Tank- A tank is used to hold breathable air and different air mixtures based on the depth of your dive. Many times you will see divers that dive over depths of one hundred feet carrying using multiple tanks.
BCD- BCD stands for buoyancy controlled device. This device helps control depth, descent speed, and many other things. I use a Sherwood-Luna BCD for my dives. This specific BCD has integrated weights meaning that weight used for buoyancy control are a part of the vest instead of being a separate entity. A BCD uses air from your air tank to inflate. One of the main functions of a BCD helps a diver “hover” at the bottom in order to leave bottom dwelling sea life undisturbed along with carrying the tank.
Regulator- A regulator is literally the device that pumps life into your lungs when breathing underwater. A regulator controls the high pressure air exiting your tank and lowers it to an amount that is safe for human consumption. This device also works with your BCD to provide buoyancy. There are two different stages of a regulatory system: primary, which connects to the tank and secondary, which has a mouthpiece and goes in your mouth.
Console - Just like you have a gauge in your car to measure speed, temperature, or even fuel, divers use gauges to measure things to. Ours tends to be a little different though. The console I use is computerized. With this device you can plan dives, monitor air levels, plan safety stops, and measure surface intervals. This device is also hooked to my regulator.
Weights- Weights are used by scuba divers to offset the wetsuit and our bodies natural buoyancy system. Weights come in many different shapes, sizes and weights. Soft weights are made led shot that are in small, square bags similar to corn hole bags. Solid weights are a single piece of led. Weights can range from one pound to ten pounds. They can be worn on your BCD, as integrated weights, or on a belt around your waist.
Wetsuit- Wetsuits are used to control diver’s body temperature in cold environments, as well as, protecting from abrasions. Wetsuits let water in when you first enter the water. This water can not escape once it is in the wetsuit. The water is warmed by your own body heat and it prevents your body from getting any colder than it is. Wetsuits come in different thicknesses. You would decide what thickness to use by the temperature of the water you are diving in. A drysuit on the other hand does not let any water in. This type of suit would be used when diving in colder environments. A dry suits also allows for a thermal layer like thermal knits. I also have a Lavacore which is an extra layer between me and my wetsuits.
Watch- Just like any ordinary watch, watches are needed by divers in order to keep time. Some watches monitor tank air level, depth, and amount of time needed for safety stop.
Dive Tables- Dive tables are mostly electronic now but are also seen in the form of small laminated pieces. They are used to schedule how long you are safely able to stay under water, at a specific depth. They also give you the required length of time for a surface interval.
Octopus - An octopus is a backup for your secondary regulator.
Mask- A mask is a simple object in which the viewer would use in order to keep water out of his/her nose or eyes. I use a low volume mask that helps with the squeeze and equalizing pressure of the sinus cavities and ear canal, just as though you were going up the mountain or flying.
Fins- Fins increase the surface area of your feet, allowing you to push more water which in turn increases you propulsion. One size does not fit all when it comes to fins. I wear a small/medium in a long fin, whereas my mother wears a large.extra-large in a short fin. My fins also require the use of booties. Some fins, however, have integrated booties.
Booties- I don’t know about you but when my feet get cold, my whole body gets cold. Booties are basically wetsuits for your feet.
Snorkel- Snorkels are used when the diver approaches surface level and takes the regulator out of his/her mouth. A snorkel is a long, cylindrical tube that allows a diver to breathe fresh air while remaining inches below the surface.
Thermocline- A thermocline is an invisibles lining in the water. This line occurs every thirty-three feet. Once down thirty-three feet the water begins to get cold, much colder than it was beforehand. Besides temperature, atmospheric pressure also changes at these points.
Surface Interval- After every dive, you are required to have a surface interval. When diving nitrogen saturates the bloodstream. A surface interval allows for enough time to deplete nitrogen from your blood.
Decompression/Safety Stop- A decompression stop is basically where a diver “takes a break” before breaking the surface to ensure that his body has time to slowly release the nitrogen from his/her bloodstream.
Buddy System- My family consists of five divers therefore the buddy system tends to work a little differently. We call it a pod. If it comes down to it however my dad is my buddy. We try to stay together but if the family gets separated we make sure we, my dad and I are together. We have tried to place one another with a buddy that fits the same level we do.
Learning to Dive - When learning to dive in order to be certified you must complete an open water dive certification class. This class consist of numerous hours of book work and skill proficiencies. I am certified through PADI, which stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors. When mastering specific skills you work with a certified dive instructor who checks off on your proficiency in these skills. After book work comes diving in the pool to practice your newly acquired skills. Once your instructors passes you off on these skills you are ready for your open water dive. I dove in Lake James for my first open water dive.
Experience- My family and I just recently, well last december, took a vacation to Florida. Like any dive family, we couldn’t help but dive! Our very first dive while on that trip was at a dive resort called The Blue Grotto. We dove there several times but our very first dive there just so happened to be the first dive me and my sisters had ever been on without our instructor. We stayed underwater for a total of 135 minutes. On this dive we reached depths of thirty feet. My sisters and I could not go lower than forty feet at this point because we were only junior open water dive certified. When I turned sixteen, I became a full-blown open water diver. That certification granted me permission to dive up to sixty feet. Vergil is a friendly turtle that you could feed by hand while diving. My family dove at the Blue Grotto a total of two times. After the Blue Grotto, my family made the decision to dive in the springs around Florida. OUr next stop was at Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, Florida. While there my family dove a total of 203 minutes. Then we proceeded to Fanning Springs where we dove a total of 238 minutes. While at Fanning Springs we noticed a lot of stirred up algae before we entered the water. Come to find out, we were diving with a manatee. We named him “Wally.” He would swim right up to you. He followed us around like a lost pup. My family and I believed that he had been separated from his herd and found sanctity in the spring. My family and I then made our way to Ginnie Springs. I would have to say that these dives would have to be my favorite. When you descended, you came to the mouth of a cave. Upon entering, you travel down this corridor surrounding by rock. Once you have traveled down so many feet, there is a ballroom. As you look up you can see the pockets of air leaving your regulator and being caught by the ceiling of that ballroom. It is absolutely gorgeous.
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