Skin Diving

Skin Diving, aquatic activity in which swimmers—dependent on their own lung capacity and using a diving mask, a snorkel, and fins—remain under water for up to several minutes. Skin diving is an extension of snorkelling, an activity in which swimmers move about in shallow water, using the same equipment, and view the underwater environment from the surface.

The basic equipment for skin diving includes a waterproof face mask, a breathing tube called a snorkel, and fins (also known as flippers) for the feet. The face mask encloses the eyes and nose and provides a transparent watertight space in front of the eyes to afford clear underwater vision. The snorkel is a hollow tube with a mouthpiece on one end. By keeping the open end above the surface, a skin diver can breathe while swimming and thus study the underwater scenery for longer periods of time. Snorkels are only about 38 cm (about 15 in) long because air cannot be drawn by respiration from the surface to greater depths. Snorkel-equipped divers may dive freely, however, for as long as they can hold their breath. Fins enable the diver to swim underwater much more efficiently because of the larger surface area the flippers provide. Other recommended items of equipment include a personal flotation device and an exposure suit. A weighted belt may be needed to overcome excess buoyancy so that the skin diver does not have difficulty descending below the surface of the water.

Breath-hold (also called lung-power) diving enables a swimmer to move freely, without the encumbrance of special breathing equipment, at depths of 10 m (33 ft) and beyond. Most breath-hold divers can remain submerged only for relatively brief periods, usually less than two minutes. Experienced divers, however, have been known to remain beneath the water for several minutes at a time.

Training by professional instructors is recommended for both skin diving and snorkelling. These activities are becoming increasingly popular as leisure pastimes. Commercially, skin diving is important in the pearl industry.

See also Diving (underwater).