The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:
Underwater diving – as a human activity, is the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment.
What type of activity is underwater diving?edit
Underwater diving can be described as all of the following:
A human activity – intentional, purposive, conscious and subjectively meaningful sequence of actions. Underwater diving is practiced as part of an occupation, or for recreation, where the practitioner submerges below the surface of the water or other liquid for a period which may range between seconds to the order of a day at a time, either exposed to the ambient pressure or isolated by a pressure resistant suit, to interact with the underwater environment for pleasure, competitive sport, or as a means to reach a work site for profit or in the pursuit of knowledge, and may use no equipment at all, or a wide range of equipment which may include breathing apparatus, environmental protective clothing, aids to vision, communication, propulsion, maneuverability, buoyancy and safety equipment, and tools for the task at hand.
Diving activity, by typeedit
Modes of underwater divingedit
There are several modes of diving distinguished by the equipment and procedures used:
Ambient pressure diving – Underwater diving where the diver is exposed to the ambient pressure
Freediving – Underwater diving without breathing apparatus
Scuba diving – Swimming underwater breathing gas carried by the diver
Compressor diving – Crude surface-supplied diving using unregulated air from an industrial low-pressure air compressor
Saturation diving – Diving for periods long enough to bring all tissues into equilibrium with the partial pressures of the inert components of the breathing gas
Atmospheric pressure diving – Diving where the diver is isolated from the ambient pressure by an articulated pressure resistant diving suit or in a crewed submersible
Unmanned diving – Diving by mechanisms under the direct or indirect control of remote human operators for observation, data collection or manipulation of the environment using on-board actuator devices
Diving skills and proceduresedit
Diving procedures – Standardised methods of doing things that are known to work effectively and acceptably safely
Bell and stage deployment, also known as diving bell deployment and diving stage deployment
Chamber operation, also known as decompression chamber operation and diving chamber operation – Operation of a hyperbaric chamber in support of underwater diving
Nondestructive testing – Evaluating the properties of a material, component, or system without causing damage
Dive leader – Recreational diving certification and role
Diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely underwater
Diving instructor – Person who trains and assesses underwater divers
Diving school – Establishment for training and assessing underwater divers – A venue for training underwater divers
Occupational diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for diving at work
Commercial diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for industrial applications
Military diver training – Training of underwater divers for service in the armed forces – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive effectively for military applications
Public safety diver training – Training divers for public safety services – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for public safety purposes
Scientific diver training – Training divers who will be doing scientific work underwater – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for scientific projects
Recreational diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for recreational purposes
Technical diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for recreational technical diving
Diver certification – Certification as competent to dive to a specified standard
Diamond Reef System – System for training divers in buoyancy, trim and maneuvering skills
Divemaster, also known as Dive guide – Recreational dive leader certification and role
Diving contractor – The legal persona responsible for professional diving operations for a client – A legal entity responsible for professional diving work
Haenyeo – Female occupational divers in the Korean province of Jeju
Hazmat diving – Underwater diving in a known hazardous materials environment
Media diving – Underwater diving in support of the media industries
Military diving – Underwater diving in a military context by members of an armed force
Underwater rugby – Game where two teams try to score a negatively buoyant ball into the opponents’ goal at the bottom of a swimming pool on breath-hold
Underwater target shooting – Breathhold underwater sport of target shooting with a speargun in a swimming pool.
Diving bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the water
Dry bell, also known as closed bell – Hyperbaric chamber for transporting diversvertically through the water
Wet bell, also known as open bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the waterPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Diving mask – Watertight air-filled face cover with view-ports for improving underwater vision
Anti-fog – Chemicals that prevent the condensation of water as small droplets on a surface
Full face diving mask – Diving mask that covers the mouth as well as the eyes and nosePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Diving bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the water
Closed bell, also known as dry bell – Hyperbaric chamber for transporting divers vertically through the water
Wet bell, also known as open bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the waterPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Diving chamber – Hyperbaric pressure vessel for human occupation used in diving operations
Diving shot, also known as Shot line – Substantial weighted near-vertical line with buoy
Diving stage, also known as diving basket – A platform on which one or two divers stand which transports them vertically through the water
Jonline – A short line used by scuba divers to clip themselves to something
Pneumofathometer – Instrument for measuring the depth of a diver by air pressure
Recreational Dive Planner – PADI no-decompression dive table also available as a circular slide rule and electronic calculator
Lipid – Substance of biological origin that is soluble in nonpolar solvents
Oxygen window in diving decompression – Physiological effect of oxygen metabolism on the total dissolved gas concentration in venous bloodPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Risk management – Identification, evaluation and control of risks
Hazard analysis (HAZID) – The identification of present hazards as the first step in a process to assess risk
Hazard identification – The identification of present hazards as the first step in a process to assess riskPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Job safety analysis (JSA) – Procedure to integrate safety practices into a particular task
Risk assessment – Estimation of risk associated with exposure to a given set of hazards
Risk control – Process in which identified risks are reduced or mitigated
Dave Shaw (diver) – Australian technical diver and former record holder killed in a diving incidentPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Diving regulations – Stipulations of the delegated legislation regarding the practice of underwater diving – Legislation regulating diving activity, usually a branch of occupational health and safety.
Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.
Recreational dive sites may be found in a wide range of bodies of water, and may be popular for various reasons, including accessibility, biodiversity, spectacular topography, historical or cultural interest and artifacts (such as shipwrecks), and water clarity. Tropical waters of high biodiversity and colourful sea life are popular recreational diving vacation destinations. South-east Asia, the Caribbean islands, the Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia are regions where the clear, warm, waters, reasonably predictable conditions and colourful and diverse sea life have made recreational diving an economically important tourist industry.
Recreational divers may accept a relatively high level of risk to dive at a site perceived to be of special interest. Wreck diving and cave diving have their adherents, and enthusiasts will endure considerable hardship, risk and expense to visit caves and wrecks where few have been before. Some sites are popular almost exclusively for their convenience for training and practice of skills, such as flooded quarries. They are generally found where more interesting and pleasant diving is not locally available, or may only be accessible when weather or water conditions permit.
While divers may choose to get into the water at any arbitrary place that seems like a good idea at the time, a popular recreational dive site will usually be named, and a geographical position identified and recorded, describing the site with enough accuracy to recognise it, and hopefully, find it again. (Full article...)
Training, certification, registration and standardsedit
Diver trainingedit
Diver training – Processes to develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely underwater
Diver certification – Certification as competent to dive to a specified standard
Diver training can be distinguished between recreational and occupational diver training. Recreational diver training tends to be split into small skill sets for customer convenience and provider profitability. Recreational diver training systems include training and registration of instructors and dive leaders for recreational diving
Professional diver training is usually for registration based on mode of diving and requires a wider range of competence for a range of equipment skills and environments. Titles of certificates vary, but the basic competences are similar and may be internationally recognised by agreement.
Professional scuba diver, also known as Commercial scuba diver – Person with skills and knowledge required for occupational diving
Surface-supplied air diver, also known as Inshore air diver – Person competent to dive with surface-supplied breathing apparatus
Extended range surface-supplied air diver, also known as Offshore air diver – Person competent to dive with surface-supplied air to 50m using a wet bell and hot-water suit
Saturation diver – Diver registered as competent for saturation diving
Scientific diving is occupational diving in the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and there may be different conditions that apply regionally regarding regulation and registration.
CMAS Europe – Non-profit branch of the world underwater federation representing European affiliates – the branch of the world underwater federation representing European affiliates
Exploration and Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia – Tom Mount, Joseph Dituri, Eds
Deep diving: an advanced guide to physiology, procedures and systems
Diving manual A document providing extensive general information on the equipment, procedures and theoretical basis of underwater diving.
NOAA Diving Manual – Training and operations manual for scientific diving Scientific diving manual published by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
Professional Diver's Handbook John Bevan Ed. A manual of offshore diving
(National or international codes of practice for diving)
Code of practice – Set of written rules which specifies how people working in a particular occupation should behave
IMCA Code of Practice for Offshore Diving – Guidance document for member organisations A voluntary code of industry best practice followed by members of the International Marine Contractors Association.
BS 4532:1969 Specification for snorkels and face masks. Amended 1977.
CNS 12497:1989 潛水鏡. Diving mask.
CNS 12498:1989 潛水鏡檢驗法. Method of test for diving mask.
DIN 7877:1980 Tauch-Zubehör. Tauchbrillen. Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Diver's masks. Requirements and testing.
EN 16805:2015 Diving equipment. Diving mask. Requirements and test methods.
GOST 20568:1975 Маски резиновые для плавания под водой. Общие технические условие. Rubber masks for submarine swimming. General specifications.
ÖNORM S 4225 Tauch-Zubehör; Tauchmasken (Tauchbrillen); Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; divers’ masks; safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
BS 4532:1969 Specification for snorkels and face masks. Amended 1977.
DIN 7878:1980 Tauch-Zubehör; Schnorchel; Maße, Anforderungen, Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Snorkel. Technical requirements of safety, testing.
DIN 7878:1991 Tauch-Zubehör; Schnorchel; Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Snorkel. Safety requirements and testing.
EN 1972:1997 – European standard design and manufacture of snorkels Diving accessories. Snorkels. Safety requirements.
EN 1972:2015 Diving equipment. Snorkels. Requirements and test methods.
ÖNORM S 4223:1988 Tauch-Zubehör; Schnorchel; Abmessungen, sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; snorkels; dimensions, safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
DIN 7876:1980 Tauchzubehör. Schwimmflossen. Maße, Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Flippers. Dimensions, requirements and testing.
EN 16804:2015 Diving equipment. Diving open heel fins. Requirements and test methods.
GOST 22469:1977 Ласты резиновые для плавания. Общие технические условия. Swimming rubber flippers. General specifications.
MIL-S-82258:1965 Military specification. Swim fins, rubber.
MS 974:1985 Specification for rubber swimming fins.
MS 974:2002 Specification for rubber swimming fins. First revision.
ÖNORM S 4224:1988 Tauch-Zubehör; Schwimmflossen; Abmessungen, sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; fins; dimensions, safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine – US based organisation for research and education in hyperbaric physiology and medicine.Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Movies, novels, TV series and shows, comics, graphic art, sculpture, games, myths, legends, and misconceptions. Fiction in general relating to all forms of diving, including hypothetical and imaginary methods, and other aspects of underwater diving which have become part of popular culture.
Researchers in diving medicine and physiologyedit
Arthur J. Bachrach – American psychologist and administrator (1923–2011)
Albert R. Behnke – US Navy physician and diving medicine researcher
Paul Bert – French zoologist, physiologist and politician (1833–1886)
George F. Bond – US Navy physician and diving medicine and saturation diving researcher
Edward D. Thalmann – American hyperbaric medicine specialist and decompression researcher
Jacques Triger – French geologist who invented the pressurised caisson (1801–1867)
Underwater diversedit
This is a list of underwater divers whose exploits have made them notable.
Underwater divers are people who take part in underwater diving activities – Underwater diving is practiced as part of an occupation, or for recreation, where the practitioner submerges below the surface of the water or other liquid for a period which may range between seconds to order of a day at a time, either exposed to the ambient pressure or isolated by a pressure resistant suit, to interact with the underwater environment for pleasure, competitive sport, or as a means to reach a work site for profit or in the pursuit of knowledge, and may use no equipment at all, or a wide range of equipment which may include breathing apparatus, environmental protective clothing, aids to vision, communication, propulsion, maneuverability, buoyancy and safety equipment, and tools for the task at hand. (Full article...)