What Are Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Free Diving?

Scuba diving, snorkeling, and free diving are three water-based experiences
that access the marine environment using different approaches, equipment, and
tech-niques. Snorkeling and free diving use less equipment, as they only
require the assistance of a mask to see clearly underwater, a snorkel to breathe
on the water surface, and fins to enable propulsion. Free divers might use a
small amount of weight to assist descent. Snorkelers primarily swim on the
water surface face down, searching and discovering the marine world below.
Free diving is sometimes described as “breath-hold diving” and was traditionally
called “skin diving” (Cherry 1976). It involves taking a breath before plunging
below to swim immersed for a short time in the underwater realm. With practice,
free divers develop the ability to remain submerged for some minutes before
needing to surface for air.
Those seeking greater immersion can experience scuba diving, which is said to
have evolved as a natural consequence of snorkeling and free diving (Stone
1999). To participate requires substantially more equipment including portable
but lim-ited air supply, mask, and fins, as well as weights and a wet suit. Scuba
divers can regularly spend more time at depths beyond those visited by other
forms of diving. Scuba requires training and practice to develop the necessary
skills to become comfortable in the underwater environment in order to safely
enjoy the range of situations and experiences the sport offers.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Participation in scuba diving provides several advantages, including longer and
deeper bottom time than is possible with snorkeling and free diving. Therefore,
opportunity to be more involved with the marine location and to observe marine
wildlife is possible. This fact alone has encouraged the growth of underwater
pho-tography as a popular hobby (Cherry 1976; Sylvester 1987). The
experience allows divers to see, learn, and discover the marine location.
Ongoing involvement and regular scuba diving normally involves further skills
training, which contributes to personal physical development and education.
Basic open-water education allows divers to experience up to 18 meters of
depth in a non-overhead environment. This level of training provides basic skills
including finning techniques, mask clearing, and some “buddy” communication
signals. Further training can extend skill and diving parameters to include
rescue skills, deeper diving, night diving, and cave and wreck diving. Increased
training and education will involve greater management of technical issues such
as extended depth, equipment malfunction, physiological risks, understanding
decompression profiles, and mixed gas diving. As the complexity of the diving
task increases, the need for further diver education also increases (Jablonski
1999).
Snorkeling and free diving, on the other hand, require less equipment and
mental and physical involvement. For these reasons, many prefer the freedom
of snorkeling and free diving (Cherry 1976). Snorkeling is something that
everyone can do, whereas scuba can restrict some participants. For example,
people with asthma will not obtain medical clearance to scuba dive (personal
communication). Snorkeling and free div-ing require less financial involvement
because there is no need to service or rent large amounts of equipment.
Similarly, the investment in terms of time and cost for train-ing and education is
reduced for free divers and snorkelers. However, training in basic water skills is
fundamental to safety in all activities, with free divers needing to be aware of
physical discomfort and risks associated with breath-hold diving (Cherry 1976).
Indeed, involvement in any of these activities can have a range of impacts.

Abstract: (1) Background: The exploration of the potential therapeutic benefits of scuba diving for
the mental and physical health of people with physical disabilities. (2) Methods: The research was
conducted on a group of 240 people (men and women) with physical disabilities, using the survey
designed by one of the authors. The subjective sense of physical and mental fitness was analyzed in
retrospective and real terms. (3) Results: Significant increases in self-esteem, belief in our own abilities
(self-confidence) and improvement in the ability to engage in social interactions were observed in
the group of scuba divers with disabilities compared to individuals with disabilities not practicing
diving. The respondents also declared an improvement in the efficiency of the respiratory system
and stressed that a water environment increased their motor skills and relieved pain. (4) Conclusions:
Diving can become one of the forms of rehabilitation for people with disabilities. There is a need
for further research to expand our understanding of the benefits and possible health problems
involved in diving. These activities have a huge impact on improving the quality of life of people
with disabilities.