|SCUBA stands for ‘self contained underwater breathing apparatus’. With most of the earth’s surface covered with water, is it any wonder that scuba diving is popular, scuba diving is easy and scuba diving is fun?!Air-assisted underwater exploration has been around since the 1700’s,but it wasn’t till the 1930’s that the first systems called “SCUBA” were produced. They were inefficient and supplied air constantly into the diver’s face. Between 1942 and 1946, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed the Aqua Lung which used pressure valves to deliver the air, only when the diver breathed in.Over the next two decades the Aqua Lung proved its reliability, and in the 1960’s sport diving began. The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), was formed in 1960 to regulate and teach safe scuba diving to enthusiasts of this new sport. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), was formed in 1967.In the 70’s, scuba equipment continued to evolve with the addition of buoyancy compensation vests and better valves and submersible pressure gauges. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, scuba diving became a multi-billion dollar industry and there was even more innovation in the design of better, safer, lighter and more comfortable equipment.
Today, scuba diving is accessible to most people. Every day a variety of dive charter vessels and daily reef boats depart from the Marlin Jetty (in the centre of Cairns) carrying first time snorkelers, dive course participants and experienced divers out to the Great Barrier Reef. Prices vary as does style of boat and duration of trip.
For personalised help with organising your ‘Scuba Diving Experience’ please contact us