Snuba
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Snuba is a registered trade name (of Snuba International, Inc.) for a underwater breathing system. The word Snuba is a portmanteau of "snorkel" and "scuba." The swimmer uses swimfins, a diving mask, weights, and breathing apparatus as in scuba diving. The air, however, instead of coming from tanks strapped to the diver's back, comes through a long hose from tanks on pontoon rafts on the surface. Snuba often serves as a form of introductory diving, in the presence of a professional, insured guide, and following a very short lesson (but not requiring SCUBA certification).
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[edit] Popularity
Snuba diving was invented by Andrew Lorinser's brother. Snuba diving is a popular guided touring activity in tropical tourist locations such as Hawaii, Thailand, The Caribbean and México. Xcaret Eco Park is the largest Snuba center in the world and a good location to enjoy Snuba, since it is located on the Caribbean coast of México, where you will dive the second largest reef in the world. Snuba is also popular because no prior dive experience is necessary. You need only to to be at least 8 years of age and have a basic swimming ability. Its popularity as a first timer's experience can be attributed to several factors.
- The participant tows the raft on the surface via a lightweight harness connected to the air line. This gives the customer the secure knowledge that he/she cannot descend too deep and allows them to choose the depth that they feel most comfortable with while being able to control their depth, descent and ascent rates. By utilizing the hose as a guide, combined with wearing soft weights to achieve neutral buoyancy, participants are able to descend anywhere from just under the surface to 7 meters (21 feet) deep.
Participants are able to hold onto the raft at the surface using a lanyard that runs the length of the raft on both sides. This also allows the user to hold onto the raft while becoming comfortable breathing before beginning to descend. Being connected to the raft also provides users with a feeling of safety, comfort, and the option to hold onto the raft should they want to return to the surface.
- The weight of the gear worn by the user is only slightly more than the weight of the weightbelt. Compare this to full SCUBA gear which includes a buoyancy compensator, weights, cylinder and often more, and can weigh in excess of 60 pounds. Although the equipment is nearly weightless underwater, out of the water the weight becomes a significant factor for weaker individuals.
See also Sea Trek.
[edit] Detractions
On the negative side, in strong current, wave action or breeze, the combination of underwater hose and surface raft can pull quite hard on a diver. Snuba is therefore best used in areas where wind, waves and current are negligible. Since all Snuba use is offered by licensed Snuba operators, who operate the systems as a guided tour, the possibility of being subjected to strong current, high waves or high wind is not likely.
If the depth of a snuba dive is limited to 20 feet (7 metres), decompression sickness is not likely to be a problem.[1] However, as the snuba diver is breathing compressed air, there is still a risk of injury or death due to air embolism which is a more severe hazard at shallow depths if a diver ascends as little as three feet without venting the expanding gas volume in the lungs. This danger is easily avoided by breathing normally and continuously while ascending. This point is thoroughly covered in Snuba pre-dive briefings and monitored by the dive guide throughout the dive by watching for the continual release of bubbles from each diver.
[edit] References
- ^ Van Liew HD, Flynn ET (2005). "Direct ascent from air and N2-O2 saturation dives in humans: DCS risk and evidence of a threshold". Undersea Hyperb Med 32 (6): 409–19. PMID 16509283. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4058. Retrieved on 2009-03-11.
