Scuba is a recreational activity that allows people to explore the underwater world. Recreational divers use a steel or aluminum diving cylinder of compressed air, scuba mask, snorkel, fins, dive computer, weights, and depending on the temperature an exposure suit. To become a scuba diver you need to get a scuba certification from a PADI certified instructor. To do that you will go through some theory in the classroom and then take a series of training dives in a pool, to learn skills like how to remove water from your mask or find your regulator if it gets knocked out. Many shops offer a “try scuba” class for potential new divers so you can try out the gear before making a commitment to get certified.

The first scuba system was a closed circuit rebreather, which recycles a diver’s carbon dioxide and filters out unused oxygen from the breathing gas supply. This allowed divers to stay underwater longer as the human body can only consume a small fraction of the oxygen inhaled.

The open-circuit scuba system was a more simple template that relied on a valve at the bottom of the tank to let out oxygen through a mouthpiece when a diver inhaled. This system also needed a constant source of ambient pressure to fill the tank. It wasn’t until the invention of a demand regulator that these systems became practical and affordable. Today, scuba equipment manufacturers continue to improve their products and expand the number of available configurations. If you’re considering buying scuba gear it’s best to research the product thoroughly before making any purchases. While there are plenty of consumer reviews on the internet, those could be written by anyone and should not be trusted as a comprehensive source of information.