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SCUBA DIVING |
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 SCUBA
stands for 'self contained underwater breathing apparatus'.
With most of the earth's surface covered with water, is it
any wonder that scuba diving is popular, scuba diving is easy
and scuba diving is fun?!
Air-assisted underwater exploration has been around since
the 1700's,but it wasn't till the 1930's that the first systems
called "SCUBA" were produced. They were inefficient
and supplied air constantly into the diver's face. Between
1942 and 1946, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed
the Aqua Lung which used pressure valves to deliver the air,
only when the diver breathed in.
Over the next two decades the Aqua Lung proved its reliability,
and in the 1960's sport diving began. The National Association
of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), was formed in 1960 to regulate
and teach safe scuba diving to enthusiasts of this new sport.
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI),
was formed in 1967.
In the 70's, scuba equipment continued to evolve with the
addition of buoyancy compensation vests and better valves
and submersible pressure gauges. Throughout the 80's and 90's,
scuba diving became a multi-billion dollar industry and there
was even more innovation in the design of better, safer, lighter
and more comfortable equipment.
Today, scuba diving is accessible to most people. Every day
a variety of dive charter vessels
and daily reef boats depart from the Marlin Jetty (in the
centre of Cairns) carrying first
time snorkelers, dive course participants and experienced
divers out to the Great
Barrier Reef. Prices vary as does style of boat and duration
of trip.
For personalised help with organising your 'Scuba Diving
Experience' please contact us on:
info@great-barrier-reef-dive.com.au
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