There is a world some see only in pictures, the underwater world filled with the wonder and mystery of the unknown. The reefs, the colors, the fish, and the pure enjoyment of discovery are only some of the reasons we scuba dive. Scuba divers have a quest for adventure; whether professional or for recreational purposes, and what better way to fulfill this quest than to do something people all over the world are doing, Scuba diving.

For some, the name itself conjures up images of the past where someone dressed all in black, with a large face mask, slides into the water, such as Jacque Cousteau, or someone from an old TV series called Sea Hunt. Is it any wonder that Scuba diving is vague to some? However, for those taking the first plunge into the world of diving, it will most likely be a first step into a lifetime of fun.

Take home a memory

Photography is another reason Scuba diving has become so popular. Combined with the proper tools, photos taken underwater are an achievement that could never be mastered without visiting the spectacular underwater world. For the explorer in all of us there is that drive that lures us to underwater caves and feeling the freedom and sensation that comes with diving.

Scuba diving, which stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, allows us, the graceful underwater swimmer, the opportunity to see how large and powerful the world below us actually is and with today’s equipment and proper education, almost anyone can dive. People all over the world have taken to the waters below, from ages 8 and up.

Whether you’re diving for recreation, or professionally, once you have made the decision to Scuba dive, you will find there is nothing as enjoyable as feeling the stir of the water while surrounded by eye-catching fish. There is nothing quite as thrilling as looking a fish square in the eye. And since two thirds of the earth is covered with water, you can explore your options. Maybe instead of a tropical coral reef, which isn’t often accessible to some, you choose something from a cold water environment, such as a lake or river. Although most divers prefer a tropical coral reef environment, there are those who prefer to dive in their own backyard, so to speak.

Even people with disabilities are finding underwater adventures accessible to them. According to some it can even help people with Fibromyalgia and other conditions if approached properly and given the training that is modified for people with physical disabilities.

Underwater diving is not new. Remember as a kid staying under water until you could no longer hold your breath? Or snorkeling while on vacation, hoping to see a coral reef or a brightly colored fish? Granted, this was not Scuba diving because it didn’t allow you to stay down for long periods at a time. But it was your first step toward the adventure. For years Scuba diving was considered a sport for those who could afford it, or for professionals. Today, however, it is a sport we can all enjoy.

If you would like to learn more about Scuba Diving

Then begin the adventure of a lifetime.

Thermal protection, what are your choices and how do they work?

Wet Suits

A properly fitting wet suit will allow a thin film of water to seep between the suit and your skin. Your body heats this layer of water, and the neoprene foam rubber prevents the surrounding water from cooling that layer. Many people mistakenly believe that the water, once trapped between skin and suit, does not experience any exchange. In other words once the water has got in it stays there and is never replaced with more water from the ocean/river whatever. Not so, a wet suit will have an element of water exchange to it, and the better the wet suit fits, the less this will occur. A shorty version of a wet suit means that the sleeves will stop immediately above the elbow, and the legs immediately above the knee joint.

Semi-dry suits

A slightly different version of a wet suit is commonly called a ’semi-dry’ suit. the key differences here are the level of engineering which has gone into the ankle, wrist and neck seals to eliminate water exchange. Semidry suits are more commonly used in temperate climates where the improved thermal qualities are required for extended submersion, and the user is not electing to wear a dry suit. Some new higher end regular wet suits are more like a semi-dry, featuring a shiny neoprene surface to seal better against the skin. The big difference really being the thickness of the neoprene. A semi-dry suit is generally at least 5mm thick, and maybe even 7mm thick and may even have an attached hood.

Dry Suits

Dry suits, as their name suggests keep the occupant dry. It should be stressed here that ‘dry’ is a relative term and is intended to mean that the wearer does not come into direct contact with the medium in which he or she is immersed. (An example of that may be a police diver who is tasked with searching a large sewer pipe.) Most sport divers interested in the purchase of a dry suit are faced with the choice between compressed neoprene rubber, or a multi-laminate membrane material. My personal favorite is laminate, but I know many divers who prefer neoprene due to it’s increased abrasion resistance. (I am of the school of "take only photos and leave only bubbles" and believe that no diver should touch anything and if they cannot avoid crashing into things, then take a buoyancy control course!) A dry suit operates in conjunction with an undergarment of very high thermal qualities, sometimes referred to as a ‘wooly bear’ due to the appearance of the early versions. My last one was a 1 piece jump suit with a tough nylon outer layer with pockets etc. and a thick thermal pile inner surface. It was worn all day if I was diving or teaching. The dry suit will most likely have a boot attached to the bottom of the leg, meaning that with water tight seals at wrist, and neck the wearer stays dry. Now, it is very common to exit from a dive and be aware of being slightly damp. That is unlikely to be a suit malfunction, it is simply condensed perspiration.

So these are your choices, by all means be guided by other divers, but stick to what feels right. If you dive a lot, then buy the best you can possibly afford I know it pays off. Remember that you should be comfortable, and just because everyone else on the boat is wearing a 3 mm shorty and you have a 5mm full length semi-dry on, so what? Do not allow peer pressure to turn you into a hypothermia case!