Scuba Diving - Getting to Know the Breathing Apparatus
The open circuit scuba set is a convergence of specialized scuba equipment and gear designed to support a few minutes of human activity at depths of as much as a hundred feet of sea water below the surface.
Without the self contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and its implements, recreational divers will not be able to enjoy a few minutes of bottom time for that much coveted underwater action.
The article will discuss the basic components of the open circuit scuba set; from the apparatus that supports underwater breathing to the scuba gear that controls the diver's vertical position on the water column.
Breathing Gases Before we even begin to discuss the mechanical components of a scuba set, it would be necessary to make mention of the breathing gases that fuel the diver's sustained respiration underwater.
Due to its abundant supply, atmospheric gases composed of Nitrogen, Oxygen and a minimal proportion of inert gases are the most popular breathing gases used for recreational scuba diving.
Meanwhile for more specialized forms of diving that usually involve the cruise of depths below recreational levels, professional scuba divers employ Enriched Air or Nitrox that has been pre-configured to contain higher proportions of Oxygen (to as much as 40%).
This type of mixture allows for reduced inhalation effort, lower Nitrogen absorption rate by the body and increased bottom times.
Open Circuit Apparatus Breathable gases are compressed and stored in standard 80 cubic feet, aluminum or steel tanks called the diving cylinder that can accommodate maximum volumes of 3000 to 4500 per square inch of pressure.
The rubber O-ring valve of the diving cylinder connects to the first stage mechanism of the scuba regulator set to reduce blatant air pressure emanating from the tank to intermediate pressure.
Since intermediate pressure is still unfit for breathing, air is ferried to the second stage where pressure is consequently dropped to ambient or surrounding water pressure.
At this rate, breathable air is conveyed through a mouthpiece that the diver can fine tune to reduce inhalation effort.
In case of free flows, the primary second set is condemned and the diver breathes through the octopus regulator.
Meanwhile, extending from the scuba regulator set is a high pressure hose that connects to a pressure and depth gauge.
While the depth gauge obviously measures the diver's current depth, the pressure gauge alerts the diver of the remaining air pressure on the cylinder tank.
Buoyancy Control Another scuba equipment called the buoyancy compensator device (BCD) connects to the regulator set by way of a low pressure direct feed mechanism.
The BCD controls the diver's position on the water column through the competent inflation and venting of its bladders (via the inflation valve and vent valves respectively).
While this scuba gear is not involved in the process of supplying Air to the diver, efficient breathing techniques when combined with the expert manipulation of BCD mechanisms - including the lead weights, is necessary to establish better buoyancy control.
Without the self contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and its implements, recreational divers will not be able to enjoy a few minutes of bottom time for that much coveted underwater action.
The article will discuss the basic components of the open circuit scuba set; from the apparatus that supports underwater breathing to the scuba gear that controls the diver's vertical position on the water column.
Breathing Gases Before we even begin to discuss the mechanical components of a scuba set, it would be necessary to make mention of the breathing gases that fuel the diver's sustained respiration underwater.
Due to its abundant supply, atmospheric gases composed of Nitrogen, Oxygen and a minimal proportion of inert gases are the most popular breathing gases used for recreational scuba diving.
Meanwhile for more specialized forms of diving that usually involve the cruise of depths below recreational levels, professional scuba divers employ Enriched Air or Nitrox that has been pre-configured to contain higher proportions of Oxygen (to as much as 40%).
This type of mixture allows for reduced inhalation effort, lower Nitrogen absorption rate by the body and increased bottom times.
Open Circuit Apparatus Breathable gases are compressed and stored in standard 80 cubic feet, aluminum or steel tanks called the diving cylinder that can accommodate maximum volumes of 3000 to 4500 per square inch of pressure.
The rubber O-ring valve of the diving cylinder connects to the first stage mechanism of the scuba regulator set to reduce blatant air pressure emanating from the tank to intermediate pressure.
Since intermediate pressure is still unfit for breathing, air is ferried to the second stage where pressure is consequently dropped to ambient or surrounding water pressure.
At this rate, breathable air is conveyed through a mouthpiece that the diver can fine tune to reduce inhalation effort.
In case of free flows, the primary second set is condemned and the diver breathes through the octopus regulator.
Meanwhile, extending from the scuba regulator set is a high pressure hose that connects to a pressure and depth gauge.
While the depth gauge obviously measures the diver's current depth, the pressure gauge alerts the diver of the remaining air pressure on the cylinder tank.
Buoyancy Control Another scuba equipment called the buoyancy compensator device (BCD) connects to the regulator set by way of a low pressure direct feed mechanism.
The BCD controls the diver's position on the water column through the competent inflation and venting of its bladders (via the inflation valve and vent valves respectively).
While this scuba gear is not involved in the process of supplying Air to the diver, efficient breathing techniques when combined with the expert manipulation of BCD mechanisms - including the lead weights, is necessary to establish better buoyancy control.
