Scuba Diving Guide - Diving Types

Scuba diving equipment allows people to dive deep below the surface of the water and still be able to breathe. The scuba diving system is the outcome of extensive technological research and innovation spanning almost 300 years.
Scuba diving offers to divers unlimited freedom of movement underwater and the chance to enjoy the marine life. The diving equipment is comparatively inexpensive and simple to operate and maintain. The equipment is currently used for recreational diving, as well as for conducting underwater tasks for military, scientific and commercial purposes.
A basic scuba set comprises a cylinder of compressed air attached to a two-stage demand regulator. The purpose of the regulator is to lower the air pressure from the cylinder and allocate it to the diver as needed. Scuba diving is commonly sub-categorized into open scuba and closed scuba. Open scuba allows the diver to breath air from a cylinder or canister and the exhaled air goes into the water and rises to the surface as bubbles. Closed scuba allows the diver to reuse the same gas.
Before you start searching for your dreamed diving vacation it's important to realize what are you looking for. If you are an experienced diver then you probably know already what kind of diving you like the best. There are many types of diving, varying from easy to extremely difficult.

Live-aboard Diving

Scuba diving on a live-aboard usually means lots of diving. Typical days contain 3-5 dives, however this depends totally on your option. When you dive on a live-aboard you should be an experienced diver, meaning that you should feel confident underwater. There are of course live boards where even inexperienced divers are welcome. It's important to realize that if you make 3 or more dives/day you should dive with a diving computer. To keep the nitrogen level in your body relatively low you can use Nitrox because this will make your dives safer.
Live-aboard diving are usually the best divings and you'll see the biggest fish and the most beautiful coral reefs. Because you have the possibility to go further from shore, you'll experience the dive sites that are the most spectacular.

Day Trip Boat Diving

Difference from the live-aboard diving is that you start and return to shore every day or every few days, meaning that you normally don't sleep on the boat. This diving vacations usually starts at a dive center, where you'll meet the staff. The diving sites are usually not far away from the diving centers, the operators try to be within 1-2 hours distance. Briefings are usually done before you reach the dive site, as well as setting up the equipment. It's probably a good idea to set up your diving equipment before you reach the open sea, this will give you the chance to fix anything in time if necessary.
The crew on a day trip boat usually consists from a captain and a few boat members, dive instructors and guides. Depending on the location, you'll either dive alone or in a group, with or without a dive guide. Diving with a dive guide has several advantages and has proven to be more than useful. Often you'll dive twice a day, with surface intervals of 2 hours or less. If you want, it's possible to do also night dives.

Shore Diving

The shore diving is usually done by loading the equipment in a car or truck and driving over the land to the diving sites. Shore diving can be more intensive then boat diving. However, shore diving take up less time and give you more freedom since you are not on a boat.

If you are looking for a vacation just for diving then live-aboard diving is the best choice. Live-aboard vacations usually offer you the opportunity to find great diving sites and to take how many dives you whish. If you want to have freedom to do other things beside diving then the day trip boat diving is probably the best choice for you.
Shore diving offers you the ultimate freedom and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the environment and culture of the country you are staying in. Usually, the drives to the dive sites can be very exciting and highly enjoyable!