Scuba Diving Equipment FAQs
What is the PSI within the scuba system?
The measurement of pounds per square inch is used to denote the force in an area measurement that the tank undergoes, and it is typically between 2,900 and 4,400 PSI. The pressure exerted at these forces would easily pop your lungs. For this reason there are several stages of regulators that be sure that the psi that reaches you is a reasonable level. The first regulator reduces the psi to about 100 or so. The second is a fluid exchange rate that adjusts to the pressure around you, so that at any depth you can breathe as though the pressure were equalized, because it is.
What are the temperature differences in scuba diving?
The temperature of the ocean is always less than that of the human body. For this reason, the ocean will always feel chilly, although if you dive a lot you may be more accustomed to some temperatures. Warmer tropical water temperatures could approach 30 degrees Celsius and to mitigate the seven degree difference between you at 37 degrees Celsius, and the water at 30 may only require a wetsuit. The wetsuit may not provide a sufficient amount of mitigation for colder arctic and subarctic temperatures however, and that is why the elaborate drysuit was invented. This suit is highly insulating and will help you remain afloat while keeping you dry in the near-freezing temperatures at the extreme poles of the world.
What are the potential hazards from diving?
There are a few physical and mental risks associated with diving. Almost all of them are correlative to the pressure differences between gases in the body and the amount of pressure exerted on the body. Rapid ascent can lead to decompression sickness which is similar to the carbonation being release in a can or a carbonated beverage when it is consumed. However, those bubbles can be detrimental to the heath of the human and so slow ascents are strongly recommended and bar tables are used by divers to find out when they need to stop for a rest. The second issue can stem from the same dissolving of gases in the body. Nitrogen narcosis is an effect that is felt, regardless of moderation where, colloquially speaking, every 10 meters after 20 meters deep in the water you dive, it feels like you had that many martinis. Sometimes this is called Martini’s Law. There is also the problem of oxygen toxicity. The effects are plausibly severe and are known to occur when oxygen is inhaled at different pressure levels from your surroundings. The regulators in the valve system of the scuba gear help to mitigate the potential threats posed by this sickness. There is also a physical factor that can play into the threats surrounding swimming, there are animals, which don’t normally attack, but have been known to do so, as well as the potential for hypothermia, which is caused by the cold water temperatures which can be mitigated with the proper wetsuit or drysuit.
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