The Scuba Diving Handbook: The Complete Guide to Safe and Exciting Scuba Diving - Softcover

Bantin, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554072808 ISBN 13: 9781554072804

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2007

Synopsis

An essential resource for divers.

This comprehensive reference has information for divers of all levels, from the beginning basics to advanced skills and techniques for those with more experience. With its 350 full color photographs, easy-to-understand diagrams and tips from professionals, this book covers everything: the descent from the surface and the ascent back; all breathing techniques required; and advanced skills for cave diving, wreck diving, and search and recovery using the latest technology.

Combining detailed instruction with step-by-step exercises and practice programs, The Scuba Diving Handbook guides divers as they explore all aspects of the sport. Among the topics:

• Choosing an instructor
• The science of scuba
• Deep diving
• Raising heavy objects
• Equipment failure
• Boat handling before, during and after a dive
• Diving with big animals nearby
• Exploring wrecks
• Finding (or avoiding) shark-infested waters.

There is a wealth of information for planning diving trips in temperate, tropical and even arctic waters, as well as expert advice on conquering fear, using underwater cameras and avoiding the bends. This book is ideal for any diver -- both newcomers requiring intensive guidance and advanced divers seeking a quick brush-up.

About this title

About the Author

John Bantin is a diving journalist and professional underwater photographer.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Why Go Diving?

Watery world

Although we live on the parts of the Earth that protrude above the waves, nearly three-quarters of the planet is underwater. The world beneath the surface of the oceans is as varied as it is on land. The topography includes great mountain ranges, volcanoes and deep valleys. Yet the ocean floor is still largely unexplored and unmapped.

Discovering a mysterious, underwater world should be enough to inspire you to dive, but there are a lot of other reasons to give it a try.

How deep do you go?

People almost always ask those who scuba dive how deep they descend below the surface. Relatively speaking, scuba divers don't go deep. In fact, they hardly penetrate to any depth at all, but they do get an insight into a world that most are unaware of. The majority of marine life congregates in and around the first 660 feet (200 m) of depth, close to the shore, and around both natural and human-made structures. Most of it can be found within the first 100-130 feet (30-40 m) from the surface.

Coral reefs and rocks form natural habitats that give smaller animals protection from larger predators. Modern-day wrecks may be made of steel, but they perform the same sort of function as far as the marine animals are concerned. They, too, become a habitat for all manner of fish and other marine organisms. It is fascinating to explore these vibrant, underwater homes and learn about the creatures that live there.

Underwater treasure

Another question that people often ask divers is if they have ever found any treasure. Only dreamers think the captain's safe will be full of gold bars, but divers may find objects of interest on wrecks. Older vessels-whether they became shipwrecks because of incompetent seafaring, bad weather or war-were often furnished with a lot of brass fixtures. Some divers have made a hobby of collecting items made of this nonferrous metal from wrecks.

It is a wonderful experience to visit a ghostly ship lying in its watery grave. The coastlines of the world are littered with the battered wrecks of ships, many of them relics of the terrible devastation wrought by two world wars.

Incredible creatures

Those who explore the underwater world discover the truth about the creatures that live there. Sharks and other large predators are often portrayed as voracious, undiscerning hunters that eat humans. Few of these much maligned and misrepresented bigger animals are a threat to divers. Most are wary of humans and are easily frightened.

Many divers are willing to spend large amounts of money traveling to places where they can get close to the more spectacular animals, such as sharks and manta rays.

Underwater freedom

Being underwater, weightless in a world where you can travel up or down at a whim, is simply a joyous experience. Many people with mobility disabilities have taken up scuba diving because it frees them from the constraints of gravity. Diving is probably the closest you will ever get to flying without wings!

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1554072808
• ISBN 13: 9781554072804
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192