Outline of underwater diving

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to underwater diving:
Underwater diving – as a human activity, is the practice of descending below the water's surface to interact with the environment.
Underwater diving can be described as all of the following:
There are several modes of diving distinguished by the equipment and procedures used:
Diving procedures – Standardised methods of doing things that are known to work effectively and acceptably safely
Underwater diving environment – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed
Professional diving, also known as occupational diving – Underwater diving where divers are paid for their work
Recreational diving – Diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment
Diving equipment – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving
Autonomous underwater vehicle – Uncrewed underwater vehicle with autonomous guidance system
Breathing gas – Gas used for human respiration
Decompression equipment – Equipment used by divers to facilitate decompression
Diver propulsion vehicle – Powered device for diver mobility and range extension
Diving safety equipment – Equipment used to facilitate underwater diving safety
Diving rebreather – Closed or semi-closed circuit scuba
Gas extenders:
Remotely operated underwater vehicle – A tethered underwater mobile device operated by a remote crew
Underwater breathing apparatus – Equipment which provides breathing gas to an underwater diver
Diving support equipment – Equipment used in the support of an underwater diving operation
Underwater work tools and equipment – Tools and equipment used for underwater work
Underwater weapons – Weapons that are intended for use underwater
There are also diver support activities which require assessed competence and registration for which formal training may be required.
Underwater diving environment – The underwater environment to which a diver may be exposed
Physics of underwater diving – Aspects of physics which affect the underwater diver
Human physiology of underwater diving – Influences of the underwater environment on the physiology of human divers
Diving medicine – Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders caused by underwater diving
Diving disorders – Physiological disorders resulting from underwater diving
Diving safety – Risk management of underwater diving activities
Incidents and people involved in a notable incident while diving or during a diving operation.
Legal aspects of diving – How underwater diving and divers are affected by law
Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.
Recreational dive sites may be found in a wide range of bodies of water, and may be popular for various reasons, including accessibility, biodiversity, spectacular topography, historical or cultural interest and artifacts (such as shipwrecks), and water clarity. Tropical waters of high biodiversity and colourful sea life are popular recreational diving tourism destinations. South-east Asia, the Caribbean islands, the Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia are regions where the clear, warm, waters, reasonably predictable conditions and colourful and diverse sea life have made recreational diving an economically important tourist industry.
Recreational divers may accept a relatively high level of risk to dive at a site perceived to be of special interest. Wreck diving and cave diving have their adherents, and enthusiasts will endure considerable hardship, risk and expense to visit caves and wrecks where few have been before. Some sites are popular almost exclusively for their convenience for training and practice of skills, such as flooded quarries. They are generally found where more interesting and pleasant diving is not locally available, or may only be accessible when weather or water conditions permit.
While divers may choose to get into the water at any arbitrary place that seems like a good idea at the time, a popular recreational dive site will usually be named, and a geographical position identified and recorded, describing the site with enough accuracy to recognise it, and hopefully, find it again. (Full article...)
History of underwater diving – Developments over time in the human activity
Diver training can be distinguished between recreational and occupational diver training. Recreational diver training tends to be split into small skill sets for customer convenience and provider profitability. Recreational diver training systems include training and registration of instructors and dive leaders for recreational diving
Professional diver training is usually for registration based on mode of diving and requires a wider range of competence for a range of equipment skills and environments. Titles of certificates vary, but the basic competences are similar and may be internationally recognised by agreement.
Scientific diving is occupational diving in the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and there may be different conditions that apply regionally regarding regulation and registration.
List of diver certification organizations – Agencies which issue certification for competence in diving skills
Diver membership organisations
(National or international codes of practice for diving)
(National or international standards relating to diving equipment or practices)
Buoyancy compensators
Depth gauges
Diver training
Diving masks
Dry suits
Recreational diving services
Snorkels
Swimfins
Underwater breathing apparatus
Wetsuits
Notable dive site guides with Wikipedia article.
Authors of general non-fiction works on diving topics who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles.
Documentary movies focused on underwater diving.
Movies, novels, TV series and shows, comics, graphic art, sculpture, games, myths, legends, and misconceptions. Fiction in general relating to all forms of diving, including hypothetical and imaginary methods, and other aspects of underwater diving which have become part of popular culture.
This is a list of underwater divers whose exploits have made them notable. Underwater divers are people who take part in underwater diving activities – Underwater diving is practiced as part of an occupation, or for recreation, where the practitioner submerges below the surface of the water or other liquid for a period which may range between seconds to order of a day at a time, either exposed to the ambient pressure or isolated by a pressure resistant suit, to interact with the underwater environment for pleasure, competitive sport, or as a means to reach a work site for profit or in the pursuit of knowledge, and may use no equipment at all, or a wide range of equipment which may include breathing apparatus, environmental protective clothing, aids to vision, communication, propulsion, maneuverability, buoyancy and safety equipment, and tools for the task at hand. (Full article...)