SCUBA
Subaquatic breathing initialism
SCUBA stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus—equipment that lets divers breathe underwater without a surface air supply.
The acronym has become a word in its own right, usually lowercase: scuba diving, scuba gear.
A scuba diver carries compressed air in tanks worn on the back, breathing through a regulator.
Device maintaining steady output
- tankLarge storage vessel
- maskFace-worn concealment
- finsSwimming appendages
- wetsuitInsulating garment for water
dive computer · snorkel · weight belt · cylinder · octopus · gauges · mouthpiece · hood
Underwater rock or coral formation
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- underwaterBelow the surface
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
- cave divingExploring underwater cavern systems
kelp forest · blue hole · cenote · marine life · visibility · current · thermocline · open water
Fluid's upward resistance
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- ascentUpward movement
- equalizationMaking things uniform
- decompressionReduction of pressure
safety stop · buddy system · nitrogen narcosis · frog kick · trim · hovering · neutral buoyancy · flutter kick
Far along in development
- rescue diverSwimmer who saves lives
- divemasterCertified underwater group leader
- instructorOne who teaches skills
- logbookOfficial record of events
Gas bubbles from pressure change
- bendsCurves or yields
- oxygen toxicityHarm from excess O2
- barotraumaInjury from pressure differential
- air embolismGas in bloodstream
hypoxia · hyperventilation · squeeze · partial pressure · off-gassing · hypothermia · seasickness
regulator
Device maintaining steady output
wetsuit · dive computer · snorkel · weight belt · cylinder · octopus · gauges · mouthpiece · hood · booties
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- underwaterBelow the surface
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
cave diving · kelp forest · blue hole · cenote · marine life · visibility · current · thermocline · open water · night dive
buoyancy
Fluid's upward resistance
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- ascentUpward movement
- equalizationMaking things uniform
decompression · safety stop · buddy system · nitrogen narcosis · frog kick · trim · hovering · neutral buoyancy · flutter kick
advanced
Far along in development
- rescue diverSwimmer who saves lives
- divemasterCertified underwater group leader
- instructorOne who teaches skills
decompression sickness
Gas bubbles from pressure change
- bendsCurves or yields
- oxygen toxicityHarm from excess O2
- barotraumaInjury from pressure differential
air embolism · hypoxia · hyperventilation · squeeze · partial pressure · off-gassing · hypothermia · seasickness
- Green BeretsGreen Berets, Fort Bragg, unconventional warfare, beret, operators
SCUBAfree diving
Underwater swimming without tanks
snorkeling · skin diving · wading · saturation diving · rebreather
SCUBAsnorkeling
Surface swimming with breathing tube
skin diving · wading · floating · snorkel · freediving
SCUBAland-based
Situated on earth
terrestrial · skydiving · parachuting · mountaineering · paragliding
- scuba divingSwimming with air tanks
- scuba diverUnderwater swimmer with tank
- scuba gearUnderwater breathing apparatus
- scuba tankPortable underwater air source
- scuba maskUnderwater face covering
- scuba setPortable underwater breathing system