Check Diving.com

The history of scuba diving is very interesting. Many civilizations throughout time have engaged in breath-hold diving, also known as free-diving. The evidence of early free-diving is the finding of sea items found on land and ancient pictures of divers. These civilizations used free-diving to spearfish and also in competitions. The Ancient Greeks are known free-divers. They used free-diving to hunt for sponges and also in their military.

Some of the early attempts in the history of scuba diving to dive with the use of air include snorkeling with hollow reeds, using air-filled bags and diving bells. Diving bells are watertight chambers on cables. The diving bell is designed to remain full of air as it is pushed under water, allowing a few divers to be transported. These methods were not very efficient, however, and did not nearly resemble scuba diving as we know it today. The reeds did not allow divers to go deep into the water and air-filled bags soon filled with carbon-monoxide as the air was exhaled. Diving bells did not allow the divers much mobility.

The first diving suits were used in France and England. They were made of leather and air was pumped into them from the surface with manual pumps. Once the discovery was made to use metal to make helmets, these suits were able to stand greater pressure. With air manually pumped into these helmets, divers were able to enter deeper into the ocean and the history of scuba diving was furthered.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the research was done to invent modern scuba diving as we know it today. Paul Bert from France and John Scott Haldane from Scotland, conducted scientific research on water pressure and our bodies limits regarding safe compressed air diving. At the same time, new technologies allowed for the development of air pumps, scuba regulators and other equipment. Scuba diving and its history were becoming more known.

Throughout the 20th century, inventions in scuba equipment improved. Swim fins, masks and other scuba gear became available. In the 1950′s the public began to take interest in scuba diving. Scuba gear shops began to open up and the first wet suit was introduced. Popular movies about diving and ships, including Titanic in 1997, continue to interest new divers and inspire veterans of the history-filled and adventurous sport of scuba diving.

For more information on scuba diving, its history and scuba diving destination resources visit http://www.a1scuba.org

For scuba diving gear and accessories be sure to check out http://www.aquasportsscuba.com

As an instructor I often get asked how fit do you need to be for scuba diving? Well, the truth is, as long as you are healthy you will be fine. However, as with most things the fitter you are the better it will be. Why is that? Because the fitter you are the more enjoyable and safer diving will be. It is the same with most physical activities; playing football is better if you are not always out of breath from running around is it not?

Here in Pattaya scuba diving can be quite testing with its variety of conditions and if I am teaching students who need plenty of assistance I like to be in good shape. So, how do you get in shape? My advice is start slowly and build yourself up. So have a plan even if it is just for one month, stick to it.

If an hour dive is like doing a 10 mile cycle ride how would you train for a cycle ride? You would start cycling a little at a time. The same for scuba, get swimming. Most people know it is a great all round form of exercise. Start by swimming a few times a week for 45 – 60 minutes.

How much effort should you put into swimming? There is plenty of information about optimum heart rate when exercising but all I would say is pace yourself for the swimming session. If you have had a good workout you will feel it and if you tried too hard you probably did not complete the full session in the pool and had to stop.

Let us look at what exercises complement the muscles used in scuba diving. They must work the thighs, calves, back and arms (you may be lifting your own tanks!). So we do squats and lunges for strengthening the legs. I also like to work the calf muscle by standing on the edge of a step and pushing up slowly on the balls of my feet. Crunches for the stomach and press-ups for the arms (you will be pulling yourself up the ladder when you are getting back on the boat).

These simple exercises can be done without the gymnasium. I tend to do sets of 10 and keep rotating from one exercise to another. Give yourself a time period, say 30 minutes to begin with and increase or decrease depending on how you feel physically. Remember, you are trying to get fit so it should not be too easy so try for 3 – 4 times a week.

Lastly, preparing for the dive make sure you are well hydrated as you do not want to get cramps. Plenty of stretching before a dive will help a lot. On most of the Pattaya scuba diving boats they tend to have plenty of bananas for the divers to eat as they can help stop cramps. I find coconut water is the best electrolyte beverage around so if you can drink that.

Remember, have fun. You do not need to be a professional athlete but all things in moderation including exercise.

If you are thinking of going scuba diving and are looking for a few tips then come and visit my website especially if you are visiting Pattaya Thailand. Have fun and hope to see you diving one day.

http://www.pattaya-scuba.com

Scuba divers in the Midwest get some unique diving experiences that coastal divers who only dive in ocean environments rarely encounter.

But then Midwestern scuba enthusiasts must expose themselves to the differences of the quarries.

…Or stay dry.

Where’s the fun in that?

If you never dove in a stone quarry you probably don’t understand what we Midwestern divers go through to give ourselves the pleasure of going down, and enjoying our favorite sport. Sometimes our diving activity is abundant with struggling and suffering from the extra gear we must lug along, to the extremes in temperatures, to the limitations (or total lack) of visibility.

And yet even with all we must go through I’ve never made a dive when I didn’t reach some state of ecstasy.

No such thing as a bad dive…

The first consideration for a stone quarry diver is the weather. If you plan a January or February dive, you need to prepare extra equipment and clothing. Some of this preparation applies if you’re diving in November and December too.

Because air temperatures are often in the 30s and below during those months the necessity of clothing that keeps you warm before your dive is obvious, as is that same need for after the dive.

Does the dive site have a shelter for changing into, and out of, your dive gear? That cold air isn’t a huge hassle when you’re putting your dive gear on, but it sure gets miserable taking that equipment off when you’re wet. Your fingers go numb, and you struggle to manipulate zippers, buckles, and buttons.

Is there an area for a campfire to warm at when you come out of the water? You just don’t realize how important a warming fire is until you emerge from your dive, and only have a cold fire pit to stand next to, or no pit at all. And you’ll want to carry some firewood to build that fire, you don’t often find a woodpile handy.

Odds are during the months of January and February you’ll need an axe to cut a hole in the ice, and a rope to find your way back to that hole.

Did I mention these are cold-water dives?

No 2- or 3-mil skins for us. When we dive we wear full 7-mil wetsuits, or dry suits. This applies year-round for diving below 20-feet. We get the luxury of diving warm water from June through August, and sometimes October, as long as we stay above 20- to 25-feet.

But drop below that and the water temperature drops fast. All that rock around the sides, and along the bottom, keeps the water chilled even in our hot summer months.

Visibility provides us with unique experiences too. Sometimes the muck from the bottom gets so stirred up that you might as well dive with your eyes closed. You can’t see your compass in front of your mask, let alone keep track of where your dive buddy is.

Other times we get a whole 15-feet of clear vision, and on rare occasions we’re allowed to see for twenty and more feet.

Good vis doesn’t happen often though. Most of the time we only guess at where we are in relation to our entry point, and if you don’t count fin strokes, and watch that compass, you’re lost.

Yes, scuba diving in stone quarries is a different sport that makes tropical diving a luxury to us Midwesterners. But like I said, there’s no such thing as a bad dive.

And when I can’t get away to those blue waters, I’ll settle for a cold-water dive anytime.

Joe Jackson is a PADI certified dive master who just enjoys being wet. His eBook, “How To Save Air While Scuba Diving” offers methods for conserving scuba air.

Get details at: Sip Your Air.