Scuba is an exciting hobby that allows you to explore the underwater oasis and discover marine life. However, it is important to remember that scuba diving can also be dangerous if the basic safety rules are not followed. It is important to have the proper certification, follow all the rules and know what to do in an emergency.

SCUBA is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. It is a diving method that utilizes breathing equipment which is independent of surface supply and allows divers greater freedom of movement and duration of dive than a surface-supplied diver. The name scuba was coined in 1952 by Christian Lambertsen, who patented a device to use compressed air as a source of underwater breath.

The most common scuba emergency is running out of breathing gas, a situation which can be life-threatening within minutes unless it is addressed immediately. This can occur as a result of buddy separation underwater or when the dive is deeper than the diver can safely manage on their current oxygen supply. Divers are trained to donate their breathing gas to their buddy or carry an alternative (bailout) scuba source to prevent this kind of emergency.

Another common scuba emergency occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the body tissues during decompression. This is known as Caisson’s Disease and can be fatal if not treated quickly. Divers are taught to pause during their ascent to allow the nitrogen to metabolize and clear from their body tissues before they reach the surface.