Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment.Scuba divers exploring fish and coral.
By carrying a
source of compressed air, the scuba diver is able to stay underwater longer than with the simple breath-holding techniques used in Snorkeling and Free-diving, and is not hindered by air-lines to a remote air source. The scuba diver typically swims underwater by using fins attached to the feet. However, some divers also move around with the assistance of a DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle), commonly referred to as a "scooter", or by using surface-tethered devices called sleds, which are pulled by a boat.The term SCUBA aros
e during World War II and originally referred to USA combat frogmen's oxygen rebreathers, developed by Dr. Christian Lambertsen for underwater warfare. Today, scuba typically usually refers to the in-line open-circuit equipment, developed by Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, in which compressed gas (usually air) is inhaled from a tank and then exhaled into the water. However, rebreathers (both semi-closed circuit and closed circuit) are also self-contained systems (as opposed to surface-supplied systems) and are therefore classified as scuba.Although the word 'SCUBA' is an acronym for "Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", it has also become acceptable to r
efer to scuba as 'scuba equipment' or 'scuba apparatus'.For the history of diving, see Timeline of underwater technology.
