| It might seem like a good bit of gear. And you can | | | | Phelps’s awesome swimming abilities. But, it was |
| take some of it off when you dive depending on the | | | | often reported that the swimsuits the Americans were |
| dive conditions. But, you really don’t want to | | | | wearing far surpassed the technology of any other |
| remove the buoyancy compensator. | | | | country and they were giving the Americans a boost. |
| I was asked a question a few months ago about all | | | | Some people say, "Bah, humbug." And I agree |
| the equipment divers wear when we go down, "Do | | | | somewhat. But you can’t argue with the fact that |
| you really need all that stuff?" | | | | the better the equipment, the better the sport. |
| I know the nature of the question. People go swimming | | | | Donning all the gear might seem to be a bit too much. |
| all the time in swim trunks and not much else. Some | | | | But, diving calls for it. If you were going to cut anything |
| people dive with a tank and little else. "Why then," as | | | | from your gear, you could probably get away with |
| asked by the young inquisitive fellow, "Do you need all | | | | losing to suit, the fins and a few other items. But, you |
| that other equipment?" | | | | never want to lose anything having to do with |
| SCUBA gear is quite extensive and it is in an age | | | | breathing, pressure and buoyancy. |
| beyond the old days when SCUBA was a two hose | | | | "Buoyancy?" |
| regulator circa 1959, if you get my drift. Masks, fins, | | | | I love it when these young guys ask questions. I can |
| wet suits, gauges, regulators, octo’s, tanks, weights | | | | see a budding diver in him yet. Yes, buoyancy. It’s |
| and belts have all come along way since then. | | | | like having an elevator on you. You can keep yourself |
| In fact, you got a good glimpse of how far the gear | | | | at a consistent depth based on your buoyancy |
| has come when you witnessed Michael Phelps win his | | | | compensator. I like my wings. But, there are others like |
| 14th gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games, the most | | | | the old style horsecollars and stab jackets. Get into |
| by any Olympian. Wining eight gold medals just in | | | | diving and trying different things, you’ll come up with |
| Beijing is a record in and of itself. | | | | the gear you like the most. |
| Of course, I have to attribute those medals to | | | | |