Underwater diving facts for kids
Underwater diving is when people go deep into the water to do different things. It's like exploring a whole new world! People dive for fun, for work, or to learn new things. There are many reasons why someone might want to dive, and different ways to do it safely.
Why Do People Dive?
People dive for many reasons, from having fun to doing important jobs. Here are the main types of diving:
Diving for Fun (Recreational Diving)
This type of diving is done just for enjoyment. It's often called sport diving.
- Scuba diving uses special air tanks that divers carry on their backs. This lets them breathe underwater for a long time.
- Freediving or skindiving is when divers hold their breath. They don't use any air tanks. This is for shorter dives.
Diving for Work
Many people dive as part of their job. These jobs are very important and often need special training.
Military Diving
This is diving done by people in the army, navy, or air force. They might do secret missions, fix ships, or clear underwater dangers.
Commercial Diving
Commercial divers work underwater. They might build things, fix oil rigs, inspect bridges, or do other important tasks that need to be done deep in the water.
Scientific Diving
Scientists dive to learn more about the ocean and its creatures. They might study fish, plants, or underwater rocks. Sometimes, volunteers help scientists with these projects.
Public Safety Diving
These divers work for groups like the police or fire department. They help rescue people, or find things like lost items or evidence underwater.
How Divers Breathe Underwater
There are different ways divers get air to breathe when they are underwater. Each method has its own special equipment.
Surface-Supplied Diving
In this method, the diver gets air through a long hose from a pump or air tank above the water. This hose is connected to their helmet or mask. It's often used for heavy work because the diver doesn't carry heavy tanks.
Scuba Diving
Scuba stands for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus." Scuba divers carry their air supply in strong metal tanks on their backs.
Open-Circuit Scuba
With open-circuit scuba, the diver breathes air from the tank. When they breathe out, the used air goes out into the water as bubbles. This is the most common type of scuba diving.
Rebreather Scuba
A rebreather is a special device that recycles the air a diver breathes. It adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, so the diver uses much less air. This means they can stay underwater longer and make fewer bubbles, which is good for seeing marine life or for military missions. However, rebreathers are more complex and need extra training.
Saturation Diving
This is a very special type of diving for extremely deep and long jobs. Divers live in special pressurized rooms for days or even weeks. They travel to their underwater workplace in a sealed diving bell, which keeps them at the same pressure. This helps them avoid getting sick from changing pressures too quickly. Their breathing gas also comes from the surface through a hose.
Freediving
Freediving is diving without any air tanks or hoses. Divers simply hold their breath for as long as they can. This takes a lot of practice and skill. Freedivers often go spearfishing or explore reefs for short periods.
Images for kids
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Surface-supplied divers riding a stage to the underwater workplace
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Views through a flat mask, above and below water
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Recreational breath-hold divers in basic equipment with floats and catch bags suitable for collecting lobster or shellfish
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John Scott Haldane, 1902
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Ice diving
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The Blue Hole in Dahab, Egypt, a world-renowned recreational dive site
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Commercial diver training in a quarry
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Military and commercial divers are trained in the procedures for use of a recompression chamber to treat diving disorders.
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A solo diver carrying two cylinders, one on his back and the other at his side.
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A diver at work on hull maintenance
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See also
In Spanish: Buceo para niños
