Underwater diving is the activity and or sport that submerges humans completely below the surface of a body of water.
This activity is extremely strenuous on humans not only physically but psychologically. Underwater diving is not for the fearful or the faint of heart.
Free Diving
The first category of underwater diving consists of the most simple dives. It not only includes free diving, which is diving without a breathing tube but scuba diving and snorkeling as well.
The latter two can be used as fun activities while on vacation and do not require serious amounts of training.
With free diving, there are many sports like rugby, hockey, and death competition that are done.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is becoming a popular activity throughout the world. It enables a person to be completely independent below the surface with their own equipment including oxygen.
There are many uses for scuba diving besides leisurely sport, like deep sea fishing or shipwreck exploration.
The NAVY uses scuba diving as a form of training their soldiers for rescue dives, combat forces and use of attacks.
The equipment will usually include face mask for clarity of sight in the water, fins for movement, wetsuit for warmth and a type of oxygen tank. To see a more in-depth study on scuba diving.
Surface Supplied Diving or Helmet (Hard Hat) Diving
This type of diving is exactly how it sounds. A diver that has an “umbilical cord” line connected to a helmet looking device that can supply more than oxygen.
Depending on the type of dive job the diver is performing, determines what else besides oxygen is being transferred to the diver.
Some lines in the “helmet” can supply everything to heat, video monitoring and include a communication line.
Atmospheric Pressure Diving
One of the most safety conscientious styles of diving, the atmospheric pressure dives are for the highest of trained people.
This type of dive involves the use of an ADS, Atmospheric Diving Suit. This specific suit looks like armor and gives the diver the ability to breathe in only one atmosphere of pressure.
This means that the psychological dangers of underwater diving need not to be worried about as much. This, however, is one of the most expensive types of dives.
Saturation Dive
In the 1950’s the United States NAVY found a way for people to be inside a vessel of sorts and stay underwater for days or weeks at a time without the need for decompression time.
These vessels are called diving bells or underwater habitats. The NAVY found that if divers stay down long enough in these pressurized facilities their bodies become “saturated” and does not assemble any other gases like nitrogen or helium which permits a diver being down for a day can be the same as for a diver of one week according to The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Unmanned Diving
The one type of diving that does not involve any person being in the dangers of the waters is the unmanned type.
By its’ name, these dives are done by robots that are remotely controlled by a man on the surface of a ship or boat.
This means that dives that are considered dangerous, do not have to be anymore. A person does not have to be inside the AUV, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
These vehicles and robots can go to depths of miles below the surface, which is impossible by a human without the technology and machinery.
Training for the Dive
Of course, with a varying scope of the types of dives, there are many different types and lengths of training needed.
Furthermore, some of these dives are only requested for a specialized job, meaning only certain people who have that job are allowed to do it.
All underwater divers, sans snorkelers, will take basic dive training. This will include the equipment, communication, emergency, and rescue procedures.
Risks and Safety
Humans are not built to be in the water period. There are exploration, jobs, and food that make humans want and need to go below the surface.
With all of this, there are big risks and safety concerns that will be discussed. Risks include pulmonary embolism, decompression sickness and barotrauma are just a few that could happen in diving.
If anyone needs more information please check out, Being safe in the underwater wilderness includes being trained and certified, having the right equipment and communicating with the team.
These are the basics so that diving can be done properly, safely and be effective.
Diving Medicine
Going along with an activity or even job that can be life-threatening, there is an exact science and medicine that goes along with it.
Physicians are trained in the field of diving medicine. They learn everything from the physics of diving to the neurological exams to decompression procedures and even medications underwater.
These physicians are necessary when and if an emergency arises. More on diving medicine can be found here.
Yes, there are risks that go along with sea diving, however, there are multiple reasons for people to be involved.
Military training is very important and attacks can come from anywhere, including the oceans.
There are reasons that the NAVY has found ways to broaden their soldiers, even underwater.
Rescue teams are needed since natural disasters happen like typhoons and hurricanes which will be beneficial for mankind.
Food is a necessity of life and there is plenty that comes from all across the world in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Archaeology and marine biology are just two different research subjects that are done in the water. And ocean conservation is another huge reason.
Even more, reasons, why diving is necessary for humans can be found here.
For anyone who is interested in the varying degrees of underwater diving, there is a multitude of reasons to seek it out for sport, pleasure and as a career.
Yes, there are risks and safety concerns, although, there are dangers in many aspects of life as well.
Underwater diving takes the brave and daring to turn them into the ultimate adventurer.
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