Scuba diving is an advanced form of diving. Fundamentally, it is the same as simple under water diving but aided with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Scuba diving requires the use of an air tank that allows one to breathe underwater.
A number of scuba divers take pleasure in diving in lakes, while a few prefer to dive in river waters. However, the most exciting version of scuba diving involves diving into the unknown depths of ocean waters. Scuba diving is a daring sport usually pursued for recreational purposes. Professional scuba diving involves diving for commercial, military and scientific purposes.
As an amateur, a scuba diver may not be allowed to go beyond 18 feet under water. If a diver is professionally trained, then conventional scuba diving techniques will increase the diver's ability to dive deeper and longer. Technical scuba diving methods allow one to dive deeper than 130 feet. Surface supplied diving and saturation diving techniques may also be mastered.
Scuba diving should always be attempted with at least one other person present. Associates should stay together through the duration of the dive. The perils of scuba diving lie in wait for an inexperienced diver, who may ascend very quickly to the water's surface, resulting in a rapid loss of body temperature. This could result in vomiting and paralysis, and even cause death in extreme cases.
A trained diver can attempt this adventurous sport in a lake, sea or ocean but a clear water body is recommended for beginners. While diving for recreation, a diver must take extreme care not to harm or jeopardize marine life. In recent years, scuba diving has been gaining in popularity as an adventure sport, and Australia, Thailand and Hawaii are some of the more popular scuba diving destinations. Scuba diving organizations provide intense training at tourist destinations and organize special events to allow amateurs to enjoy the complete experience of diving.
