Aside from the required protective suit you will also need some extra diving equipment before going under the water. The Buoyancy Compensation Device: BCD is necessary to uphold your buoyancy underwater. There are different types of devices. It is worn like a jacket and consists of the following: Internal air bladders A hose for adding and extracting air from bladders A loop system for holding air cylinder Pockets and D-rings for equipment Air is added or extracted out of internal bladders. Lead weights: Human body is naturally buoyant and although it might be carrying heavy diving equipment it will not automatically sink. To stabilize this natural buoyancy divers need to wear lead weights placed either inside a harness, in a belt or in the pockets of the BCD. To regulate the balance of buoyancy, air is added to the BCD to keep the diver off the bottom of the dive location or in the depth chosen. When on the surface, the BCD is teemed with air to counteract the negative effects of the weights. Cylinders: Cylinders do not contain oxygen, contrary to what most people believe. They contain air compressed under pressure. It is measured either in pounds per square inch (psi) or measured by bar. This is controlled by a valve found on the top of the cylinder. Cylinders are usually constructed of steel or aluminum. They come in a range of sizes measured in cubic feet or liters. Different sizes of cylinders have their advantages and disadvantages. Larger ones allow longer periods to remain underwater but the disadvantage is that they are heavier to carry. Cylinders are required to be inspected on a regular basis. These diving equipment items should be tested periodically by accredited testing facilities to examine if they are safe to operate. Regulators: Air in a cylinder is held at very high pressure that is why regulators are required. Regulators control the pressure to a level that a human being can breathe. Series of high pressure hoses: 1. Feed for the BCD 2. Accommodate the mouthpiece (the demand valve) 3. Alternative air source (known as octopus) 4. Contain the gauge. Breathable air will be delivered to the diver through the demand valve (DV) by way of the mouthpiece. The diver breathes in and out with the air being forced out through an exhaust on the DV. In case of emergencies. a buddy can use a second demand valve called octopus. It is colored bright yellow for easy identification underwater. The contents gauge will notify the diver for available air in the cylinder. Computer: The computer worn on the diver's wrist is to record: Depth Length of time underwater Rate of ascent to the surface Calculate compression stops Clothing required: Mask Fins Protective clothing, skin suit, wet suit, semi dry suit and/or a dry suit Seeing to it that you are using the right equipment makes sure of your safety. Never forget to check thediving equipment with your buddy before attempting any dive. Looking to find the best deal on scuba gears, then visit www.MyDiveBuddies.com to find the best advice on diving equipment for you.About the Author:
Allyn Cutts is a scuba diving enthusiast, traveling the globe with his wife checking dive destinations off thier bucket, list one at a time. He is also the Dive Master at www.MyDiveBuddies.com, a private social networking community specifically for scuba diving fanatics.Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - What Scuba Diving Equipment Is Required?