Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
If you ever get the opportunity to scuba dive 
or snorkel, take it. These sports are centred around exploring the world underwater - a point of view the majority of us will never experience. This guide will discuss some of the more basic information and facts about snorkelling and scuba diving. If you're looking for more comprehensive information, try one of the more specific guides below. And if you know something that we don't, add it!
Snorkelling is a lot like swimming with goggles ; you can see underwater but you remain relatively close to the surface. Equipment is minimal, easy to find, and cheap. If you find yourself at a common snorkelling site, you can see all sorts of things, such as coral reef and schools of fish. This can be a really incredible experience. If you snorkel in your local lake, you'll likely see a few fish, some litter, and a dark environment. Though it is far less exciting and picturesque, it's a good idea for keeping kids occupied and entertained. Snorkelling is a great activity for families, as it is kid-friendly, inexpensive, and safe.
While the idea is the same, scuba diving is a much more intense, much more expensive, and much more demanding sport. In order to scuba dive, you must obtain a certification, which requires you to take diving safety and instruction courses. You will also need to purchase a fair amount of equipment, none of which comes cheap. Most scuba gear can be rented from a resort or store, but frequent divers generally have their own. That being said, diving is a very rewarding sport. The expensive gear gives you the ability to swim hundreds of feet below the surface, which enables divers to explore deep water habitats, underwater landmarks, and (my favourite), shipwrecks.
Try these guides for information about specific pieces of equipment. For a quick overview, scroll down!
Dive Masks
There is nothing quite like being submerged underwater surrounded by rainbow coloured fish, graceful rays, and swaying fan coral. This scene and many others are only possible with a dive mask. This very important piece of equipment can make or break your dive experience. Depending on your level of experience with diving or snorkelling you may need either a high-tech mask with tinted lenses or a simple, single-lens mask. Read on to discover what types of mask are available and which will best suit you (and your wallet).
Snorkels
Snorkels are not necessary for diving underwater, but they are needed for use near the surface of the water. Depending on how often you dive and/or snorkel, you will want a more or less expensive model. Some start at under $10 and may come attached to a mask. Others will cost upwards of $20 and are sold separately. The more money you spend, the more features you will get. More experienced divers and snorkellers will probably prefer a more advanced snorkel. Serious divers will want a good snorkel, but they may not want it attached to their mask while diving since it creates drag and gets in the way.
Fins (or Flippers)
Shopping for fins whether for diving, snorkelling or recreational swimming, comes down to comfort. There are several different types of fins, each with different features. What each pair attempts to do is make you feel comfortable while your feet are inside the fins, kicking away. Of course, your compatibility with a fin depends on the contours of your foot and your strength, as well as what you plan to use the fins for, how often, and where (In a pool? In the ocean? 100 feet below the surface in a drift?).
Wetsuits
Traditional wetsuits are usually meant to keep you warm while under water. While they are a must-have for diving in most climates, they can also be useful for waterskiing, wakeboarding, or surfing depending on the water temperature. For snorkelling or hanging out in the water, a rashguard or a skin is best if the water is not too chilly.
Buoyancy Compensators (or BCs)
A BC is an essential piece of scuba gear that regulates how you float while under the water. It is deflated on your descent in order to sink and once you have reached your "cruising altitude," you refill it slightly so you can maintain a continuous depth. Likewise, when the dive is over you inflate your BC while you decompress (hovering at about 15 feet of depth before returning to the surface).
Regulators
A regulator is a piece of equipment that regulates the air pressure according to the water pressure. This enables the diver to breathe adequately by offering oxygen with enough pressure to inflate the lungs, despite the pressure water puts on their chest.
Scuba Tanks
As you probably know, a scuba tank is the large metal cylinder worn on the diver's back. This tank contains high pressure breathing gas, which is what the diver uses to breathe underwater. This tank is surprisingly light when empty, and surprisingly heavy when full. These can be easily rented or refilled at a diving or athletic store.
Scuba Lessons
