Hierarchical outline list of articles related to underwater diving
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:
Surface-supplied divers riding a stage to the underwater workplace
Underwater diving
What type of thing is underwater diving?
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 type
Modes of underwater diving
Surface-supplied diver with helmet, bailout set and umbilcal cable
There are several modes of diving distinguished by the equipment and procedures used:
Freediving – Underwater diving without breathing apparatusScuba diving – Swimming underwater breathing gas carried by the diverSurface-supplied diving – Underwater diving breathing gas supplied from the surfaceSaturation diving – Diving for periods long enough to bring all tissues into equilibrium with the partial pressures of the inert components of the breathing gasAtmospheric pressure diving – Diving where the diver is isolated from the ambient pressure by an articulated pressure resistant diving suitUnmanned 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 procedures
Divers decompressing in the water at the end of a dive
Divers doing a buddy check
Sidemount diver pushing a cylinder in front
Solo diver surveying dive site. The bailout cylinder can be seen slung at the diver's left side.
Diving procedures – Standardised methods of doing things that are known to work effectively and acceptably safely
Ascending and descending (diving) – Procedures for safe ascent and descent in underwater diving
Boat diving – Procedures specific to diving from boats
Decompression (diving) – The reduction of ambient pressure on underwater divers after hyperbaric exposure and the elimination of dissolved gases from the diver's tissues
Decompression practice – Techniques and procedures for safe decompression of divers
Pyle stop – Type of short deep decompression stops in addition to the standard profileRatio decompression – Rule of thumb for estimating a decompression schedule for a given set of breathing gasesDive log – Record of diving history of an underwater diverDive planning – The process of planning an underwater diving operationDiver communications – Methods used by underwater divers to communicateDiver navigation – Underwater navigation by scuba diversDiver rescue – Rescue of a distressed or incapacitated diverDiver trim – Balance and orientation skills of an underwater diverDrift diving – Scuba diving where the diver is intentionally transported by the water flowFinning techniques – Techniques used by divers and surface swimmers using swimfins
Back kick (finning) – Finning technique to move backwardsCombat sidestroke – Variation of side-stroke swimming used by United States Navy SEALsDolphin kick – swimming stylePages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Flutter kick – Kicking movement used in both swimming and calisthenicsFrog kick – Finning propulsion kick used particularly by cave and wreck diversHelicopter turn – Rotation about a vertical axis by an underwater diver using only finsScissor kick (finning) – Techniques used by divers and surface swimmers using swimfinsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Scuba skills – The skills required to dive safely using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
Surface-supplied diving skills – Skills and procedures required for the safe operation and use of surface-supplied diving equipmentUnderwater searches – Techniques for finding underwater targets
Underwater diving, by environment
Ice Diving – View from the top
Underwater diving environment – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed
Occupational diving
NAUI Nitrox diver certification card
Nesconset fire department scuba rescue team on training exercise
Salvaging a ship's propeller
A diver at work on hull maintenance
Professional diving , also known as Occupational diving – Underwater diving where divers are paid for their work
Ama – Japanese pearl diversAquarium diving – Occupational diving in large aquariumsCommercial diving – Professional diving on industrial projects
Dive leader – Recreational diving certification and roleDiver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely underwater
Diving instructor – Person who trains and assesses underwater diversDiving school – Establishment for training and assessing underwater divers – A venue for training underwater diversOccupational 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 applicationsMilitary 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 applicationsPublic safety diver training – Training divers for public safety services – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely for public safety purposesScientific 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 projectsRecreational 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 skillsDivemaster , also known as Dive guide – Recreational dive leader certification and roleDiving contractor – The legal persona responsible for professional diving operations for a client – A legal entity responsible for professional diving workHaenyeo – Female occupational divers in the Korean province of JejuHazmat diving – Underwater diving in a known hazardous materials environmentMedia diving – Underwater diving in support of the media industriesMilitary diving – Underwater diving in a military context by members of an armed force
Nuclear diving – Diving in an environment where there is a risk of exposure to radioactive materialsPearl hunting – Collecting pearls from wild molluscsPublic safety diving – Underwater work done by law enforcement, rescue and search and recovery teams
Police diving – A branch of professional diving carried out by police services
Salvage diving – Diving work associated with the recovery of vehicles, cargo and structuresScientific diving – Use of diving techniques in the pursuit of scientific knowledgeShips husbandry diving – Diving related to the maintenance and upkeep of shipsSponge diving – Diving to gather natural spongesUnderwater archaeology – Archaeological techniques practiced at underwater sitesUnderwater demolition – The deliberate destruction or neutralization of man-made or natural underwater obstaclesUnderwater photography – Genre of photographyUnderwater search and recovery – Locating and recovering underwater objectsUnderwater videography – Branch of electronic underwater photography concerned with capturing moving images
Recreational diving
Diver returning from a 600 ft (183 m) technical dive
Two underwater hockey players competing for the puck
Divers on the wreck of the Zenobia
Recreational diving – Diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment
Technical diving – Extended scope recreational diving
Shark tourism – Tourism industry based on viewing sharks in their natural habitat
Shark cage diving – Diving inside a protective cage to observe sharks in the wild
Shark-proof cage – A metal structure to protect divers and snorkellers from potentially dangerous sharksShark baiting – Attracting sharks by chumming the waterUnderwater photography – Genre of photographyUnderwater sports – Competitive underwater recreational activities
Aquathlon – Competitive underwater wrestlingCompetitive apnea – Competitive breathhold diving
Constant weight apnea – Freediving discipline in which the diver descends and ascends only by swimming with the use of finsConstant weight without fins – Freediving disciplineDynamic apnea – Freediving disciplines where the breath-hold diver swims horizontally under water with or without finsFree immersion apnea – Freediving discipline in which no propulsion equipment is used, but pulling on the rope during descent and ascent is permittedNo-limits apnea – Freediving discipline in which the diver descends and ascends using their method of choiceVariable weight apnea – Deep freediving using a weighted sled for descent, pulling along the depth rope for ascentStatic apnea – Discipline in which the diver holds their breath underwater for as long as possible, and does not need to swim any distanceSkandalopetra diving – Freediving using a stone weight at the end of a rope to the surfaceFinswimming – Competitive watersport using swimfins for propulsion
Spearfishing – Hunting for fish using a spearSport diving – Underwater sport using recreational open circuit scuba equipment in a swimming poolUnderwater football – Underwater team sport using snorkeling equipment and an American footballUnderwater hockey – Underwater sport of pushing a puck into the opposing goalUnderwater ice hockey – Variant of ice hockey played upside-down underneath frozen pools or ponds on breath-holdUnderwater orienteering – Underwater compass navigation and speed competition on scuba.Underwater photography – Competitive underwater digital photography on scubaUnderwater 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-holdUnderwater target shooting – Breathhold underwater sport of target shooting with a speargun in a swimming pool.Wreck diving – Recreational diving on wrecks
Diving and support equipment, tools and weapons
Small high-pressure breathing air compressor
A small scuba filling and blending station supplied by a compressor and storage bank
Three representative wrist-mount dive computers
International code flag Alpha indicates that a diver is underwater nearby
A closed bell used for saturation diving
Lifting bag used to move a heavy object underwater
The Newtsuit atmospheric diving suit
US Navy Diver using Kirby Morgan 37 diving helmet
Helmeted diver entering the water. He has a back mounted Draeger DM40 rebreather system in addition to the surface supply air hose
Scuba diver with bifocal lenses in half mask
A diver wearing an Ocean Reef full face mask
U.S. Navy divers in dry suits prepare to dive
Two men operating a rotary diver's air pump
Diving equipment
Diving equipment – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving
Autonomous underwater vehicle – Unmanned underwater vehicle with autonomous guidance systemBreathing gas – Gas used for human respirationBuoyancy control device – Equipment for controlling the buoyancy of a diverDecompression equipment – Equipment used by divers to facilitate decompressionDive light – Light used underwater by a diverDiver propulsion vehicle – Powered device for diver mobility and range extensionDiving bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the waterDiving 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 surfaceFull face diving mask – Diving mask that covers the mouth as well as the eyes and nosePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Integrated Diver Display Mask – Diving half-mask with integrated head-up instrument displayDiving safety equipment – Equipment used to facilitate underwater divingDiving suit – Garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment
Atmospheric diving suit – Articulated pressure resistant anthropomorphic housing for an underwater diverDry suit – Watertight clothing that seals the wearer from cold and hazardous liquidsHot water suit – A wetsuit with a supply of heated water to keep a diver warmRash vest – Stretch garment for protection from abrasion, UV and stingsWetsuit – Garment for thermal insulation from waterStandard diving dress – Copper helmet with rubberised canvas diving suit and weighted bootsDiving weighting system – Ballast carried by underwater divers and diving equipment to counteract excess buoyancy
Weight belt – A ballasted waist belt worn by a diverDiving weight – Ballast carried by a diver to counteract buoyancy or adjust trimRemotely operated underwater vehicle – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crewSnorkel – Short, curved tube for breathing face down at the surface of the waterSwimfin – Finlike accessories worn on the feet, used for swimming, snorkeling and diving propulsion
Monofin – Single blade swimfin attached to both feetTowboard – Underwater survey equipment used to tow a diverUnderwater breathing apparatus – Equipment which provides breathing gas to an underwater diver
Scuba set – Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
Diving cylinder – Cylinder to supply breathing gas for diversDiving regulator – Mechanism that controls the pressure of a breathing gas supply for divingRebreather – Portable apparatus to recycle breathing gasSurface-supplied diving equipment – Equipment used specifically for surface supplied diving
Diving helmet – Rigid head enclosure with breathing gas supply worn for underwater divingDiver's umbilical – A hose and cable bundle which supplies breathing gas, communications and other services to a diver
Autonomous underwater vehicles
Autonomous underwater vehicle – Unmanned underwater vehicle with autonomous guidance system
Autonomous Robotics Ltd – UK company developing an autonomous underwater vehicleAUV-150 – Unmanned underwater vehicle in development in by Central Mechanical Engineering Research InstituteAUV Abyss – Autonomous underwater vehicle for mapping of the seabed and water column data collectionBoaty McBoatface – British autonomous underwater vehicleDeepC – Autonomous underwater vehicle powered by a fuel cellDEPTHX – Autonomous underwater vehicle for exploring sinkholes in MexicoEcho Ranger – Marine autonomous underwater vehicle built by BoeingEelume – Autonomous underwater vehicle being developed by Eelume ASExplorer AUV – Autonomous underwater vehicle from People's Republic of ChinaIntelligent Water class AUV – Autonomous underwater vehicle for the People's Liberation Army NavyIntervention AUV – Type of autonomous underwater vehicle capable of autonomous interventionsiRobot Seaglider – Deep diving autonomous underwater vehicle for long term missionsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Maya AUV India – Autonomous underwater vehicle from National Institute of Oceanography, IndiaNereus (underwater vehicle) – Hybrid remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicleREMUS (AUV) – Autonomous underwater vehicle seriesSentry (AUV) – Autonomous underwater vehicle made by Woods Hole Oceanographic institutionSpindle (vehicle) – Ice penetrating two-stage autonomous underwater vehicleSPURV – Self propelled underwater research vehicle built in 1957 for the US NavySPURV II – Special purpose underwater research vessel built to srudy submarine wakesTheseus (AUV) – Large autonomous underwater vehicle for laying fibre optic cablePetrel HUG
Breathing gas
Breathing gas – Gas used for human respiration
Bailout gas – Emergency breathing gas supply carried by the diverBottom gas – Gas breathed during the deep part of a diveBreathing air – Air quality suitable for safe breathingDecompression gas – Oxygen-rich gas used for accelerated decompressionEmergency gas supply – Alternative independent breathing gas supply carried by a diverHeliox – A breathing gas mixed from helium and oxygenNitrox – Breathing gas, mixture of nitrogen and oxygenOxygen – chemical element, symbol O and atomic number 8Pages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Travel gas – Gas breathed during the descent part of a diveTrimix (breathing gas) – Breathing gas consisting of oxygen, helium and nitrogenElectro-galvanic oxygen sensor – Electrochemical device for measuring oxygen partial pressureGas blending – Producing special gas mixtures to specification
Decompression equipment
Decompression equipment – Equipment used by divers to facilitate decompression
Decompression buoy – Inflatable surface marker buoy deployed from underwaterDecompression cylinder – Scuba cylinder carrying decompression gasDecompression trapeze – Horizontal bars suspended at decompression stop depthsDive computer , also known as Decompression computer – Instrument to calculate decompression status in real timeDive tables – Data used to determine a decompression schedule for a given dive profile and breathing gasDiving bell – Chamber for transporting divers vertically through the waterDiving chamber – Hyperbaric pressure vessel for human occupation used in diving operationsDiving shot , also known as Shot line – Substantial weighted near-vertical line with buoyDiving stage – A platform on which one or two divers stand which transports them vertically through the waterJonline – A short line used by scuba divers to clip themselves to somethingRecreational dive planner
Saturation system – Diving decompression system
Diver propulsion vehicles
Diver propulsion vehicle – Powered device for diver mobility and range extension
Diving safety equipment
Diving safety equipment – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving
Alternative air source – Emergency supply of breathing gas for an underwater diverBuddy line – A tether between two scuba divers to prevent separation in low visibilityDecompression buoy , also known as DSMB – Inflatable surface marker buoy deployed from underwaterDistance line , also known as dive reel or guide line – Line deployed by scuba divers for navigationDiver surface detection aids – Equipment to make a surfaced diver easier to findDiver's cutting tool – A tool to assist in extricating the diver from entrapment by lines or netsDiver's knife – A tool to assist in extricating the diver from entrapment by lines or netsDiving safety harness , also known as bell harness – A harness by which the diver can safely be liftedJonline – A short line used by scuba divers to clip themselves to somethingLifeline , also known as tether – A rope connecting the diver to an attendant, usually at the surfaceLine marker – Marker used on cave guide lines to provide safety information to diversShotline – Substantial weighted near-vertical line with buoySurface marker buoy – Buoy towed by a scuba diver to indicate the diver's position
Historical diving equipment
Rebreathers
Rebreather – Portable apparatus to recycle breathing gas
Carbon dioxide scrubber – Device which absorbs carbon dioxide from circulated gasCarleton CDBA – Military rebreather by Cobham plcClearance Divers Life Support Equipment – British military electronically controlled closed circuit rebreatherCis-Lunar – Manufacturer of electronically controlled closed-circuit rebreathers for scuba divingCounterlung – Variable volume component in a rebreather to take up and release gas during a breathing cycleCryogenic rebreather – Rebreather that removes CO2 by freezing it out using heat exchange with liquid oxygenCUMA – Canadian military diving rebreatherDavis Submerged Escape Apparatus – Early submarine escape oxygen rebreather also used for shallow water diving.Dräger Dolphin – Semi-closed circuit recreational diving rebreatherDräger Ray – Semi-closed circuit diving rebreatherFROGS
Halcyon RB80 – Non-depth-compensated passive addition semi-closed circuit rebreatherHalcyon PVR-BASC – Semi-closed circuit depth compensated passive addition diving rebreatherIDA71 – Russian military rebreather for underwater and high altitude useInterspiro DCSC – Military semi-closed circuit passive addition diving rebreatherKISS
LAR-5 , LAR-6 , and LAR-V represented by Drägerwerk – German manufacturer of breathing equipmentPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit – Early closed circuit oxygen diving rebreatherPorpoise – Australian scuba manufacturerSiebe Gorman CDBA – Type of diving rebreather used by the Royal NavySiva – British defense industry manufacturing companyPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Viper
Remotely operated underwater vehicles
Remotely operated underwater vehicle – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crew
8A4-class ROUV – Chinese work class remotely operated underwater vehicleABISMO – Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle for deep sea explorationAtlantis ROV Team – High-school underwater robotics team from Whidbey Island, Washington, United StatesCURV – Early remotely operated underwater vehicleÉpaulard – French remotely operated underwater vehicle of the IfremerGlobal Explorer ROV – Deep water science and survey remotely operated vehicleGoldfish-class ROUV – Light class of Chinese remotely operated underwater vehicleKaikō ROV – Japanese remotely operated underwater vehicle for deep sea explorationLong-Term Mine Reconnaissance System – American torpedo tube-launched underwater search and survey unmanned undersea vehicleMini Rover ROV – Small, low cost observation class remotely operated underwater vehicleOpenROV – Open-source remotely operated underwater vehicleROV KIEL 6000 – Remotely operated vehicle built by Schilling Robotics, Davis, California for scientific tasksROV PHOCA – Remotely operated underwater vehicle of the COMANCHE typeScorpio ROV – Work class remotely operated underwater vehicleSea Dragon-class ROV – Chinese deep diving work class remotely operated underwater vehicleSeabed tractor – Special purpose class of remotely operated underwater vehicleSeafox drone – Remotely operated anti-mine marine droneSeahorse ROUV
SeaPerch – Remotely operated underwater vehicle educational programSJT-class ROUV – Series of Chinese remotely operated underwater vehiclesT1200 Trenching Unit – Remotely operated seabed trenching unitVideoRay UROVs – Series of inspection class remotely operated underwater vehicles
Underwater breathing apparatus
Underwater breathing apparatus – Equipment which provides breathing gas to an underwater diver
Scuba set – Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
Alternative air source – Emergency supply of breathing gas for an underwater diver
Bailout bottle , also known as bailout cylinder – Emergency gas supply cylinder carried by a diverEmergency gas supply – Alternative independent breathing gas supply carried by a diverPony bottle – Small independent scuba cylinder usually carried for emergency gas supplyBackplate and wing – Type of back-mount scuba harnessDiving cylinder – Cylinder to supply breathing gas for divers
Diving regulator – Mechanism that controls the pressure of a breathing gas supply for diving
Rebreather – Portable apparatus to recycle breathing gasScuba manifold – Scuba component used to functionally connect diving cylindersSidemount diving – Diving using equipment configuration where scuba sets are clipped to the diver's sidesSurface-supplied diving equipment – Equipment used specifically for surface supplied diving
Air line , also known as air-line – Tube or hose carrying a compressed air supplyBailout cylinder – Emergency gas supply cylinder carried by a diverBailout block – Valve block on diver's equipment for switching between main and emergency gas supplyDiving helmet – Rigid head enclosure with breathing gas supply worn for underwater divingDiver's umbilical – A hose and cable bundle which supplies breathing gas, communications and other services to a diverDiving stage – A platform on which one or two divers stand which transports them vertically through the waterPneumofathometer – Gauge on the gas panel for indicating the depth of a surface-supplied diverSea Trek (diving system)
Snuba – Limited depth airline breathing apparatus towed by the diverStandard diving dress – Copper helmet with rubberised canvas diving suit and weighted boots
Diving support equipment
Diving support equipment – Equipment used in the support of an underwater diving operation
Booster pump – Machine to increase pressure of a fluidCascade filling system – Filling pressurized gas from a series of storage cylindersCommunications panel , also known as Diver's telephone – Surface control panel for underwater diving voice communications systemDiver down flag – Flag signal indicating divers are in the water nearbyDiver's pump – Manually powered surface air supply for diversDiving air compressor , also known as Diving compressor – Machine used to compress breathing air for use by underwater diversDiving chamber – Hyperbaric pressure vessel for human occupation used in diving operations
Diving spread – The topside base for commercial diving operations
Air spread – The topside base for surface-supplied air diving operationsSaturation spread – The topside base for saturation diving operations
Diving support vessel – Ship used as a floating base for professional diving projects
HMS Challenger – Royal Navy saturation diving support vesselLiveaboard – Way of using a boatDive boat – Boat used for the support of scuba diving operations
Diving ladder – Ladder to facilitate egress from the water by diversDiving platform (scuba) – Low freeboard platform on a dive boat to give divers easy access to the waterMoon pool – Opening in the base of a hull, platform, or chamber giving access to the water belowEcho sounder , also known as fish finder – Measuring the depth of water by transmitting sound waves into water and timing the returnGas panel , also known as Diving gas distribution manifold – Breathing gas distribution panel for surface-supplied divingHelium analyzer – Instrument to measure the concentration of helium in a gas mixtureMarine VHF radio – Radios operating in the very high frequency maritime mobile bandNitrox production – Methods of producing nitrox mixtures
Proton magnetometer , also known as metal detector – Instrument which measures very small variations in the Earth's magnetic fieldRecreational Dive Planner (RDP ) – PADI no-decompression dive table also available as a circular slide rule and electronic calculatorRemotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV ) – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crewSatellite navigation – Use of satellite signals for geo-spatial positioning
Subsurface (software) – Creator and lead developer of the Linux kernel (born 1969)Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Trongle – Device used on submarines to help swimmers to locate a submerged submarine
Underwater work tools and equipment
Soviet SPP-1 underwater pistol
ROV at work in an underwater oil and gas field. The ROV is operating a subsea torque tool (
wrench ) on a valve on the subsea structure.
Underwater work tools and equipment – Tools and equipment used for underwater work
Underwater weapons
Underwater weapons – Weapons that are intended for use underwater
Limpet mine – A type of naval mine which is attached to a target by magnetsSpeargun – Underwater fishing implement
Underwater firearm – Firearms that can be effectively fired underwater
Gyrojet – Firearm that fires small rocket projectilesMk 1 Underwater Defense Gun – Underwater firearm developed by the United States during the Cold WarPowerhead (firearm) – Specialized firearm used underwater that is fired when in direct contact with the targetUnderwater pistols
Underwater revolvers
Underwater rifles
Science of underwater diving
Physics of underwater diving
Views through a flat mask, above and below water
Physics of underwater diving – Aspects of physics which affect the underwater diver
Buoyancy – Upward force that opposes the weight of an object immersed in fluid
Diffusion – Transport of dissolved species from the highest to the lowest concentration region
Molecular diffusion – Thermal motion of liquid or gas particles at temperatures above absolute zeroPermeation – Penetration of a liquid, gas, or vapor through a solidForce – Influence that can cause motion of an object
Weight – Force on a mass due to gravityIdeal gas law – Equation of the state of a hypothetical ideal gas
Combined gas law – Combination of Charles', Boyle's and Gay-Lussac's gas lawsAmontons' law – Relationship between pressure and temperature of a gas at constant volumeBoyle's law – Relationship between pressure and volume in a gas at constant temperatureCharles's law – Relationship between volume and temperature of a gas at constant pressureGay-Lussac's law – Relationship between pressure and temperature of a gas at constant volumePressure – Force distributed over an area
Psychrometric constant – Relation of the partial pressure of water in air to temperatureSolubility – Capacity of a substance to dissolve in a solvent in a homogeneous way
Henry's law – Gas law regarding proportionality of dissolved gasSolution – Homogeneous mixture of a solute and a solventSupersaturation – State of a solution that contains more solute than can be dissolved at equilibriumSurface tension – Tendency of a liquid surface to shrink to reduce surface area
Hydrophobe – Molecule or surface that has no attraction to waterSurfactant – Substance that lowers the surface tension between a liquid and another materialUnderwater vision – The ability to see objects underwater
Snell's law , also known as Law of refraction – Formula for refraction anglesWork of breathing (WoB ) – Energy expended to inhale and exhale a breathing gas
The diving environment
Underwater diving environment – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed
Physiology of underwater diving
Diagram of the human circulatory system
Decompression profiles based on the Thermodynamic model compared with the US Navy table for the same depth and bottom time
Diagram of the human respiratory system
Human physiology of underwater diving – Influences of the underwater environment on the physiology of human divers
Diving medicine, disorders and treatment
Oxygen therapy in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber is often delivered via built in breathing systems.
Monoplace chambers can be used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy if the patient is stable
Diving medicine
Diving medicine – Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders caused by underwater diving
Fitness to dive , also known as Medical fitness to dive – Medical fitness of a person to function safely underwater under pressureDiving medical examiner – A medical practitioner registered to assess medical fitness to diveDiving medical practitioner – Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders caused by underwater divingDiving medical technician – Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders caused by underwater divingPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Hyperbaric medicine – Medical treatment at raised ambient pressure
Diving disorders and treatment
Mask squeeze - a mild form of barotrauma
Staged image showing how victims may black out quietly underwater, often going unnoticed.
Diving disorders – Physiological disorders resulting from underwater diving
List of signs and symptoms of diving disorders – Evidence of physiological disorders resulting from underwater divingDrowning – Respiratory impairment resulting from being in or underneath a liquid
Laryngospasm – Involuntary contraction of the vocal folds restricting inhalationDysbarism – Medical conditions resulting from changes of ambient pressure.
Hypercapnia – Abnormally high tissue carbon dioxide levelsHypothermia – Human body core temperature below 35.0 °CHypoxia (medical) – Medical condition of lack of oxygen in the tissues
Freediving blackout – Loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold diveLatent hypoxia – Lung gas and blood oxygen concentration sufficient to support consciousness only at depthMotion sickness , also known as seasickness – Nausea caused by motion or perceived motionOxygen therapy – Use of oxygen as a medical treatment
Surfer's ear – Common name for an abnormal bone growth within the external ear canalToxicity – Degree of harmfulness of substances
Vertigo – Type of dizziness with a sensation of rotation when there is none
Diving safety related articles
A dive team listens to a safety brief from their dive supervisor
Early testing for oxygen toxicity in divers
Tags in place in a powerplant after it was shut down
Folding lockout hasp, allowing six padlocks to lock out one device.
Checklists reduce the risk of omitting a step in a procedure
Diving safety
Diving safety – Risk management of underwater diving activities
Checklist – Aide-memoire to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a taskCode of practice (CoP ) – Set of written rules which specifies how people working in a particular occupation should behaveDive team – A group of people working together to enhance dive safety and achieve a task
Divemaster – Recreational dive leader certification and roleDiving hazards – Agents and situations that pose a threat to the underwater diver
Silt out – Reduction of underwater visibility by disturbing silt depositsTask loading – Relationship between operator capacity and the accumulated activities that must be doneDiver rescue – Rescue of a distressed or incapacitated diver
Rescue Diver – Recreational scuba certification emphasising emergency response and diver rescueDoing It Right (scuba diving) (DIR ) – Technical diving safety philosophyHuman factors in diving safety – The influence of physical, cognitive and behavioral characteristics of divers on safetyHazardous Materials Identification System – Numerical hazard rating using colour coded labelsOccupational safety and health , also known as Occupational health and safety – Field concerned with the safety, health and welfare of people at work
Safety culture – Attitude, beliefs, perceptions and values that employees share in relation to risks in the workplaceOperations manual – Authoritative document of how things should be done in an organisation
Emergency response plan – Dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergenciesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Evacuation plan – Removal of personnel from a high risk area or a developing incident to a safer placeStandard operating procedure (SOP ) – Set of detailed instructions to assist in workplace safetyRisk management – Identification, evaluation and control of risks
Hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA )
Hazard analysis (HAZID ) – The identification of present hazards as the first step in a process to assess riskJob safety analysis (JSA ) – Procedure to integrate safety practices into a particular taskRisk assessment – Estimation of risk associated with exposure to a given set of hazards
Risk control – Process in which identified risks are reduced or mitigated
Incident pit – Conceptual model for explaining incident development and recoveryLockout–tagout (LOTO ) – Isolation of dangerous equipment.Permit To Work – Work safety management systemPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Redundancy – Duplication of critical components to increase reliability of a systemSafety data sheet , also known as Material safety data sheet – Sheet listing work-related hazardsScuba diving fatalities – Deaths occurring while scuba diving or as a consequence of scuba divingSingle point of failure – A part whose failure will disrupt the entire systemWater safety – Human safety in the vicinity of bodies of water
Notable diving incidents rescues and fatalities
The decompression chamber at the moment the
Byford Dolphin accident occurred. D1–D4 are divers; T1 and T2 are dive tenders.
Early diving incidents
Freediving incidents
Professional diving incidents
Johnson Sea Link accident – Manned submersible incident in which two divers diedOffshore diving incidents
Rescues involving diving
Professional diving fatalities
Scuba diving fatalities – Deaths occurring while scuba diving or as a consequence of scuba diving
Legal aspects of diving
Legal aspects of diving – how underwater diving and divers are affected by law
Geography of diving
Recreational diver over a coral reef in the Red Sea
Recreational dive sites 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...
History of underwater diving
History of underwater diving – History of the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment
Frogman operations
Italian
Maiale manned torpedo "
Siluro San Bartolomeo " displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK.
Notable underwater salvage operations
Diver training, certification, registration and standards
Commercial diver training at Blue Rock Quarry
Diver training
Diver training – Processes by which people develop the skills and knowledge to dive safely underwaterRecreational diver certification represented by Diver certification – Certification as competent to dive to a specified standard
Advanced Open Water Diver – Recreational scuba diving certification slightly above minimum entry levelAutonomous diver – International minimum standard for entry level recreational scuba diver certificationCMAS* scuba diver – Entry level recreational diving certification from CMASDivemaster – Recreational dive leader certification and roleDiving instructor – Person who trains and assesses underwater diversOpen Water Diver – Entry-level autonomous diver certification for recreational scuba divingMaster Instructor – Person who trains and assesses underwater diversMaster Scuba Diver – The highest non-leadership recreational scuba diver certification issued by some agenciesRescue Diver – Recreational scuba certification emphasising emergency response and diver rescueSupervised diver – Minimum requirements for a recreational diver to dive in open water under direct supervisionIntroductory diving – Non-certification scuba diving experienceUniversal Referral Program – System to complete recreational scuba training with another instructor
Diver certification organisations
List of diver certification organizations – Agencies which issue certification for competence in diving skills
Occupational diver certification authorities
Recreational diver certification agencies
Freediver certification agencies
Recreational scuba certification agencies
Technical diver certification agencies
Scientific diver certification authorities
Organisations setting international standards and codes of practice for diving and diver training
Commercial diving schools
Underwater diving organisations
Diver membership organisations
Diver membership organisations
Freediver federations
Recreational and technical scuba clubs and associations
Scientific, archaeological and historical diving organisations
National underwater-sports federations
International underwater-sports federations
Diver nature conservation organisations
Diving industry trade associations
Underwater environmental research organisations
Diving medical research organisations
Underwater diving publications
Books and manuals
The Darkness Beckons – History of UK cave diving by Martyn FarrGoldfinder – Autobiography of British diver and treasure hunter Keith JessopThe Last Dive – Non-fiction book by Bernie Chowdhury about a double wreck diving fatalityShadow Divers – Book by Robert Kurson recounting the discovery of a World War II German U-boat wreckThe Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure – Book by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Frédéric DumasBasic Cave Diving: A Blueprint for Survival – Book on cave diving safety by Sheck ExleyExploration and Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia
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 AdministrationProfessional Diver's Handbook John Bevan Ed. A manual of offshore diving
U.S. Navy Diving Manual – Training and operations handbook
Diving Medicine for Scuba Divers
Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving
The Underwater Handbook: A Guide to Physiology and Performance for the Engineer
Legislation
Diving at Work Regulations 1997
Codes of practice
(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 behaveIMCA Code of Practice for Offshore Diving A voluntary code of industry best practice followed by members of the International Marine Contractors Association.
Code of Practice for Scientific Diving: Principles for the Safe Practice of Scientific Diving in Different Environments
Standards
(National or international standards relating to diving equipment or practices)
Breathing apparatus
EN 14143-2003 Respiratory equipment - Self-contained re-breathing diving apparatus
BS EN 1802:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless aluminium alloy gas cylinders
BS EN 1968:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless steel gas cylinders Swim fins
Swim fin sole showing compliance with German standard DIN 7876:1980
MIL-S-82258:1965 Military specification. Swim fins, rubber.
GOST 22469:1977 Ласты резиновые для плавания. Общие технические условия. Swimming rubber flippers. General specifications.
DIN 7876:1980 Tauchzubehör. Schwimmflossen. Maße, Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Flippers. Dimensions, requirements and testing.BN-82/8444-17.02 Gumowy sprzęt pływacki - Płetwy pływackie (Rubber swimming equipment - Swimming fins).
MS 974:1985 Specification for rubber swimming fins.
ÖNORM S 4224:1988 Tauch-Zubehör; Schwimmflossen; Abmessungen, sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; fins; dimensions, safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
MS 974:2002 Specification for rubber swimming fins. First revision.
EN 16804:2015 Diving equipment. Diving open heel fins. Requirements and test methods.
GOST 20568:1975 compliant Russian and Ukrainian diving masks
Diving masks
A range of 1970s snorkels made to British Standard BS 4532:1969
BS 4532:1969 Specification for snorkels and face masks. Amended 1977.
GOST 20568:1975 Маски резиновые для плавания под водой. Общие технические условие. Rubber masks for submarine swimming. General specifications.
DIN 7877:1980 Tauch-Zubehör. Tauchbrillen. Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Diver's masks. Requirements and testing.
BN-82/8444-17.01 Gumowy sprzęt pływacki - Maski pływackie (Rubber swimming equipment - Swimming masks).
ANSI Z87.11:1985 Underwater Safety. Recreational Skin and Scuba Diving. Lenses for Masks.
ÖNORM S 4225 Tauch-Zubehör; Tauchmasken (Tauchbrillen); Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; divers’ masks; safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
CNS 12497:1989 潛水鏡. Diving mask.
CNS 12498:1989 潛水鏡檢驗法. Method of test for diving mask.
EN 16805:2015 Diving equipment. Diving mask. Requirements and test methods. Snorkels
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.
ÖNORM S 4223:1988 Tauch-Zubehör; Schnorchel; Abmessungen, sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, Prüfung, Normkennzeichnung. Diving accessories; snorkels; dimensions, safety requirements, testing, marking of conformity.
DIN 7878:1991 Tauch-Zubehör; Schnorchel; Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfung. Diving accessories for skin divers. Snorkel. Safety requirements and testing.
EN 1972:1997 Diving accessories. Snorkels. Safety requirements.
EN 1972:2015 Diving equipment. Snorkels. Requirements and test methods. Buoyancy compensators
EN 1809:1998 Diving accessories. Buoyancy compensators. Functional and safety requirements, test methods.
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 Diving equipment. Buoyancy compensators. Functional and safety requirements, test methods. Wet suits
CNS 11251:1985 濕式潛水衣. Diving Wet Suit.
EN 14225-1:2005 Diving suits. Wet suits. Requirements and test methods.
EN 14225-1:2017 Diving suits. Wet suits. Requirements and test methods. Dry suits
EN 14225-2:2002 Diving suits. Dry suits. Requirements and test methods.
EN 14225-2:2017 Diving suits. Dry suits. Requirements and test methods. Depth gauges
EN 13319:2000 Diving accessories. Depth gauges and combined depth and time measuring devices. Functional and safety requirements, test methods. Diver training
ISO 24801 Recreational diving services – Requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers
ISO 21417 Recreational diving services – Requirements for training on environmental awareness for recreational divers Recreational diving practices
ISO 21416 Recreational diving services – Requirements and guidance on environmentally sustainable practices in recreational diving
Journals and magazines
AquaCorps Magazine on technical diving, founded and edited by Michael Menduno
Alert Diver Quarterly magazine of DAN om diving safety and recreational diving matters
South Pacific Underwater Medical Society Journal
Journal of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
Repositories
Recreational dive site guides
Notable dive site guides with Wikipedia article.
Authors of publications about diving
Authors of general non-fiction works on diving topics who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles.
Documentaries
Documentary movies focused on underwater diving.
Underwater diving in popular culture
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.
Underwater diving in popular culture
Researchers in diving medicine and physiology
John Scott Haldane c. 1910
Underwater divers
This is a list of underwater divers 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...
Pioneers of diving
James F. Cahill – American scuba diving pioneerAlphonse and Théodore Carmagnolle – French inventors of the first anthropomorphic armoured diving suit
Charles Condert – Inventor of an unsuccessful early scuba system
Jacques Cousteau – Inventor of scuba-diving apparatus and film-makerCharles Anthony Deane – Pioneering diving engineer and inventor of a surface supplied diving helmetJohn Deane – Joint inventor of the diving helmetLouis de Corlieu – French naval officer and inventor of the swimfinGuglielmo de Lorena – Italian inventor of a diving bell used for archaeological work on the Roman ships of lake Nemi
Auguste Denayrouze – French inventor of a demand air supply regulator for underwater divingFrédéric Dumas – French pioneer of scuba divingTed Eldred – Australian inventor of the single hose diving regulatorMaurice Fernez – French inventor and pioneer in underwater breathing apparatusÉmile Gagnan – French engineer and co-inventor of the open circuit demand scuba regulatorBret Gilliam – Pioneering technical diver and author.Edmond Halley – English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicistHans Hass – Austrian biologist, film-maker, and underwater diving pioneerStig Insulán – Inventor of an adjustable automatic exhaust valve for variable volume dry suits
Jim Jarret – Diver who test dived the first successful atmospheric diving suitsYves Le Prieur – French naval officer and inventor of a free-flow scuba systemJohn Lethbridge – English wool merchant who invented a diving machine in 1715William Hogarth Main – Cave diver and scuba configuration experimentalistPhil Nuytten – Canadian deep-ocean explorer, scientist, and inventor of the NewtsuitJoseph Salim Peress – pioneering British diving engineerBenoît Rouquayrol – French inventor of an early diving demand regulatorDick Rutkowski – American pioneer in hyperbaric and diving medicine and use of mixed breathing gases for divingJoe Savoie – Inventor of the neck dam for lightweight helmets
Augustus Siebe – German-born British engineer mostly known for his contributions to diving equipmentCharles Spalding – Scottish confectioner and amateur diving bell designerRobert Sténuit – Belgian journalist, writer, underwater archeologist and the first aquanaut.Arne Zetterström – Diver involved in experimental work with Hydrox breathing gas
Underwater art and artists
Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso,
Liguria
