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Table of Contents
SCUBA means Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, and Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses SCUBA to breathe underwater.
See the fact file below for more information on the SCUBA or alternatively, you can download our 23-page SCUBA worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
THE WORLD OF SCUBA
- The term SCUBA is an acronym. It stands for Self, Contained, Underwater, Breathing Apparatus.
- It initially referred to the equipment used by the United States Special Force’s frogmen during World War 2.
- The rebreathers were used during underwater attacks and for underwater demolition projects.
- Dr. Christian Lambertsen developed the rebreather for the US Navy in the 1940s.
- The rebreather is closed-circuit, which means no air is expelled outside of the system.
- Scuba diving as we know it today got started in the 1500s when the first diving bell was invented.
- This term is also used to describe a system that allowed divers to go underwater without being connected to a surface air supply.
- There was an unsuccessful attempt at a “rebreathing” device in the 1770s when Sieur Freminet, a Frenchman, invented the first self-contained air device that recycled the exhaled
- Unfortunately, the device worked poorly, and Freminet died from lack of oxygen. He had been in his device for twenty minutes.
- Another death of an inventor trying to make a rebreather was that of Englishman, Henry Fleuss, who invented a closed circuit oxygen rebreather in 1876. He used it in a 30-foot dive and died from pure oxygen.
- Jacques Cousteau was commonly accepted as the ‘father of scuba diving.’
- In 1942 he and his partner Emilie Gagnan co-invented a demand valve regulator set which would supply divers with compressed air.
- This set was called the Aqualung and opened the door of scuba diving to people who wanted to explore the underwater world.
- It allows divers to breathe from a tank of air on their back and exhale it into the water.
- However, records also suggest that Leonardo da Vinci had prepared a blueprint for such equipment 300 years before the development of the aqualung.
- Some of the most critical SCUBA gear includes: wet suit, diving mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy compensator vest, regulator and octopus, depth gauge, tank pressure gauge, underwater timer, compass, underwater light, diving knife, dive logbook and underwater slate, whistle or air horn, anti-fog solution, Scuba Diving Computer, weight belt, and diving watch.
- All dive computers tell four primary things; (a) current depth (b) maximum depth during the dive (c) length of time underwater, (d) how much longer someone can stay safely underwater at any particular depth.
The maximum limit for recreational scuba divers is going to a 130 feet depth. - Beginner divers are best advised to stay at 60 feet deep or above until they become more comfortable and gain more experience.
- Eight important rules of SCUBA diving are:
- Get proper training,
- Never dive alone,
- Be in good physical shape,
- Come to the surface slowly and with control,
- Do not hold your breath,
- Check your equipment,
- Relax,
- Plan your dive and dive your plan
- Some consider this list the best places to SCUBA dive:
- The Yongala, Australia; Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia; Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island; Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea; Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea; Navy Pier, Western Australia; Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii; Big Brother, Egyptian Red Sea; Great Blue Hole, Belize; Richelieu Rock, Thailand.
CONSIDERING SCUBA
- The underwater thrill of scuba diving is undeniable, but it needs enough preparation.
- A condition called nitrogen narcosis effects scuba divers who venture below the depth of 30 meters.
- This intoxicating condition, which initially leads to hallucinations and unconsciousness, can eventually result in death.
- A large number of deep-sea divers have lost their lives trying to set the world record for deep-sea diving. While the limit for recreational scuba diving is 100 ft (30 meters), the same for free recreational diving is set at 130 ft (40 meters).
- Today, scuba diving is used in various fields, prominent ones being scientific, naval, and recreational. Underwater tourism has received a significant boost due to the development of this activity.
Scuba Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Scuba across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Scuba worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the SCUBA which means Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, and Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses SCUBA to breathe underwater.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Scuba Diving
- Scuba Gear
- Functioning Gears
- Scuba Sites
- Iconic Challenges
- Keeping Safe
- Scuba Records
- Myths Debunked
- Under the Sea
- Acrostics
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep can a scuba go?
The average scuba diving depth is 130 feet; however, technical divers train to dive in ranges from 170-350 feet, and sometimes even deeper depths.
How long can you scuba dive underwater?
A certified diver, on a 40-foot dive using an aluminum 80-cubic-foot tank, can stay underwater for about 45 minutes before resurfacing with enough air to be safe.
Can you scuba dive in the rain?
You can go scuba diving regardless of the weather, but you will still get wet. PADI guidelines only dictate how bad the weather can be while still allowing you to dive.
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Link will appear as SCUBA Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 14, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.