Diving Technologies

When depths are not too great or conditions are not too unsafe, divers can descend into the water to explore the ocean realm firsthand. However, we are creatures evolved to live on land. Unaided by technology, people are about as helpless underwater as, well, a fish on grass.

It is only through relatively recent advances in technology that exploration via diving has been possible. Even with these advancements, severe restrictions remain on the depth and length of time that divers can spend underwater.

Aquarius Underwater Laboratory

Aquarius an undersea laboratory and home for scientists studying the marine environment. Owned by NOAA, the Aquarius program is operated by Florida International University. The underwater habitat currently sits in about 60 feet of water, 4.5 kilometers offshore of Key Largo, Florida.

Scuba Diving

The self-contained underwater breathing apparatus or scuba diving system is the result of technological developments and innovations that began almost 300 years ago. Scuba diving is the most extensively used system for breathing underwater by recreational divers throughout the world and in various forms is also widely used to perform underwater work for military, scientific, and commercial purposes.

Technical Diving

Technical diving is a term used to describe all diving methods that exceed the limits imposed on depth and/or immersion time for recreational scuba diving. Technical diving often involves the use of special gas mixtures (other than compressed air) for breathing.