Diving equipment

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The term diving equipment is used to summarize the technical components that enable people to adapt to the special conditions underwater when diving . Diving equipment includes in particular aids for seeing under water , for the supply of breathable air, for protection against the cold, for buoyancy , for orientation and for protection against injuries caused by pointed or sharp-edged objects, stones and aquatic life forms such as corals , sea ​​anemones , jellyfish etc. Art and The scope of the equipment used varies with the environmental conditions and the purpose pursued when diving.

Basic diving equipment

Basic diving equipment (including ABC equipment ) for recreational divers and lifeguards in open water consists of a diving mask with a viewing window, a snorkel and diving fins . In contrast to swimming goggles , the diving mask (also pressure equalization mask or incorrect diving goggles ) also covers the nose so that the internal pressure of the mask can be equalized. The nasal notch is flexible to allow the nose to be pinched together for the Valsalva maneuver . Both of these methods of pressure equalization are necessary to prevent the risk of barotrauma . The ABC equipment alone is only sufficient for snorkeling and apnea diving ; for scuba diving , a is additionally scuba set ( Scuba ) is required.

Scuba diving equipment

Breathing equipment: first stage (right outside), regulator (black), octopus (yellow), pressure gauge (here with depth gauge), inflator hose for the vest (above)

A compressed air diving device ( SCUBA for self contained underwater breathing apparatus , German for 'autonomous underwater compressed air breathing apparatus' - with an open circuit) is usually used for sport and scuba diving and in many cases for professional diving . The device consists of:

  1. one or more compressed air cylinders (English. tank ) with compressed air or another breathing gas
  2. a regulator (also regulator ;. Engl regulator ) for reducing tank pressure to the respective ambient pressure via two series-connected stages
  3. an inflatable buoyancy compensator (also jacket , BC for Buoyancy Compensator or BCD for Buoyancy Control Device ) to regulate buoyancy

An inflator for inflating and deflating the buoyancy compensator and a pressure gauge for reading the remaining cylinder pressure are usually attached to the first stage of the regulator . The bottle is attached to the backplate of the BC. In addition, a reserve breath regulator, the so-called octopus , is now standard. When diving in cold water (below 10 ° C), the use of two separate first stages is also recommended.

The equipment also includes a diving suit for protection against the cold and lead weights to compensate for the buoyancy of the diver and the diving equipment. The weights are usually carried on a belt with an adjustable buckle and / or distributed in specially designed pockets in the BC. When diving suit is between wet (engl. Wet suit (engl.) Or semi-dry suit semi-dry suit ) made of neoprene , and dry suit (engl. Dry suit ) of neoprene, rubber - or polyurethane-coated fabric distinguished. Diving gloves and socks made of neoprene are also common, especially in cold water . Since most of the body heat is lost through the head, a hood is also useful, which can be integrated separately or in the diving suit.

Finally, scuba diving also includes a depth gauge to display the current diving depth . Modern depth gauges are usually integrated into a dive computer which, in addition to the remaining no-stop time, can display other information such as the maximum depth of the current dive and the current dive time. Alternatively, there are special diving watches . Without a dive computer, you have to work with a decompression table (also called a diving table ) in order to avoid decompression sickness due to excessive nitrogen saturation in the diver's tissue.

Other pieces of equipment

  • Diving compass : a water and pressure resistant compass. Necessary for navigation because of the mostly poor visibility under water .
  • Diving knife : A knife with a stainless blade and striking plate on the handle, often equipped with a saw and rope cutter. The diving knife is intended to help rescue a diver underwater from an emergency that prevents him from ascending (e.g. fishing nets). In recent times, the knife has often been replaced by scissors, as they can be used to cut ropes more quickly.
  • Diving lamp : Because the water filters out the red and yellow components of the light even at a shallow depth, everything looks blue under water. With the lamp, the diver can illuminate the object under observation with the full spectrum of light and thus see in its full color. The lamp is also needed for night diving , cave diving and often wreck diving .
  • Signal devices for the surface: These include signal whistles, flashlights, signal buoys , mirrors or flares. In emergencies, help can be called from the surface of the water.
  • Signaling and communication devices for use under water: The tank banger , a plastic ball that is attached to the bottle with a sturdy elastic band, is used to generate a characteristic, easily audible noise, as is the shaker , a metal can that holds small pieces of metal contains and is shaken. Horns called hammerheads are also used for acoustic signaling , which are connected to the inflator , are operated with compressed air and can also be used above water. Depending on the purpose of the dive , it can also make sense to have a plastic writing board with you, on which you can write and draw with a waterproof pen.
  • Diving rope , partly with current or reef hook
  • Diver flag
  • Harpoon (not common and prohibited in most areas)

Special equipment

Manufacturer

World-famous manufacturers of diving equipment are (selection):

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Keyword "ABC equipment". In: Pocket dictionary of water sports. Humboldt Taschenbuchverlag Jacobi KG, Munich 1977; Pp. 8-9, ISBN 3-581-66304-X .