Scuba diving is rapidly becoming one of the most popular of all recreational water sports in the world today. The corresponding growth in increased and easier to use transportation links now makes the more obscure and hard to get to diving locations now much more within the reach of the average diver. In this article I really want to take a basic look at Scuba diving but also take a look at one of the world�s leading scuba diving locations in Grand Bahama Island. Swimming underwater whilst using a Scuba Set is known as Scuba Diving. Divers are capable of staying underwater for much longer with the usage of scuba equipment.The important thing about this is that by using Scuba equipment the diver is able to stay underwater longer than other divers using simple breath holding techniques used in snorkeling and free diving. The other advantage is that the diver is not hindered by air lines that are attached to a remote air source usually found on the surface. It is more common to see scuba divers propelling themselves around underwater by the usage of flippers on their feet. Some divers also move around with the assistance of a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV). Commonly known as a scooter divers occasionally use sleds which are attached to surface boats to help them with moving large distances. The original equipment from which modern day scuba equipment was developed came from the use of oxygen rebreathers developed and sued by US Navy frogmen in World War II.Nowadays the term has been assimilated into general usage and more often refers to the equipment developed by Emile Gagnan and Jaques-Yves Cousteau in which compressed gas is inhaled from a tank and then exhaled into the water. For the technically correct amongst us the term SCUBA is actually an acronym for the phrase �self-contained underwater breathing apparatus� but as with other technical phrases such as the word �laser�, the term scuba has now entered into normal linguistic usage and usually refers to scuba equipment, scuba diving etc. So to Grand Bahama Island. Ever since the first episodes of �Sea Hunt� were filmed there the reputation and attraction of diving off Grand Bahama Island has grown.The seas around the Island boast elaborate coral gardens, a whole series of speciality dives, deep sites, cave diving and in fact a whole series of different dives. Grand Bahama Island is of course also famous for its "blue holes" � these are spectacular azure portals in the reefs through which you can descend, surrounded by reef wall on all sides. Depending on which way the current is going at any one time these holes can be �blowing� or �sucking� and the currents here can be quite strong and as a result quite dangerous if you are not an experienced diver. The geographical sub structure on which the Island is based is a massive limestone base and tied into this is also one of the other major reasons why people flock to this area of the world for diving and that is the massive underwater cave network that exists here. The underwater cave network that is located by and large within the Lucayan National Park is the second largest of its type in the world. The caves are still being explored, and there are numerous special dive programs that can take you into them (provided you are cave certified).
About the Author:
Stephen Morgan writes regularly about leisure activities and if you want to find out more about Scuba Diving Sites then visit http://www.divemaster.com
Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:34:57 - 100%
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