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What Is Scuba Diving?
SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. That is a fancy way of saying 'you carry your air with you!'
Scuba divers strap a tank of compressed air to their back and breathe through a special mouthpiece called a regulator. The regulator delivers air at just the right pressure so your lungs can work normally, even deep underwater.
Recreational scuba divers usually go down to about 60-130 feet. That is enough to explore coral reefs, swim with sea turtles, and see incredible underwater caves. A typical tank of air lasts about 45-60 minutes, depending on how deep you go and how fast you breathe.
You have to be at least 10 years old to get scuba certified! Kids ages 8-9 can try special shallow pool experiences.