As Scuba Diving is a popular recreational sport, beautiful coral reefs and creepy shipwrecks around the world have become major tourist draws in their own right. However, it should not be forgotten that scuba diving is an extreme sport with its own unusual injuries and potentially life-threatening hazards. Most of these scuba diving dangers come from the effects of the increased water pressure of the undersea environment, but there are also dangers posed by sea life and faulty equipment.
Barotrauma
Barotrauma is caused by the damage done by increased underwater pressure on the air pocket in the middle ear. Divers usually "equalize" during a dive by pinching their nose shut and blowing, by chewing or by swallowing to push more air into the middle air. However, a descent that is too rapid can overcome a diver's ability to equalize and result in severe pain and even injury to the middle ear.
Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness (also called "the bends") is caused by increased underwater pressure causing the body's tissues to absorb more nitrogen. If that pressure is suddenly reduced, this extra nitrogen forms potentially harmful bubbles. Deep divers return to the surface in carefully monitored stages so as to control the rate at which this absorbed nitrogen is released. Depending on the amount of nitrogen absorbed and the rate at which it was released, a case of the bends can range from aching joints or a skin rash to paralysis and death.
Nitrogen Narcosis
Another nitrogen-related danger is the narcotic effect of all that extra nitrogen in the body. Anyone who has had nitrous-oxide gas at the dentist is already familiar with this effect. Nitrogen narcosis is a danger because it impairs judgment and sensory perception. As with the bends, the degree of nitrogen narcosis is related to how deep a diver goes and how much nitrogen they absorb.
Oxygen Toxicity
Oxygen toxicity is a usual problem that is encountered by deep divers who go below 135 feet. Like nitrogen, the body absorbs extra oxygen under increased underwater pressure as well. For most divers this is not a problem, but at extreme depths so much extra oxygen is absorbed that this life-giving gas becomes toxic. The effects range from tunnel vision and/or nausea to twitching to loss of consciousness and/or seizures.
Pulmonary Embolism
Another risk that a diver is facing is the pulmonary embolism. Those divers who rapidly ascend to the surface experience this. The increased pressure of the undersea environment results in the gas a diver breathes becoming denser, as more gas is crammed into the same space under pressure. The gas held in the lungs will expand at the same rate that the pressure on the body is reduced, so a rapid ascent can cause the lungs to swell and even pop like a balloon. Scuba divers guard against pulmonary embolism by making slow, controlled ascents to the surface and by never holding their breath.
Sea Life
Divers should always consider that each dive is equivalent of entering an untamed wilderness. While most sea creatures are not aggressive towards divers and attacks are extremely rare, incidents do happen and a diver cannot afford to forget that he is surrounded by wild animals. Divers should always treat sea life with great care and respect.
Defective Equipment
Many casual scuba divers do not own their own equipment, and are therefore reliant on renting equipment from the scuba diving operator who is conducting their dive trip. A broken depth gauge could lead to a mild case of decompression sickness, while a bad regulator might result in drowning. A diver should always carefully check rented scuba diving equipment, and never be shy about asking for a new piece of gear if they suspect something is wrong with what they have.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Kinds of diving
There are many types of diving you can choose to do, if you are qualified to do so. Some of course requires specialized training, while some don’t. One of the greatest things about diving is its variety, in terms of diving itself.
Cave diving
Cave diving is underwater diving in caves which are at least partially filled with water. The equipment used varies depending on the circumstances, and ranges from breath hold to surface supplied, but almost all cave diving is done using scuba equipment, often in specializedconformations. Generally speaking, cave diving is considered to be a type of technical diving due to the lack of a free surface during large parts of the dive, and often involves decompression. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of caving while in the United States, it is an extension of scuba diving. Compared to caving and scuba diving, there are comparatively few practitioners of cave diving. This is because of the specialized equipment and skill that are required, and also because of the high potential risks like sickness and drowning.
Drift diving
Drift diving is a variety of scuba diving wherein the diver is transported by the flows caused by the tide or in a river. The current gives the diver the impression of flying and enables the diver to cover extended distances underwater, possibly seeing more habitats and formations than the usual. Often drift diving is performed more for the experience of underwater adventure and less for interactions with underwater life.
Ice diving
Ice diving is a variety where the dive takes place under ice. Because diving under ice places the diver in an overhead environment typically with only a single entry/exit point, it is considered an innovative type of diving requiring special training. Ice divers are generally tied for safety, wherein the diver wears a special harness under the scuba unit. A line is secured to this harness, and the other end of the line is secured above the surface by one of a number of methods.
Night diving
Night diving is an underwater diving done during the hours of darkness. It frequently refers specifically to a diving that takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal. There are additional hazards when diving in darkness, such as torch or flashlight failure. This can result in losing vertical visual references and being unable to control depth or buoyancy, being unable to read instruments such as dive computers and diving cylinder contents gauges, and potential separation from the rest of the diving group, boat, or shore cover. Even with a functioning torch, these hazards are still present in night diving. Backup lights are recommended here.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling (also spelled as “snorkeling”) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, usually fins. A wetsuit may also be worn when snorkeling in cool water. Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resorts and scuba diving locations. The primary charm is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the technical and complicated equipment and training that are required for other varieties in diving, specifically in scuba diving.
Technical diving
Technical diving (also called “Tec diving”) is one of the varieties of diving that exceeds the conventional limits – especially depth and bottom time – of recreational. Technical diving exposes the diver to significantly higher risks than recreational diving, including permanent illness and death, and therefore requires extensive experience, advanced training, and specialized equipment. Technical diving also often involves breathing gases other than air or standard nitrox.
Wall diving
This is done through diving along the face of a near vertical cliff wall, particularly if the bottom is below the range of the diver's equipment and certification. This requires good buoyancy control.
Wreck diving
Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites. Wreck diving can also pertain to diving to crashed aircraft.
Cave diving
Cave diving is underwater diving in caves which are at least partially filled with water. The equipment used varies depending on the circumstances, and ranges from breath hold to surface supplied, but almost all cave diving is done using scuba equipment, often in specializedconformations. Generally speaking, cave diving is considered to be a type of technical diving due to the lack of a free surface during large parts of the dive, and often involves decompression. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of caving while in the United States, it is an extension of scuba diving. Compared to caving and scuba diving, there are comparatively few practitioners of cave diving. This is because of the specialized equipment and skill that are required, and also because of the high potential risks like sickness and drowning.
Drift diving
Drift diving is a variety of scuba diving wherein the diver is transported by the flows caused by the tide or in a river. The current gives the diver the impression of flying and enables the diver to cover extended distances underwater, possibly seeing more habitats and formations than the usual. Often drift diving is performed more for the experience of underwater adventure and less for interactions with underwater life.
Ice diving
Ice diving is a variety where the dive takes place under ice. Because diving under ice places the diver in an overhead environment typically with only a single entry/exit point, it is considered an innovative type of diving requiring special training. Ice divers are generally tied for safety, wherein the diver wears a special harness under the scuba unit. A line is secured to this harness, and the other end of the line is secured above the surface by one of a number of methods.
Night diving
Night diving is an underwater diving done during the hours of darkness. It frequently refers specifically to a diving that takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal. There are additional hazards when diving in darkness, such as torch or flashlight failure. This can result in losing vertical visual references and being unable to control depth or buoyancy, being unable to read instruments such as dive computers and diving cylinder contents gauges, and potential separation from the rest of the diving group, boat, or shore cover. Even with a functioning torch, these hazards are still present in night diving. Backup lights are recommended here.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling (also spelled as “snorkeling”) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, usually fins. A wetsuit may also be worn when snorkeling in cool water. Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resorts and scuba diving locations. The primary charm is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the technical and complicated equipment and training that are required for other varieties in diving, specifically in scuba diving.
Technical diving
Technical diving (also called “Tec diving”) is one of the varieties of diving that exceeds the conventional limits – especially depth and bottom time – of recreational. Technical diving exposes the diver to significantly higher risks than recreational diving, including permanent illness and death, and therefore requires extensive experience, advanced training, and specialized equipment. Technical diving also often involves breathing gases other than air or standard nitrox.
Wall diving
This is done through diving along the face of a near vertical cliff wall, particularly if the bottom is below the range of the diver's equipment and certification. This requires good buoyancy control.
Wreck diving
Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites. Wreck diving can also pertain to diving to crashed aircraft.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)