Don’t Forget the Diver’s Knife by Christine Breen
Scuba diving is a great sport but better yet it’s a unique and personal way to see wildlife in it’s natural habitat. I’ll never forget the first time I went under the ocean surface. I could not get over the fact that it was just like swimming in an aquarium, except better! Since then I’ve gotten better scuba diving gear, gotten more experience and never forget my divers knife.
Scuba diving gear is more important than gear for any other sport. With scuba diving you are entering an environment that you cannot survive in, without quality, functioning equipment. This does not mean that you have to wear ugly suits, as fashionable diving gear is now available. It is an expensive hobby or sport as you have to be in good physical health. Essential scuba diving gear are wetsuits, hoods, gloves to keep you warm in the cold water. It’s not just for comfort, as hypothermia can set in. Other essential gear are masks, regulators, bads, computers, watches, a divers knife, lights and Gear Bag. Camera and accessories are optional. You don’t need to buy the most expensive, top of the line gear, but you don’t want to get gear so cheap that you have to replace it every year.
Here are some scuba gear recommendations. BCDs are Buoyancy Control Devices which is a bladder than can be inflated with air to help raise your buoyancy. Get one that with shoulder straps separate from the bladder, padded backpack, pockets and a stretchy, adjustable chest harness.
Regulators reduce the high Pressure Air in the tank to a level that is suitable for breathing. It delivers air only when the diver inhales. Get a regulator that is pneumatically balanced with an adjustable Second Stage. The second stage adjustment allows the diver to adjust breathing effort and fine tune the regulator.
Wetsuits are vital as they prevent body heat loss in the freezing deep waters. It also protects you against scrapes and stings. You don’t need a hyperstretch wetsuit unless several different body types are going to share the same wetsuit, at different times of course.
Scuba diving computers are invaluable for safe diving. They monitor the depth, bottom time and automatically recalculate decompression status. They also monitor ascent rate, tank pressure, log dives and tell when it is safe to fly.
The diver’s knife should not be overlooked as essential diving gear. If you get tangled up in a net, ropes or attacked by some aquatic life a knife specifically for divers will probably save your life. Randall Knives makes handmade knives for many purposes, including divers. They are a very well known and respected knife company.
Take good care of your scuba diving gear, and it will take good care of you.
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How It’s Made BCD(buoyancy Control Device)