Technical diving demands a variety of equipment. Backplates, which are used in conjunction with a harness, can be made of stainless steel or carbon fiber. Diver knives, lights and safety buoys are just a few of the technical gear available. These items are used to ensure your safety and comfort while diving.
Technical divers may use certain equipment
Technical divers use more sophisticated equipment than recreational divers. It can include specialized gear that can be used when conditions are hazardous and sophisticated computers that assist in monitoring their decompression as well as other dive-related data. For instance, multigas dive computers allow divers to change gas blends on the fly and control their decompression time. Submersible pressure gauges, which allow divers to monitor the level of air in their cylinders, are also important. For long-duration dives, dry suits provide insulation and are essential. Other diving equipment includes a slate, compass, and delayed surface marker buoy. A decompression trapeze can help divers maintain correct depth during in-water decompression stops. A lift bag is also used to carry the equipment.
Other equipment used by technical divers includes a full face mask that covers the diver's nose, mouth, and eyes. A safety harness is also essential, as it can be used to lift the diver out of the water. A buddy line, shotline, and other equipment are also important for technical divers. A shotline connects to a shotweight to provide a reference point to the diver for their descent. A buddyline connects two divers in shallow water to one another and prevents them getting separated. A jonline tethers the diver to a shotline, and a surface marker buoy indicates the position of the divers to people at the surface.
Equipment used by ice divers
Safety reasons make it possible for ice divers to use different types of equipment. Two first-stage regulators are used by ice divers. This allows them to switch between the regulators without the need of a second tank. The diver can simply attach the second-stage regulator to the broken first-stage regulator if it breaks. Ice divers frequently use double tanks which offer redundant air delivery and supplies.
Support personnel must always be on hand for ice divers. The safety line is attached to the diver's harness. It acts as a communication device and a means of communicating with emergency personnel. The safety line can run up to 150 feet. Sometimes, the two-person team may have separate lines. The line tenders need to be protected from heat and can have to go into the water in the event that the diver gets separated.
The team must prepare the area before ice diving. A chainsaw is the most common tool used to cut the ice, but it must be used properly. To avoid damage to equipment and divers, the hole should be smooth. Many ice divers prefer to use triangle-shaped holes for safer entry or exit.
Equipment used by decompression divers
Divers who are decompression certified use specialized equipment underwater. The multigas dive computer tracks decompression requirements, and allows divers to switch between two types of gases in their cylinder. Also included is a submersible gauge to display the air remaining in the cylinder. The dry suit provides insulation and protection during long dives.
Apart from a self-contained breath device, divers can also use equipment which connects to a platform for support. Divers can perform many underwater tasks using this equipment, including adjusting their stop depth or monitoring it. The umbilical supplies breathing gas to the helmet of the diver. It may also have two-way communication, a depth measuring tube, a camera and hot water to warm the suit.
A jonline, a long-lined instrument used by divers to aid in their search and work sessions, is an important piece. The lifting bag, an airtight bag attached with a weighted wire and suspended at depth in the diving chamber, is another piece. These tools can be used to lift heavy objects off the bottom of an ocean, and act as a floating device when filled with water. Decompression divers also use a shot line, which is made up of a weight and line that allows them to navigate to the surface and perform a decompression stop at a safe place.