Scuba gear is also called an underwater breathing apparatus.
While "scuba gear" is the common and widely understood term, "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus" is the full technical name, and "underwater breathing apparatus" is a more general and descriptive phrase. Scuba gear typically includes components like:
- Primary Cylinder(s): These tanks hold the compressed breathing gas, typically air or a nitrogen-oxygen mix (Nitrox). They are usually back-mounted, but can also be side-mounted.
- Regulator(s): This device reduces the high pressure of the gas in the cylinder to a pressure that the diver can safely breathe at the surrounding water pressure. Open-circuit regulators are common.
- Alternative Air Source: Also known as a bailout bottle or pony bottle, this is a smaller, independent air supply in case of a primary air supply failure.
- Decompression Cylinders: Used during decompression stops to breathe a gas mixture that accelerates the off-gassing of nitrogen or other inert gases.
- Secondary Demand Valve (Octopus): This is a backup regulator, often brightly colored, that can be used to share air with another diver in an emergency.
- Rebreather sets: While not technically open-circuit scuba, these are still forms of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
Therefore, while scuba gear refers to the equipment, the function of that equipment is that of an underwater breathing apparatus.
