Introduction to Scuba Diving
By Carl Walker

Scuba, a common word, is actually an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus originated in 1939 to refer to US military diver's rebreather sets used by the Navy. A Scuba set is basically an independent breathing equipment, equipped with breathing gas that enables divers to stay underwater for considerably long periods of time. The Aqualung was the first modern scuba diving equipment invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan in 1943.

Scuba diving, which was initially intended for military and scientific use, has now become one the most popular recreational water sports around the world today. Children, as young as 10 years old, can now get Open Water Diver Certification (junior) from various centers. Scuba diving can be a lot of fun for people who love marine life, commonly used by recreational divers for fish identification, search and recovery, underwater photography or videography, etc. However, since scuba diving is a fairly dangerous sport, it is recommended by experts to take necessary lessons or certifications before pursuing the sport as a hobby.

Commercially, scuba diving is used for underwater constructions such as oil platforms, bridges, docks, dams, nuclear power plants and other coastal structures.