Posted on Sep 22, 2008 under scuba wetsuits |
Scuba wetsuits are worn by scuba divers to keep themselves warm when they are in cold water. They also protect the diver from sun exposure, jellyfish attacks and coral. They can also be worn by snorkelers and windsurfers.
Wetsuits trap a thin layer of water between the skin and the rubber of the wetsuit. Your body heats this water which insulates you against the cold and helps your body retain its heat.
To work efficiently and provide good thermal protection a wetsuit must hug the body forming an all over seal, particularly on the torso. It should be a comfortable and snug fit and not sag when worn. Water will escape from between the suit and the body if the wetsuit is too loose a fit, taking the bodys heat with it. Water retention is aided by the flexible seals at the suit cuffs.
Modern wetsuits are mainly made from thin neoprene, a stretchy synthetic rubber that is extremely durable, or a combination of neoprene and lycra. These are measured for the conditions by their thickness, basically the colder the water the thicker the neoprene required. Scuba wetsuits made of dense neoprene offer great warmth and protection. Neoprene comes in different thicknesses, from 2 mm to 6 mm.
A thicker cold water wetsuit will be required if you are diving in particularly cold diving spots, or if you are descending to a depth of 30 feet at least. The trade-off in terms of restricted mobility and better insulation was in the past a major consideration to the wearing of thick wetsuits. However, thanks to modern technology, wetsuits designed with a higher torso thickness are now just as flexible as wetsuits designed with lower torso thicknesses.
The choice of wetsuit you make can affect not only your recreation, but also your life. A diver has to be very discriminating as to the quality and material that goes into the manufacture of a wetsuit. You just can’t afford to take any chances with poor quality ill fitting scuba wetsuits.
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Posted on Jul 12, 2010 under Scuba Diving |
All divers, from beginners to experienced divers should use a dive computer.
Seen by many as essential for scuba diving. Dive computers are mandatory in some dive resorts. They improve dive safety and allow divers to remain underwater longer.
Being able to spend more time underwater means you don’t have to cut your dive experience short, which is the last thing you would want to do when enjoying the amazing creatures around you.
The way we dive has been revolutionized by the dive computer. Before they were invented you would calculate your dive time based on the maximum depth you intended to dive to using dive tables.
Dive computers calculate the maximum dive time based on the actual dive. The dive computer continually updates the diver on how much longer they can remain underwater based on the current depth. Letting you remain underwater safely for longer.
Using a dive computer will also reduce the chances of suffering with decompression sickness. Even though you will have a greater chance of enjoying a safe dive, you will not be immune to the sickness.
Nitrogen from your breathing air dissolves into your body tissues due to the increased pressure during a scuba dive . Nitrogen dissolves into your body tissues faster, the greater your dive depth. Keeping the dissolved nitrogen levels within accepted guidelines, is important to reduce the risk of decompression sickness. Your dive computer will track your dive depth and time to do this. It uses a decompression model to calculate theoretical nitrogen levels and displays the time and depth limits you need to stay within.
A dive computer will also help prevent out of air emergencies. You will never have to worry about how much air your have remaining as your dive computer will monitor this for you. Most dive computers will have alarms to warn you when you get close to a limit, such as maximum depth, ascent rate etc
When buying a dive computer one of the top brands to consider is Suunto.
Suunto lead the field in the design and manufacture of precision diving instruments.
Their Suunto D9 dive computer is a feature rich multi purpose dive instrument providing many features not found in any other dive computer.
The Suunto D9 combines the complete package of dive gauges and dive-critical information all in one stylish instrument, conveniently mounted on your wrist.
The D9 Suunto is the ultimate instrument of choice for all kinds of divers. Those who do not compromise when it comes to the functionality of their diving equipment, will find the Suunto D9 an invaluable diving aid.
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Posted on Jul 07, 2010 under Scuba Diving |
As a diving newbie, it is vital that you’re equipped with all the right diving gear to make most of the underwater experience. The majority of people will remember the essential gear but may forget little things like marking their gear with fluorescing tape or carrying a flashlight. A compact LED dive torch (or flashlight) is a must-have to truly have the capacity to explore.
Though it may not be necessary if you’re diving in the daytlight with lots of sunshine, it’s wise to have a light source handy in case you are going to dive deep or into cloudy water. You can observe the colorful lifeforms around you without squinting in the darkness. You can better explore the location and even adventure into caves if equipped with a torch. It has to be fully charged so that you do not run out of power in the middle of your dive.
Flashlights are an excellent way to light up your diving experience. You’ll be able to peek in those dark corners where some fish are likely to hide. It is good to have backups for lights if you plan to do a night dive or have a long diving trip.
When going for a dive at night or into murky water, take a fully charged dive torch and a pocket flashlight as backup and make sure they are secured to your body or suit to avoid losing them. Although it is okay to use artificial light underwater, be sure you do not disturb the marine animals or other divers. And definitely avoid flashing light into anybody’s eyes.
If stuck or in danger, use the flashlight to send distress signals to nearby divers. It is obviously recommended to agree upon signals with partners or teams before the dive. If a partner is lost or you find yourself lost, again a torch can be effectively used in the situation. Look for other diver’s light beams and follow them. Always maintain other divers in sight. But do not panic if you cannot see them. Just switch off the light for a few seconds and look for the light from the others’ torches. You will discover them very quickly.
Keep the torch handy always and mark yours with distinctive fluorescent stickers, symbols or tape. That way, you’ll be able to recognize it in the dark even falls down or gets stuck somewhere. Be careful not to wander too much away from your dive team/partners.
These are the little things that make diving a wonderful experience. Do read up lots before venturing into the waters for the first time and follow all the instructions. If done correctly, diving is one of the most joyous experiences and you will keep going back for more.
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Posted on Jun 27, 2010 under Scuba Diving |
Anyone who is regularly doing water sports or diving for long periods in water faces the difficulty of staying warm. Without some form of water compatible insulation most ocean or lake water will quickly take body heat right out of you.
Due to technology advancements wetsuits have been able to to make huge strides in materials. As this technology advanced so did the various options of different coloured wetsuits become available, so much so that people really started making fashion statements with brands such as Quicksilver wetsuits and Billabong wetsuits leading the way.
The original rubber backed material of the surfing wetsuit has advanced to the neoprene material which is essentially the crux of any wetsuit, as this material allows for a layer of water to be trapped inside of the material, and is heated up by the body temperature of the wearer. Other more interesting methods have been put forward and starting to break through, for example gel based heating and solar panel heating.
Rip Curl wetsuits have been pioneers in heated wetsuits. A new product just launched by Rip Curl called the H-Bomb is aimed to take the wetsuit market by storm. The wetsuit has a thickness of 3/2 millimetres and a special heated panel that runs down your spine. Exactly what you need to keep warm in freezing cold water. This kind of technology will allow water activates to spend a lot more time in the water without any risk of danger.
These developments really prove how far the surfing wetsuit has come since the initial proposals that were made to the US navy for diving suits. The benefit of all this new technology is people are going to be able to enjoy themselves in the sea all year round, hot or cold.
Technorati Tags: female wetsuits, male wetsuits, staying warm, wetsuits
Posted on Apr 09, 2010 under Dive Computers, Suunto |
The Suunto D9 is a feature rich dive computer that provides many new and enhanced features that cannot be found in other dive computers. This dive computer is a compact and sophisticated multi purpose dive instrument, designed for years of trouble free service.
When underwater a diver needs to monitor several gauges to receive the crucial information about the dive: depth,dive time, tank pressure, decompression status and direction to name just a few. The Suunto D9 combines the complete package of dive gauges and dive-critical information all in one stylish instrument, conveniently mounted on your wrist. Allowing you to concentrate on the diving.
It is the first dive computer in the world to incorporate a digital compass. The compass shows the general direction with a graphical compass rose, as well as the exact bearing with a numerical display. Headings can be stored in the Suunto D9’s memory for later analysis. The compass is naturally functional both on land and under water.
Product Features
Wireless Air Integration
Using the optional wireless transmitter allows the diver to monitor tank pressure and air consumption data. The remaining tank pressure is shown both graphically and numerically, and throughout the dive an estimation of the remaining air time is given. This allows the diver to monitor the air supply remaining at the same time as he monitors depth and dive time.
Real time air consumption is stored in the memory and can be analyzed later using the memory or PC interface functions.
The pressure of more than one tank can be monitored by using multiple transmitters. This can be quite handy for technical divers and for instructors who want to monitor the air consumption of their students.
Multi-mode versatility
Three different dive modes are available: Air, Nitrox and Gauge.
The air mode is for diving with standard air, whereas the nitrox mode provides an option for using up to three different gas mixes during the dive and the Gauge mode for use as a bottom timer.
When in Nitrox mode, you can accelerate decompression by switching to a gas mix with a higher oxygen percentage. You can preset three different gas mixes (with between 21% – 100% oxygen) and set PO2 values for each individual gas. While diving, it’s quick and easy to switch between enabled gas mixes. This feature makes the Suunto D9 particularly attractive to deep and technical divers.
The gauge mode has several applications, such as for freediving. The profile-sampling rate can be set to as low as 1s, and the ascent rate monitoring can be disabled. The gauge mode also provides a dual display stopwatch, which allows the timing of underwater activities to the second. This is extremely useful for timing accurate bottom times and decompression stops. For those intending to go really deep the maximum depth display of Suunto D9 is set at 200m/660ft.
Flexible decompression
Suunto D9 provides the user with an option to use traditional safety-stops, or to use deep stops. The deep stops are calculated iteratively throughout the dive, and the deep stop time can be set to 1 or 2 minutes. The decompression calculations are based on the Suunto RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubble Model).
Dive Planning and Reviewing
The Suunto D9 comes with a USB interface and Dive Manager software to allow for dives to be easily logged.
You can test upcoming dives and view no-decompression time data for different depths before getting in the water with the built-in dive planner. When the dive is over, use the included Suunto Dive Manager PC software to transfer your dive data to your computer for further analysis and to maintain a detailed logbook featuring graphical representation of all your dives.
The extensive memory and logbook functions enable you to keep track of your previous dives and through them you can you can analyze and plan your diving activities.
Summary
The Suunto D9 is as stylish on dry land as it is in the water. As well as being a full-featured dive computer, Suunto D9 is a stylishly designed watch that can be worn as an everyday timepiece.
Safety is essential whether diving in familiar waters or exploring unknown oceans. Suunto D9 is packed with solutions that enable safe and responsible decisions underwater. The depth, time and decompression data, combined with the compass and air integration ensure that you know exactly how much time you can spend underwater, how deep you are, when you have to surface and how fast you can ascend. This way you can maximize your diving performance without jeopardizing your safety.
Suunto D9 is the ultimate instrument of choice for all kinds of recreational, military and professional divers. Competitive divers such as freedivers, as well as technical divers, who do not compromise when it comes to the quality, materials and functionality of their equipment, will find
Suunto D9 an invaluable diving aid.
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