Scuba gear FAQs
Q. What’s the difference between a diving regulator and a demand valve?
A. A demand valve is the part of the diving regulator that goes into a diver’s mouth and releases gas. Demand valves are designed to sense when a diver is inhaling and allow a proper flow of breathing gas. A diving regulator is the entire system that feeds the demand valve. Besides the demand valve, a regulator will include one or more valves along the path from the gas tank to the diver. Regulators are designed to adjust the flow and pressure of gas throughout different stages of a dive.
Q. I bought a scuba gear package online, I thought it would include a wetsuit but it didn’t. I’m going diving in Hawaii with my daughter Porsche next month. Will I need to get a suit?
A. It’s not surprising that the package did not include a wet suit, most don’t. A wet suit is a must have for anyone who dives regularly. Cold-water wet suits are designed to keep divers warm in waters as cold as 40º F. You certainly won’t be experiencing such conditions in Hawaii but you may still get cold in warm water. If you don’t anticipate diving in cold water a standard wet suit will suffice and probably save you a few dollars. In your case the wet suit will be invaluable as it will protect you from exposure to the cruel island sun. Wet suits also provide protection underwater from minor injuries caused by other divers, coral or other marine animals.
Q. My scuba diving friends are always prattling on about neutral buoyancy and how good they are at it. What is it and what’s the big deal?
A. Neutral buoyancy is simply the ability of an object to remain at a constant depth. Your friends probably brag about it because they have developed the ability to achieve and maintain neutral buoyancy via breathing techniques. Most divers use a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) to attain neutral buoyancy. BCDs also allow divers to ascend and descend at a safe, consistent rate. BCDs (also called Buoyancy Compensators) work as emergency floatation devices as well. If something goes wrong they will inflate to return the diver to the surface of the water and keep him there.
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