Archive for October, 2009
Over the course of our evolution, we humans have adapted well to life on dry land. Thanks to the shape and durability of our feet, we can walk great distances and even run at a formidable pace with some training. But the second we dip a toe into a large body of water, we’re put at a locomotive disadvantage. With our non-webbed feet and lack of gills or a blowhole, we have no choice but to seek out some artificial assistance.
Snorkeling fins allow us to plow through the water with ease and grace, but they’re not all created equal. Paddle fins, split fins and force fins all have distinct benefits and drawbacks. Paddle fins are little more than extensions of the feet that bolster their surface area for kicking. Split fins generate more propulsion, allowing a swimmer to cover more distance underwater.
Scuba gear comes in a variety of styles and colors, but in the end the aesthetic flourishes are secondary. The breathing apparatus is what really counts, and that’s why experienced divers put so much credence in finding the best diving regulator possible. These devices facilitate and monitor the flow of oxygen and other breathing gases from the tank to the diver’s mask.
The regulator’s first stage is the part that attaches to the tank valve. Since the gas in the tank is highly pressurized, it needs to pass through the first stage and become depressurized enough to allow for flow into the second stage. The second stage attaches to a mouthpiece inside the mask, and it depressurizes the oxygen even further, rendering it breathable.