Before taking up scuba diving as a recreational sport, it is important that you get yourself the necessary scuba equipment and gear. There are many options available but if you’re a beginner, it’s best to start from the basics such as the mask, fins, snorkel, and weight belt, then move on to advanced sets later.

The Basics:

The diving mask allows you to see underwater through the glass plate in front. Most diving masks are constructed in such a way that a user can breathe out into the mask. This prevents the “squeeze” during the descent caused by pressure. Choose a mask that properly fits your face and forms a seal. Most scuba diving masks come with a rubber or silicone "skirt" that creates a watertight seal with the diver's face.

There are several types of diving masks such as full face diving masks that allow underwater verbal communication, diving helmets using surface supplied diving equipment etc. Prescription masks are also available for people who wear prescription glasses.

The Fins allow you to move freely underwater and should perfectly fit the feet. It should neither be too tight nor too loose which can hamper swimming capabilities, be very uncomfortable and even dangerous while taking a dive. The snorkel lets you breathe at the surface without raising your head from the water, and should be no lesser than 30 cms in length. The weight belt helps you maintain buoyancy so you should consider getting one if you’re a beginner.

Diving suits like Wetsuits and Drysuits provide thermal insulation and prevent complications such as hypothermia. Remember that water conducts heat 25 times faster than air from the body. So, choose a suit depending on how warm or cold your diving water is going to be.

Scuba Sets:

There are two main types of scuba sets – open-circuit and closed-circuit.

Most scuba divers use standard air - 21% Oxygen, 79% Nitrogen – for their open-circuit scuba sets, which is much more cost-effective than using mixtures such as heliox and trimix. The open-circuit scuba set (also known as Aqualung) itself is quite simple so is also cheaper and more popular than other types. Basically, the user breathes in from the set and out to waste, with the gas cylinder worn on the back. There are 2- and 3 backpack cylinders open-circuit scuba sets available.

Closed-circuit scuba sets use rebreathers. In this system, exhaled air is reprocessed by the rebreather to make it fit for re-inhalation. This can be very economical for people who need to take long dives. The three types of rebreathers include oxygen, semi-closed circuit and fully-closed circuit rebreathers.

Accessories you should consider:

Regulator and Buoyancy Compensator (BC) – The regulator, which carries the air from your cylinder, should be equipped with a gauge and second mouthpiece. The Buoyancy Compensator, such as such as a back-mounted wing or stabilizer jacket, is crucial for neutral buoyancy to control depth.

Dive watch: Electronics like a dive watch comes in quite handy when measuring your time and depth underwater. A dive computer is also available for the same purpose which is more accurate but more expensive.

If you plan to really move head with your scuba diving adventure, consider getting other useful accessories such as underwater light, a surface marker-buoy (SMB), a knife, and a compass etc. Experienced divers, Scuba Dive centers, websites, magazines, etc will all be able to assist you when searching for the right scuba diving equipment and accessories.

I am writing to draw your attention to the ongoing genocide in Darfur. According to UN officials, over 400,000 people have been killed and over 2 million more forced to abandon their homes. Women and children in the region live with malnutrition and in constant fear. They face the possibility of rape, torture, and murder on a daily basis. Many try in vain to flee from these atrocities. Helping these victims deserves the utmost attention of our government.

I wish to emphasize the importance of the following resolutions in need of your support:

1. H. Res. 1290: Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

This resolution:

• Calls on the United States Government to continue and strengthen its leadership role in the international community in response to the people of Darfur who have been displaced by genocide, including the most vulnerable populations who endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced conscription, and exploitation,

• Demands that all armed groups in the region immediately cease their attacks on civilians, peacekeepers, and humanitarian operations and halt all recruitment activities in camps for displaced persons, and

• Calls on the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement of an appropriate number of Darfuris who have been displaced and have little chance of returning to their homes by formulating a program of resettlement of Darfuris in fiscal year 2009.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 1290, introduced by Representative Howard Berman (D-CA). Please contact him by phone at (202) 225-4695.

2. H. Res. 1462: Condemning ongoing sales of arms to belligerents in Sudan, including the Government of Sudan, and calling for both a cessation of such sales and an expansion of the United Nations embargo on arms sales to Sudan.

This resolution states that:

• The United States supports United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1591, which impose an arms embargo on all belligerents in Darfur;

• All United Nations member states should immediately cease all arms sales to the Government of Sudan; and

• The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations should use the voice and vote of the United States to seek an expansion of the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, with an appropriate exception for non-lethal assistance to the Government of Southern Sudan.

I urge you to co-sponsor H. Res. 1462, introduced by Representative James McGovern (D-MA). Please contact him by phone at (202) 225-6101.

3. H. Con. Res. 423: Calling for a comprehensive strategy to address the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, and condemning the ongoing assaults and obstruction by the Khartoum regime.

This resolution:

• Urges the President, the UN Secretary-General, the African Union and other key members of the international community should pursue a comprehensive solution to the Darfur crisis;

• Condemns the Government of Sudan for its continued obstruction of the deployment of UN-AU peacekeepers;

• Condemns the ongoing acts of violence in an obstruction of aid to Darfur committed to all parties; and

• Calls upon the Government of Sudan and armed parties in the region to declare and respect an immediate cessation of hostilities, abide by the UN embargo on the importation of arms, cease predation and attacks upon humanitarian organizations, and participate in international efforts to negotiate a lasting political settlement for the region.

I urge you to co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 423, introduced by Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL). Please contact him by phone at (202) 225-0837.



4. H.R. 3844: To establish the United States Commission to Monitor Slavery and its Eradication in Sudan.

This resolution creates a commission to:

• Report on and document existing cases of slavery in Sudan,

• Identify those individuals and groups responsible for slavery in Sudan, and

• Recommend action to be taken by the United States Government to end slavery in Sudan.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 3844, introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ). Please contact him by phone at (202) 225-3765.

Thank you for your compassionate leadership in this dire situation.