The Underwater World
opinionated Essay
1825 words
The Underwater World "There you are, totally weightless, quietly soaring just above the sea floor with only the smallest amount of physical exertion. Small fish come out of their holes to look at you. How about that? You are the curiosity. You are the thing that does not belong. Perhaps this is why you dive. You are taking part in exploring man's last ecological frontier. The very thought would excite anyone whose blood still flows in his veins. The diver is the observer, he looks at everything he can. He totally forgets the outside world" (Reseck 4). When I first read this piece, I got goosebumps. For years man has explored this vast universe, spending millions of dollars, and only making a tiny scratch on its surface. For me, to be able to explore a world completely different from mine sounds like an opportunity of a lifetime. When I had to choose a topic for my senior project, scuba diving was the most compelling of all. This paper is about the development and use, the techniques, and the physiological concerns of scuba diving. Man underwater dates all the way back to the Iliad, but sports diving for fun and for a profession is fairly new. If one has ever been underwater, he should know that breathing is impossible. In the early 1940's, Jaques Yves-Cousteau, a Frenchman, developing something that is now a very important asset to scuba diving. It is known to us as a "regulator." The regulator conserved air by releasing only the amount of air the Korell 2 diver needed to breathe. This increased the time the diver could stay down on one tank of air to about one hour if he were in shallow depths. Cousteau's regulator was simple and inexpensive and marked the beginning of the sport of scuba diving. The sport grew somewhat slo... ... middle of paper ... ...ery complex topic due to the scientific side of it. There are many scientific laws and there are many restrictions related to it. The only drawback of learning how to scuba dive is the cost. But if you are willing to spend about $450 and want to learn Korell 9 a lot more about scuba diving than the underwater portion, then by all means--go ahead. After all, it is a completely different world down there. Bibliography: Bibliography Counsilman and Drinkwater. Beginning Skin and Scuba Diving. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. 1964. Griffiths, Tom. Sport Scuba Diving in Depth. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Book Co., Publishing. 1985. NAUI--Adventures In Scuba Diving. St. Louis, MO: Mosby--Year Book, Inc. 1995. Nonnelly, Doug. Personal Interview. 1 Nov. 1998. Reseck, John. Scuba--Safe and Simple. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1975.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that scuba diving is the most compelling topic for their senior project, citing jaques yves-cousteau's "regulator."
- Describes the invention of the "wet suit," which strapped a thin layer of water next to the diver's body, which heated up to body temperature.
- Explains that scuba diving can be dangerous if not approached safely. the pike surface dive starts from a prone position on the surface.
- Explains that the mask, the snorkel, and the fins are three of the most important tools in diving.
- Explains that the snorkel is a critical tool for breathing underwater. the fins make you move through the water faster and less rigorously.
- Explains the importance of the "buddy system" when diving and recommends putting on fins, mask, and snorkel and walking slowly backward to the middle of a shallow area.
- Explains the two major forms of barotrauma in scuba diving: internal and external squeeze.
- Explains that equipment squeezes are caused by the inability to equalize the air pressure between the mask and the face on the diver's descent.
- Concludes that scuba diving is a complex sport due to the scientific side of it.
- Cites counsilman and drinkwater. beginning skin and scuba diving. belmont, ca: wadsworth publishing company, inc.
Related
- explanatory
- comparative
- argumentative
- Scuba Dive Essayexplanatory essayJames Cameron, director of Titanic, Avatar, and many other famous movies once said, “Every time you dive, you hope you'll see something new - some new species. Sometimes the ocean gives you a gift, sometimes it doesn't.” As you are swimming under the ocean, imagine the sparkle of the water as you look up the surface from a hundred feet below; floating along with the current, slowly and deeply breathing while observing the sea life. Continue to imagine the ability to remain underwater for an hour or more, just swimming and observing the ocean. This is the life of a scuba diver.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that many people think of scuba diving as a swim in the water, but in reality it is dangerous, and potentially fatal.
- Explains that divers need buoyancy control devices, fins, weight systems, scuba tanks, and regulators in order to safely dive.
- Explains that there are many difficulties in scuba diving that may not be very apparent to those who do not dive.
- Opines that scuba diving has come a long way from the old historic ways to become modern sport and recreational activity.
835 wordsRead More - Scuba Divingexplanatory essayWe have all been underwater at some point in life whether it was in a pool, lake, or in the ocean, but that was probably for a short amount of time. With Scuba Diving, you get the opportunity to be underwater for more than 10 minutes at a time without having to worry about things on the surface. With Scuba Diving already having been banned temporarily a while ago in Crater Lake because of concern about the environmental impacts of invasive species to the marine ecosystems, some people think that Scuba Diving could become banned in more places, if nothing is done to combat the problem. Today, I will discuss Scuba Diving and its effect on the environment along with how to make it safer for the environment. During this past year, I learned to scuba dive and was certified for Scuba Diving at Neptune Dive and Ski. Today, I will discuss the effect of Scuba Diving on the environment through my research, product, and learning stretch. The first task that I was faced with was gathering information about Scuba Diving and researching the problem and the multiple ways to resolve the problem that it has on the environment. I researched the problem and ways to resolve the problem that Scuba Diving has on the environment, with my thesis focusing on how Scuba Diving although damaging to marine life and plants, could with the proper training be one of the best helpers of the present and for the future of the ocean life. Scuba Divers go into some of the nicest bodies of water in the world with the intent to observe and interact with the environment that is beneath the water. However, some Scuba Divers lack the proper training and knowledge necessary to dive in the water safely and carefully. Scuba Diving is meant for recreational use and for educat...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they learned to scuba dive and was certified for scuba diving at neptune dive and ski.
- Explains that some scuba divers lack the proper training and knowledge necessary to dive in the water safely and carefully.
- Describes how they learned about the marine environment through underwater research and became a certified scuba diver.
- Explains that after 30 hours of class time and open water diving, they received a certification card for completing and passing the course for scuba diving. they learned time management, how expensive hobbies can be, and not leave things for the last minute.
- Explains that they struggled with time management during their senior project. scuba diving classes were on the same days as soccer games, which left them little time to do homework on those days.
- Explains that scuba diving is an expensive hobby and requires a lot of dedication from anyone wanting to learn to do it. they also learned to deal with procrastination during the senior project.
874 wordsRead More - Edgework of Scuba Divingexplanatory essayThe use of edgework concept is contributive to explore divers’ in-water experiences and provide a more detailed examination of the situation when divers close to the perceived risk, and how they react to those circumstances. Research on scuba divers shown that, as with other edgework activities, prior to risk taking, individuals felt nervousness and horrors, but when they were underwater, divers perceived a sense of calm and relaxation (Schneider el al, 2007). If potential risks arise, the ecstatic experience will be achieved. The negotiating effort taken by divers reveals their autonomy to isolate constraints and accept the associated risks. (Dimmock, 2009). However, The magnitude of comfort in SCUBA experience could diminish because of these constraints, therefore divers tend to use negotiation strategy to handle their constraint to comfort. Three notable ways of negotiation response occurred from the divers’ narrative of experience which is categorized as consolidated, cooperation and cancel strategy.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the use of edgework concept is contributive to explore divers' in-water experiences and provide a more detailed examination of the situation when divers close to the perceived risk, and how they react to those circumstances.
- Explains consolidate strategy reflects divers reassuring themselves in-water and believing they have the skills and abilities required to maintain control of a situation that'verges on the total chaos'.
- Explains that diving companions played a crucial role in negotiating risks. their physical presence can provide guidance and psychological assurance for anxious divers during the uncomfortable underwater period.
- Explains that edgework activities offer unexpected challenges and novel experiences, but the appeal disappears when circumstances beyond one's control. exiting the ocean is considered as "practical measures of self-protection"
- Explains that scuba diving is associated with the risk of drowning or shark attack, yet divers regard it as pivotal part of involvement to gain control under high-altitude circumstances and offers them opportunity to construct own identities.
- Explains that formed attachment with the other divers aids the identity construction. personal experience and myth share across the diving group, which carried symbolic meaning.
- Explains that divers may experience euphoria in their edgework experiences, but the general public are more likely to feel ambivalent about it.
- Explains the edgework concept revolutionizes the traditional view of risk-taking activities as dangerous and horrified. it suggests thrills derive from the ability to manage and control risk.
- Explains that edgework examines the reason why people engage in risk behavior which could pose threat to their physical or mental well-being.
- Explains that the notion of edgework provides a theoretical basis for understanding risk consumption behaviour. it points out that voluntary risk-takers strive to recognize their existence and transmute it into something sensually appealing.
- Argues that the edgework concept only targeted on a specific social strata. it might have significant limitations when applied to other gender and ethnical groups.
1410 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay On Scuba Divingcomparative essayScuba diving is a sport that has been done for centuries. Scuba stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, in which people dive underwater with a cylinder of gas to breathe with the assistance of masks, fins, a breathing regulator, a buoyancy device, and gauges to explore the underwater environment. In the early nineteenth century new improvements were invented to help divers stay submerged underwater longer and have a smoother dive. But there is still doubt whether it is still safe to scuba dive or not because of the dangers that come with diving. And there are some areas of the world in which divers should be aware of. Even though improvements in technology made scuba diving safer by allowing humans to stay submerged longer periods of time, scuba diving should not be done, especially in particular regions of the world. A majority of dangers that come with scuba diving are caused by extreme water pressures.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that scuba diving is a sport that has been done for centuries, and that there are some areas of the world in which divers should be aware of.
- Explains that the first scuba dives were for jewelry and were short until a way to breathe underwater for longer periods of time was invented.
- Explains that shallow water blackout syndrome is a serious danger to be considered while going scuba diving.
- Explains that air embolisms are caused when air bubbles get inside the blood stream and eventually cut off a diver's blood supply.
- Explains that decompression sickness occurs in reaction to nitrogen bubbles forming in one’s blood stream.
- Explains that nitrogen narcosis is one of the most dangerous conditions with diving that one should always be aware of because it attacks the brain.
- Concludes that scuba diving should not be done because of pre-existing medical conditions, poor buoyancy control, and fast ascent.
- Explains that some regions of the world should be left alone and should not be disturbed by humans scuba diving. sipadan island, malaysia could potentially become dangerous because it is a site where the barracuda tornado occurs and it contains hammerhead sharks.
999 wordsRead More - Preparation: Key to Diver Competenceexplanatory essayScuba Diving is a way of life for some people; but for most, it is just a hobby or sport. In all cases, these bubble-blowing adventurers submerge themselves into a magic world where life is no longer bi-dimensional and air supply is limited by how much is loaded in their backpacks. It is, indeed, a humbling and eye-opening experience, a true statement of the magnitude and beauty of our planet. Unfortunately, Scuba Diving is also an activity that has many risks, some of which can be fatal. To reduce the risks involved, prior to being certified, Scuba Divers go through a somewhat rigorous training program where all risks are highlighted and basic techniques to avoid them are introduced. Despite all efforts, dive fatalities are present every year. According to … “the most common causes of dive fatalities are drowning, arterial gas embolism and cardiac incidents” (cite). However, the root cause of dive incidents leading to fatalities is much simpler: diver incompetence.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how the divemaster assigned claire and jake as buddies, despite their lack of experience, as well as jake's problems with his rental equipment, and continued with the pre-dive protocol.
- Opines that the instructor should have told claire and jake not to dive if they didn't feel comfortable, and the crew should've looked further into jake's equipment and buoyancy issues prior to letting them dive.
- Explains that scuba diving has inherent risks, but these risks are mitigated if divers are properly trained, properly equipped, and confident in the type of dive they are about to conduct.
- Explains that scuba diving is a way of life for some people, but for most, it's just an activity. the root cause of dive fatalities is diver incompetence.
755 wordsRead More - Scubaexplanatory essayPressure, the weight pushing on something, is a vital part of scuba diving. As a diver sinks deeper into the water, the pressure pushing on the person's lungs pushes harder. This can be very dangerous to a person's safety. While the water is pushing on the outside of the lungs, pressure in the inside of the lungs is pushing out. If this pressure isn't the same as the weight from the water pushing on the lungs, the diver could have breathing problems and possibly die. To equalize these two pressures, modern scuba gear is equipped with a device attached to the air hose called a demand regulator that controls the flow of air getting to the lungs, changing the pressure inside.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that scuba diving is an activity enjoyed by people all over the world. many people don't know that it would be impossible without physics.
- Explains that pressure is a vital part of scuba diving. as the diver sinks deeper into the water, the pressure on the person's lungs pushes harder.
- Explains that buoyancy is a huge part of scuba diving, and that divers wear weights and inflatable neckwear to control how deep they stay underwater.
- Explains the many forces that can be associated with scuba diving, such as pressure, buoyancy, and pressure.
- Explains that pressure, buoyancy, and many other forces make up the activity of scuba diving and any other activity in life. without them, divers couldn't breathe or even move underwater.
411 wordsRead More - Sperm Whales: Physiology of the Deep Diverexplanatory essay...W, Rotstein DS, Rowles TK, Simmons SE, Van Bonn W, Weathersby PK, Weise MJ, Williams TM, Tyack PL (2011) Deadly diving? Physiological and behavioral management of decompression stress in diving mammals. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences. 279:1041-1050
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sperm whales must deal with the direct effect of pressure on the volume change of air-filled spaces in their bodies. lung capacities are larger than terrestrial mammals and they must overcome the problems associated with lung collapse.
- Explains that at high partial pressures, both nitrogen and oxygen become toxic to marine mammals, which increases gas solubility in the body.
- Explains that sperm whales alter their heart rate, metabolism, and oxygen-storing capacity to overcome the issues associated with actively foraging while holding their breath.
- Explains that the larger the animal, the lower its mass-specific metabolism for a given oxygen storage capacity. the ability of sperm whales to make such deep dives may also be due to its waxy oil found in its head.
- Explains that the order cetacea is one of the most distinctive and highly specialized groups of mammals.
- Explains that marine mammals have successfully adapted to their environment through various adaptations, such as diving to deep depths and foraging for food.
- Cites butler pj, jones dr, costidis am, dennison s, falke kj, fernandez a, ferrigno m, fitz-clarke jr, houser ds, jepson pd,
- Explains the swimming gaits, passive drag, and buoyancy of diving sperm whales physeter macrocephalus.
1273 wordsRead More - Essay On SSI Certificationcomparative essayThankfully, Scuba Schools International has everything from beginner to advanced classes, all of which are guided.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the ssi certification is one of the most conclusive diving educations available to people of all ages.
- Explains that ssissi stands for scuba schools international, an open water diving school that offers personalized training to help each of their students become more comfortable diving.
- Explains that scuba schools international offers a range of informational classes designed to better inform and train their students.
- Explains that the ssi open water diver course is the best way for adolescents and adults to sharpen their diving knowledge and gain confidence in the water.
- Recommends altitude diving for those who want to dive deep in high altitudes. the course will show you how to prepare algorithms and plan for a high elevation dive.
- Explains that the ssi boat diving program shares the knowledge you need to plan and conduct a successful dive from your boat.
- Recommends deep diving for those who want to dive deep, as it educates people on the techniques required to survive the high pressure of the deep ocean, and other safety techniques.
- Recommends this underwater photography class for those who want to capture the beauty of the ocean on camera.
- Explains that diver stress & rescue is perfect for practicing accident prevention and learning how to handle stressful under-water situations.
- Explains that dry suit diving isn't just a summer activity anymore. with this nitrox class, you will learn how to use enriched air nitrox to your advantage.
- Explains shark diving: perfect for daring individuals with a love for sharks, this shark diving class teaches you the truth behind these ferocious giants and how to safely dive with them.
687 wordsRead More - Personal Narrative-Captain Cook: The Hawaiian Islandexplanatory essayMy vomit clouded the ocean surface with a purple-brown color before fading below the depths. On the other side of the vessel, I re-equipped my mask and plunged into the water to be greeted by my aunt – she was to be my snorkeling partner as she had much experience in the depths of Hawaii. When I submerged my head it was almost as if I had entered a new world. This unseen dimension housed a coral reef that vibrantly shone with a mixture of bright reds and deep blues. The reef almost seemed to pulsate as thousands of fish darted in and out of their subterranean homes. The water was thick with salt and teemed with plankton. We often resurfaced to point out fish to each other. I remember my aunt telling me of the environmental dangers of touching the still-living coral. “If you pierce its skin it will likely become infected and die, and all of the fish who live in it will die too,” she expertly explained. From then on I kept my distance to at least 5-6
In this essay, the author
- Opines that as a southern white-boy, their realization came in the most unexpected of places – the hawaiian islands.
- Describes how their sense of balance was overcome by the sequential hop from wave to wave and the boisterous hum of the motor.
- Narrates how the boat slowed to a brisk cruise as it entered the bay. the captain descended from the wheelhouse to where they were seated on the sundeck.
- Recounts how they re-experienced the poi they had eaten during the previous night's dinner. they were greeted by their aunt, who had much experience in the depths of hawaii.
- Describes how they were flooded with the feeling of vulnerability and felt as if at anytime they would be attacked from an unknown direction.
- Describes how they escaped the experience without injury but realized how irrelevant a single person was in comparison to the infinite vastness of nature. they meditated on this for some time, which helped to ease their mind of the nausea.
907 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of Scuba Divingargumentative essayScuba diving itself can be challenging at times. Imagine having a difficult task, like welding, to perform at the same time as scuba diving. This is a task that can cost you your life if not done correctly and as safely as possible.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that scuba diving can be challenging at times. there are two types of careers that allow welders the opportunity to dive, one is offshore underwater welding (offshore) and the other is inland.
- Explains that offshore underwater welders work 8 months out of the year and typically are off during the months of winter.
- Explains that inland underwater welders work 8 hours and it's for only about 1-3 weeks straight, but it’s year round versus the seasonal work schedule of offshore workers.
- Concludes that offshore welding is more dangerous because the jobs they have are usually the furthest away.
- Explains that offshore welders have had catastrophes at job sites like oil rigs, petroleum pipelines and large ships. the deepwater horizon incident occurred on april 20, 2010 of the gulf of mexico.
- Explains that the deepwater horizon incident was considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in which eleven people went missing and were never found.
- Argues that inland welders stay local and close enough to where they can be reached quickly in case of an emergency.
- Opines that inland welding would be the ideal job for someone who has a family waiting at home for them to get out of work.
- Compares offshore and inland underwater welders, noting they get paid by the government and have a constant wage to rely on.
- Argues that offshore welders get paid better than inland ones, but they have smaller teams and less competition, making it easier for them to move up or transfer if needed.
- Concludes that offshore underwater welding is more exhausting for the body and dangerous, but offshore welding pays better and has more benefits than inland welding.
1331 wordsRead More