navy table for the same depth and bottom time Thermodynamic vs US Navy decomnpression profiles 1.svg
Decompression profiles based on the Thermodynamic model compared with the US Navy table for the same depth and bottom time
Diagram of the human respiratory system Respiratory system complete en.svg
Diagram of the human respiratory system

Human physiology of underwater diving  – Influences of the underwater environment on the physiology of human divers

Diving medicine, disorders and treatment

Oxygen therapy in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber is often delivered via built in breathing systems. US Navy 070208-N-8268B-001 Navy Diver 1st class Mike Barnett and Navy Diver 1st Class Chad Christensen test built-in breathing masks inside a recompression chamber.jpg
Oxygen therapy in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber is often delivered via built in breathing systems.
Monoplace chambers can be used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy if the patient is stable Hyperbaric chamber BLKS 301M.jpg
Monoplace chambers can be used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy if the patient is stable

Diving medicine

Diving medicine  – Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders caused by underwater diving

Diving disorders and treatment

Mask squeeze - a mild form of barotrauma Mask Squeeze.jpg
Mask squeeze - a mild form of barotrauma
Staged image showing how victims may black out quietly underwater, often going unnoticed. Shallow Water Blackout.jpg
Staged image showing how victims may black out quietly underwater, often going unnoticed.

Diving disorders  – Physiological disorders resulting from underwater diving

Diving safety

A dive team listens to a safety brief from their dive supervisor US Navy 030311-N-5362A-005 Members of Underwater Construction Team Two (UCT-2) listen to a safety brief from their dive supervisor.jpg
A dive team listens to a safety brief from their dive supervisor
Early testing for oxygen toxicity in divers File-Oxygen toxicity testing.jpeg
Early testing for oxygen toxicity in divers
Tags in place in a powerplant after it was shut down Lockout.jpg
Tags in place in a powerplant after it was shut down
Folding lockout hasp, allowing six padlocks to lock out one device. Lockout-tagout hasp.svg
Folding lockout hasp, allowing six padlocks to lock out one device.
Checklists reduce the risk of omitting a step in a procedure Aufgabe-ankreuzen.svg
Checklists reduce the risk of omitting a step in a procedure

Diving safety  – Risk management of underwater diving activities

Diving incidents, rescues, and fatalities

The decompression chamber at the moment the Byford Dolphin accident occurred. D1-D4 are divers; T1 and T2 are dive tenders. Byford Dolphin Accident.jpg
The decompression chamber at the moment the Byford Dolphin accident occurred. D1–D4 are divers; T1 and T2 are dive tenders.

Incidents and people involved in a notable incident while diving or during a diving operation.

Legal aspects of diving  – How underwater diving and divers are affected by law

Geography of diving

Recreational diver over a coral reef in the Red Sea Coral - Marsa Alam, Egypt - August 12, 2011.jpg
Recreational diver over a coral reef in the Red Sea

Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.

Recreational dive sites may be found in a wide range of bodies of water, and may be popular for various reasons, including accessibility, biodiversity, spectacular topography, historical or cultural interest and artifacts (such as shipwrecks), and water clarity. Tropical waters of high biodiversity and colourful sea life are popular recreational diving vacation destinations. South-east Asia, the Caribbean islands, the Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia are regions where the clear, warm, waters, reasonably predictable conditions and colourful and diverse sea life have made recreational diving an economically important tourist industry.

Recreational divers may accept a relatively high level of risk to dive at a site perceived to be of special interest. Wreck diving and cave diving have their adherents, and enthusiasts will endure considerable hardship, risk and expense to visit caves and wrecks where few have been before. Some sites are popular almost exclusively for their convenience for training and practice of skills, such as flooded quarries. They are generally found where more interesting and pleasant diving is not locally available, or may only be accessible when weather or water conditions permit.

While divers may choose to get into the water at any arbitrary place that seems like a good idea at the time, a popular recreational dive site will usually be named, and a geographical position identified and recorded, describing the site with enough accuracy to recognise it, and hopefully, find it again. ( Full article... )

History of underwater diving

Siebe's improved design in 1873. Divers - Illustrated London News Feb 6 1873-2.PNG
Siebe's improved design in 1873.

History of underwater diving  – Developments over time in the human activity

Military and covert operations

Italian Maiale manned torpedo "Siluro San Bartolomeo" displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK. Maiale at gosport.jpg
Italian Maiale manned torpedo "Siluro San Bartolomeo" displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK.

Underwater salvage operations

Salvage of Royal George FMIB 33116 Wreck of the 'Royal George'.jpeg
Salvage of Royal George

Training, certification, registration and standards

Commercial diver training at Blue Rock Quarry Commercial diver training at Blue Rock Quarry P3233799.JPG
Commercial diver training at Blue Rock Quarry

Diver training

Diver training can be distinguished between recreational and occupational diver training. Recreational diver training tends to be split into small skill sets for customer convenience and provider profitability. Recreational diver training systems include training and registration of instructors and dive leaders for recreational diving

Professional diver training is usually for registration based on mode of diving and requires a wider range of competence for a range of equipment skills and environments. Titles of certificates vary, but the basic competences are similar and may be internationally recognised by agreement.

Scientific diving is occupational diving in the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and there may be different conditions that apply regionally regarding regulation and registration.

Diver certification organisations

List of diver certification organizations  – Agencies which issue certification for competence in diving skills

Organisations setting international standards and codes of practice for diving and diver training

Commercial diving schools

Underwater diving organisations

Diver membership organisations

Diver membership organisations

Diver nature conservation organisations

Diving industry trade associations

Underwater environmental research organisations

Diving medical research organisations

Underwater diving publications

Books and manuals

Legislation

Codes of practice

(National or international codes of practice for diving)

Standards

(National or international standards relating to diving equipment or practices)

Buoyancy compensators

Depth gauges

Diver training

Diving masks

GOST 20568:1975 compliant Russian and Ukrainian diving masks GOST 20568 compliant Russian and Ukrainian diving masks.jpg
GOST 20568:1975 compliant Russian and Ukrainian diving masks

Dry suits

Recreational diving services

Snorkels

A range of 1970s snorkels made to British Standard BS 4532:1969 Britmarine 1970s Catalogue Snorkel Page.jpg
A range of 1970s snorkels made to British Standard BS 4532:1969

Swimfins

Swim fin sole showing compliance with German standard DIN 7876:1980 DIN 7876-A.jpg
Swim fin sole showing compliance with German standard DIN 7876:1980

Underwater breathing apparatus

Wetsuits

Journals and magazines

Repositories

Recreational dive site guides

Notable dive site guides with Wikipedia article.

Authors of publications about diving

Bob Halstead Bob Halstead.JPG
Bob Halstead

Authors of general non-fiction works on diving topics who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles.

Documentaries

Documentary movies focused on underwater diving.

Movies, novels, TV series and shows, comics, graphic art, sculpture, games, myths, legends, and misconceptions. Fiction in general relating to all forms of diving, including hypothetical and imaginary methods, and other aspects of underwater diving which have become part of popular culture.

Researchers in diving medicine and physiology

John Scott Haldane c. 1910 John Scott Haldane 1910.jpg
John Scott Haldane c. 1910
Paul Bert Paul Bert2.jpg
Paul Bert

Underwater divers

This is a list of underwater divers whose exploits have made them notable. Underwater divers are people who take part in underwater diving activities Underwater diving is practiced as part of an occupation, or for recreation, where the practitioner submerges below the surface of the water or other liquid for a period which may range between seconds to order of a day at a time, either exposed to the ambient pressure or isolated by a pressure resistant suit, to interact with the underwater environment for pleasure, competitive sport, or as a means to reach a work site for profit or in the pursuit of knowledge, and may use no equipment at all, or a wide range of equipment which may include breathing apparatus, environmental protective clothing, aids to vision, communication, propulsion, maneuverability, buoyancy and safety equipment, and tools for the task at hand. ( Full article... )

Pioneers of diving

Jacques Cousteau Cousteau1972 (cropped).jpg
Jacques Cousteau

Underwater art and artists

Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso, Liguria Cristo degli abissi.jpg
Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso, Liguria

Diving tourism

Awards and events

Terminology

See also

Related Research Articles

Nitrox refers to any gas mixture composed of nitrogen and oxygen. This includes atmospheric air, which is approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases, primarily argon. In the usual application, underwater diving, nitrox is normally distinguished from air and handled differently. The most common use of nitrox mixtures containing oxygen in higher proportions than atmospheric air is in scuba diving, where the reduced partial pressure of nitrogen is advantageous in reducing nitrogen uptake in the body's tissues, thereby extending the practicable underwater dive time by reducing the decompression requirement, or reducing the risk of decompression sickness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scuba set</span> Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

A scuba set, originally just scuba, is any breathing apparatus that is entirely carried by an underwater diver and provides the diver with breathing gas at the ambient pressure. Scuba is an anacronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Although strictly speaking the scuba set is only the diving equipment that is required for providing breathing gas to the diver, general usage includes the harness or rigging by which it is carried and those accessories which are integral parts of the harness and breathing apparatus assembly, such as a jacket or wing style buoyancy compensator and instruments mounted in a combined housing with the pressure gauge. In the looser sense, scuba set has been used to refer to all the diving equipment used by the scuba diver, though this would more commonly and accurately be termed scuba equipment or scuba gear. Scuba is overwhelmingly the most common underwater breathing system used by recreational divers and is also used in professional diving when it provides advantages, usually of mobility and range, over surface-supplied diving systems and is allowed by the relevant legislation and code of practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Technical diving</span> Extended scope recreational diving

Technical diving is scuba diving that exceeds the agency-specified limits of recreational diving for non-professional purposes. Technical diving may expose the diver to hazards beyond those normally associated with recreational diving, and to a greater risk of serious injury or death. Risk may be reduced via appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience. Risk can also be managed by using suitable equipment and procedures. The skills may be developed through specialized training and experience. The equipment involves breathing gases other than air or standard nitrox mixtures, and multiple gas sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep diving</span> Underwater diving to a depth beyond the norm accepted by the associated community

Deep diving is underwater diving to a depth beyond the norm accepted by the associated community. In some cases this is a prescribed limit established by an authority, while in others it is associated with a level of certification or training, and it may vary depending on whether the diving is recreational, technical or commercial. Nitrogen narcosis becomes a hazard below 30 metres (98 ft) and hypoxic breathing gas is required below 60 metres (200 ft) to lessen the risk of oxygen toxicity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recreational diving</span> Diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment

Recreational diving or sport diving is diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment. The term "recreational diving" may also be used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of recreational diving which requires more training and experience to develop the competence to reliably manage more complex equipment in the more hazardous conditions associated with the disciplines. Breath-hold diving for recreation also fits into the broader scope of the term, but this article covers the commonly used meaning of scuba diving for recreational purposes, where the diver is not constrained from making a direct near-vertical ascent to the surface at any point during the dive, and risk is considered low.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional diving</span> Underwater diving where divers are paid for their work

Professional diving is underwater diving where the divers are paid for their work. Occupational diving has a similar meaning and applications. The procedures are often regulated by legislation and codes of practice as it is an inherently hazardous occupation and the diver works as a member of a team. Due to the dangerous nature of some professional diving operations, specialized equipment such as an on-site hyperbaric chamber and diver-to-surface communication system is often required by law, and the mode of diving for some applications may be regulated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scuba diving</span> Swimming underwater, breathing gas carried by the diver

Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface breathing gas supply, and therefore has a limited but variable endurance. The name scuba is an anacronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus" and was coined by Christian J. Lambertsen in a patent submitted in 1952. Scuba divers carry their own source of breathing gas, usually compressed air, affording them greater independence and movement than surface-supplied divers, and more time underwater than free divers. Although the use of compressed air is common, a gas blend with a higher oxygen content, known as enriched air or nitrox, has become popular due to the reduced nitrogen intake during long or repetitive dives. Also, breathing gas diluted with helium may be used to reduce the effects of nitrogen narcosis during deeper dives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diver rescue</span> Rescue of a distressed or incapacitated diver

Diver rescue, usually following an accident, is the process of avoiding or limiting further exposure to diving hazards and bringing a diver to a place of safety. A safe place generally means a place where the diver cannot drown, such as a boat or dry land, where first aid can be administered and from which professional medical treatment can be sought. In the context of surface supplied diving, the place of safety for a diver with a decompression obligation is often the diving bell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underwater diving</span> Descending below the surface of the water to interact with the environment

Underwater diving, as a human activity, is the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment. It is also often referred to as diving, an ambiguous term with several possible meanings, depending on context. Immersion in water and exposure to high ambient pressure have physiological effects that limit the depths and duration possible in ambient pressure diving. Humans are not physiologically and anatomically well-adapted to the environmental conditions of diving, and various equipment has been developed to extend the depth and duration of human dives, and allow different types of work to be done.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scuba gas management</span> Logistical aspects of scuba breathing gas

Scuba gas management is the aspect of scuba diving which includes the gas planning, blending, filling, analysing, marking, storage, and transportation of gas cylinders for a dive, the monitoring and switching of breathing gases during a dive, efficient and correct use of the gas, and the provision of emergency gas to another member of the dive team. The primary aim is to ensure that everyone has enough to breathe of a gas suitable for the current depth at all times, and is aware of the gas mixture in use and its effect on decompression obligations, nitrogen narcosis, and oxygen toxicity risk. Some of these functions may be delegated to others, such as the filling of cylinders, or transportation to the dive site, but others are the direct responsibility of the diver using the gas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decompression equipment</span> Equipment used by divers to facilitate decompression

There are several categories of decompression equipment used to help divers decompress, which is the process required to allow divers to return to the surface safely after spending time underwater at higher ambient pressures.

Diving safety is the aspect of underwater diving operations and activities concerned with the safety of the participants. The safety of underwater diving depends on four factors: the environment, the equipment, behaviour of the individual diver and performance of the dive team. The underwater environment can impose severe physical and psychological stress on a diver, and is mostly beyond the diver's control. Equipment is used to operate underwater for anything beyond very short periods, and the reliable function of some of the equipment is critical to even short-term survival. Other equipment allows the diver to operate in relative comfort and efficiency, or to remain healthy over the longer term. The performance of the individual diver depends on learned skills, many of which are not intuitive, and the performance of the team depends on competence, communication, attention and common goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of scuba diving</span> History of diving using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

The history of scuba diving is closely linked with the history of the equipment. By the turn of the twentieth century, two basic architectures for underwater breathing apparatus had been pioneered; open-circuit surface supplied equipment where the diver's exhaled gas is vented directly into the water, and closed-circuit breathing apparatus where the diver's carbon dioxide is filtered from the exhaled breathing gas, which is then recirculated, and more gas added to replenish the oxygen content. Closed circuit equipment was more easily adapted to scuba in the absence of reliable, portable, and economical high pressure gas storage vessels. By the mid-twentieth century, high pressure cylinders were available and two systems for scuba had emerged: open-circuit scuba where the diver's exhaled breath is vented directly into the water, and closed-circuit scuba where the carbon dioxide is removed from the diver's exhaled breath which has oxygen added and is recirculated. Oxygen rebreathers are severely depth limited due to oxygen toxicity risk, which increases with depth, and the available systems for mixed gas rebreathers were fairly bulky and designed for use with diving helmets. The first commercially practical scuba rebreather was designed and built by the diving engineer Henry Fleuss in 1878, while working for Siebe Gorman in London. His self contained breathing apparatus consisted of a rubber mask connected to a breathing bag, with an estimated 50–60% oxygen supplied from a copper tank and carbon dioxide scrubbed by passing it through a bundle of rope yarn soaked in a solution of caustic potash. During the 1930s and all through World War II, the British, Italians and Germans developed and extensively used oxygen rebreathers to equip the first frogmen. In the U.S. Major Christian J. Lambertsen invented a free-swimming oxygen rebreather. In 1952 he patented a modification of his apparatus, this time named SCUBA, an acronym for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus," which became the generic English word for autonomous breathing equipment for diving, and later for the activity using the equipment. After World War II, military frogmen continued to use rebreathers since they do not make bubbles which would give away the presence of the divers. The high percentage of oxygen used by these early rebreather systems limited the depth at which they could be used due to the risk of convulsions caused by acute oxygen toxicity.

Investigation of diving accidents includes investigations into the causes of reportable incidents in professional diving and recreational diving accidents, usually when there is a fatality or litigation for gross negligence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of underwater diving: N–Z</span> Alphabetical listing of underwater diving related topics

The following index is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving: Links to articles and redirects to sections of articles which provide information on each topic are listed with a short description of the topic. When there is more than one article with information on a topic, the most relevant is usually listed, and it may be cross-linked to further information from the linked page or section.

Diving support equipment is the equipment used to facilitate a diving operation. It is either not taken into the water during the dive, such as the gas panel and compressor, or is not integral to the actual diving, being there to make the dive easier or safer, such as a surface decompression chamber. Some equipment, like a diving stage, is not easily categorised as diving or support equipment, and may be considered as either.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of underwater diving: A–M</span> Alphabetical listing of underwater diving related topics

The following index is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:

References