diver

A diver is a person who descends into water to observe, study, or perform tasks. Divers work in science, industry, entertainment, recreation, and rescue. The term encompasses a range of activities from free diving to professional underwater work.

Common categories include recreational divers, who typically use scuba gear or rebreathers and follow safety protocols; and professional divers, who work in commercial, technical, or military settings. Subspecialties include cave, wreck, ice, and underwater welding. Military divers may conduct reconnaissance, salvage, or mine clearance.

Equipment and techniques: Recreational divers typically use scuba gear—a breathing gas supply (tank), regulator, buoyancy control device, wetsuit or drysuit, mask, and fins—and may use dive computers and lights. Freedivers rely on breath-hold and streamlined gear. Technical divers use mixed gases, staged decompression, and specialized training for extended or deep dives.

Training and certification: Certification agencies such as PADI, NAUI, SSI, and CMAS provide progressive programs from beginner to specialty levels. Training emphasizes the buddy system, dive planning, acceptable ascent rates, emergency procedures, and equipment maintenance.

Risks and safety: Drowning is the primary hazard; other risks include barotrauma, decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, and equipment failure. Safety measures include proper planning, continuous monitoring, adherence to ascent limits, regular equipment maintenance, and having trained companions.

History: Modern scuba diving emerged in the mid-20th century with the development of portable breathing apparatus, notably by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan, enabling widespread recreational and commercial diving.