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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