Scuba Diving and Scuba Diving Sites of the World – Grand Bahama Island
June 18th, 2008Scuba diving is rapidly becoming one of the most popular of all recreational water sports in the world today.
It would be a logical and correct assumption that this is probably by and large down to the increased transport links around the globe making the more obscure destinations now easier to get to.
In this article I really want to take a basic look at Scuba diving but also take a look at one of the world’s leading scuba diving locations in Grand Bahama Island.
The activity of swimming underwater whilst using a scuba set is not unsurprisingly known as Scuba Diving. Divers are capable of staying underwater for much longer with the usage of scuba equipment. The important thing about this is that by using Scuba equipment the diver is able to stay underwater longer than other divers using simple breath holding techniques used in snorkelling and free diving.
The other advantage is that the diver is not hindered by air lines that are attached to a remote air source usually found on the surface.
The usual technique for swimming or propulsion underwater is by way of using large flippers attached to their feet Some divers also move around with the assistance of a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV). Commonly known as a scooter divers occasionally use sleds which are attached to surface boats to help them with moving large distances.
The term SCUBA arose from usage in World War II and originally referred to the oxygen rebreathers developed for underwater warfare used by combat frogmen from the United States. Most people now recognize the term as being made popular by the equipment developed by Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan.
The term SCUBA though originally an acronym of the phrase “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus” has now alongside other such terms found itself part of the English language as a word in itself such as scuba diving, scuba equipment etc.
So to Grand Bahama Island. The reputation of Grand Bahama Island as a diver’s paradise has been growing ever since the earliest episodes of the TV Series “Sea Hunt” were filmed there. The surrounding seas off the coasts of the Island boast such a wildly diverse range of diving attractions that there are very few types of diving that the Island cannot accommodate.
Grand Bahama Island is of course also famous for its “blue holes” – these are spectacular azure portals in the reefs through which you can descend, surrounded by reef wall on all sides. Depending on which way the current is going at any one time these holes can be “blowing” or “sucking” and the currents here can be quite strong and as a result quite dangerous if you are not an experienced diver.
The geographical sub structure on which the Island is based is a massive limestone base and tied into this is also one of the other major reasons why people flock to this area of the world for diving and that is the massive underwater cave network that exists here.
The underwater cave network that is located by and large within the Lucayan National Park is the second largest of its type in the world.
The caves are still being explored, and there are numerous special dive programs that can take you into them (provided you are cave certified).
Stephen Morgan writes regularly about leisure activities and if you want to find out more about Scuba Diving Sites then visit http://www.divemaster.com