The vast majority of the oceans remain unexplored, and scuba provides an opportunity to experience a unique and exotic underwater world. Whether you’re observing diverse marine life in their natural habitat, exploring historical shipwrecks, or penetrating underwater caves, each dive is a new adventure. There are even scuba enthusiasts who focus on capturing their underwater experiences using cameras designed to photograph the vibrant life beneath the waves.

The concept of scuba originated in the 1940s when Jacques Cousteau’s film series of the underwater world helped make the idea of diving a popular one. During this time, Emile Gagnan and his team at the French Navy developed the first safe open-circuit scuba system, which combined the demand regulator with oxygen tanks and the demand valve. It was called the Aqua-Lung, and in 1957 it broke the scuba depth record by reaching 330 feet.

The modern scuba equipment allows divers to explore deeper, longer, and more comfortably than ever before. The key piece of equipment is the buoyancy control device, also known as the BCD or BC. Worn on the diver’s back, it has an inflatable system that keeps the diver positively buoyant on the surface and neutrally buoyant underwater. During your scuba certification course, you’ll learn to use this important tool during the Confined Water Dives phase. During this phase, you’ll practice basic scuba skills in a pool or calm beach area, mastering each skill until it becomes second nature.