Scuba Diving Facts: Our Top 5 Facts About Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is an enthralling activity that always attracts a great deal of curiosity. Anyone who has not yet experienced this unique form of underwater adventure is bound to find themselves wondering,why do scuba divers fall backwards? Or,what does it feel like to be weightless in the water?

They might also be curious to know why scuba divers sometimes wear wetsuits but others where drysuits. Read on as we cover all of that and more!

We're about to explore five interesting scuba diving facts. Armed with all of this great info, the only thing left for you to do will be to get geared up and learn how to hit the water like a scuba diving pro!

Fact 1: The Term “Scuba” Is Actually an Acronym

So ubiquitous is the word “scuba” that it is rarely capitalized anymore, but in fact, we really should write “SCUBA” instead, because this term is actually an acronym! So what does SCUBA actually stand for? See if you can memorize it:

• Self
• Contained
• Underwater
• Breathing
• Apparatus

The first scuba kit was developed way back in 1942 during the German occupation of France.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan were the innovative inventors, and while their creation was the first iteration of what we call a scuba kit today, at the time, it was known as the far more serious-sounding “Aqua-Lung”.

Fact 2: Why Scuba Divers Fall In Backwards

To the untrained eye, the scuba diver's practice of flipping backwards off the side of a boat can seem pretty strange.

You might find yourself watching a diver sitting, fully kitted-out, with their back to the water, before suddenly tipping backwards. Such an unusual ritual is bound to raise the question, why do scuba divers fall backwards off the side of boats?

Couldn't they just jump in forward, so they can see where they're going? Well, there is a good reason why backward entry into the water is preferred.

That rather odd move is actually called the_Backward Roll Entry Technique_, and divers use it for a number of different reasons.

The first is that, while above water, scuba equipment is_heavy_. If a diver were to try to dive off the side of the boat, their weighty tanks would push them into the water much faster than would be comfortable. In contrast, going in backwards actually protects the integrity of the dive gear while also being much kinder on the body.

The last and perhaps most important reason for going in backwards is that this method is great for minimizing how much the associated weight change makes the boat rock. As many divers go out to their chosen dive locations on small boats, it becomes wise to avoid accidentally tipping the boat over or any of its still-clothed inhabitants overboard!

Another method of getting into the water that you might encounter is the so-called_Giant Stride_, which is a big and upright forward step taken by divers who are entering the water from a larger, higher-sided vessel that has the stability to handle some momentum.

Fact 3: There Are Limits to How Deep We Can Dive

While it's true that scuba diving allows us to move through the water in absolutely any direction, there_are_ limits on how far down we can actually scuba dive safely.

Not only does the water temperature drop gradually with depth, but water pressure also increases. This makes specialized equipment and advanced training a must for very deep dives.

How deep are we talking? There's a big contrast between the depths reached in the deepest dive ever and what us recreational divers can do.

A scuba diver from Egypt named Ahmed Gabr holds the world record for the deepest scuba dive, which staggeringly took him all the way down to 1,090 feet (332.35m).

To do this safely, he not only had all the right equipment but he also came back up to the surface very slowly—in fact, resurfacing took him 15 hours! In contrast, for the average diver, a capped depth of 130 feet or 40 meters is the rule of thumb. Even this depth calls for sufficient training and shouldn't be attempted by beginners.

Fact 4: Being Underwater Has a Big Impact On Our Senses

Scuba diving is famously a very tranquil pastime; so much so that many amateur divers don't realize how much the water can affect their senses!

For example, sound actually travels 5x faster underwater than it does through the air, so while you might not hear the hustle and bustle that's going on above the water, you will hear an approaching speedboat much sooner than you would a car on the road.

Scuba diving also provides the opportunity to experience the way that water impacts our vision. For one, water selectively absorbs certain light wavelengths, which means that we actually see many colors far less brightly in their submerged environment than we would out of water. So, when you see a brightly colored fish, you'll only be able to imagine how disco it truly is!

At the same time, water also alters our depth perception, making everything seem a quarter to a third closer than it really is.

Another sensory experience that is central to scuba diving is of course the temperature of the water. It's very important to wear the right diving apparel—whether it's a thicker wetsuit or even a more-insulating drysuit—when the water is quite cold.

Why? Because water has thermal conductivity 24x greater than air, so the body loses heat much faster underwater than it would above the waves. So, don't forget to check the sea's water temperature before heading to your next scuba diving location so you can kit up appropriately!

Fact 5: Scuba Diving Qualifications Are Crucial For Underwater Safety

There are so many adrenaline sports that we can do without any training at all, so why is it so important to do some decent training before donning the scuba gear?

While scuba diving is relatively easy to learn to do, it is vital to understand how to use your equipment properly and to communicate with your instructors and fellow divers correctly.

Scuba diving involves all sorts of gizmos and gadgets that you have to be ready to use and read, and there are hand signals to memorize. Plus, once you've got your basic dive certification down, pursuing advanced certifications can open the door to exciting opportunities like wreck diving. For every effort, there is a reward!

Did any of these scuba diving facts surprise you? Next time one of your friends asks why scuba divers fall backwards, you'll be able to answer with total confidence! And of course, with a greater understanding of traversing underwater worlds safely, the potential for adventure only grows. Happy diving!

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