Introduction to Scuba Diving

Scuba diving, sometimes known as sub-aqua diving, is most simply defined as 'the act of swimming underwater by using a self contained breathing apparatus'. In fact the word scuba is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. A scuba diver carries a tank of compressed gas on his back (usually this is air) which is attached to his breathing apparatus via a tube. This tank is the scuba diver's sole source of oxygen and with it he can stay underwater for hours at a time, thereby immersing himself completely in the underwater world beneath the waves.

Scuba diving is an amazing experience, floating free from gravity with a complete 360 degree range of movement, perhaps this is the closest you will get to being on another planet. Brightly coloured exotic fish, corals and strange underwater rock formations are yours to explore at proximity. Scuba diving can be an incredibly relaxing experience as you immerse yourself in an underwater world and forget all about the one above the surface.

With several worldwide organisations in place, scuba diving is a relatively safe sport and can be enjoyed by pretty much anybody. In this guide we are going to take a detailed look at the sport of scuba diving - where to scuba dive in the UK, how to get started, scuba equipment and all the other information you need to start exploring the undersea world.