Patent ID: 7083361

Claim:
An aquatic breathing apparatus comprising a buoyancy vest comprising: a generally toroidal element having a hole therethrouqh for admitting a head of a user thereinto, the toroidal element having a rear neck portion and a front portion positionable adjacent a chest of the user, the front portion comprising a support element adapted for removably affixing an air tank thereto, the support element positioned for supporting the air tank adjacent a sternum of the user; a back portion positionable adjacent a back of a user, the back portion comprising a generally planar element dimensioned and positioned for assisting in supporting a weight of an air tank affixed to the support element, wherein the planar element is affixable to the rear neck portion; a buoyancy element at least partially housed within the front portion; and a pair of side straps, each side strap affixable in connecting relation between the front and the back portion to respective opposed sides thereof and positioned at a level generally the same as that of the support element, for encircling the user at a level generally of the sternum.