There are a few different terms that can be used to refer to a person who dives depending on the context:
Diver
The most general term for someone who dives is simply “diver”. This can refer to anyone who dives recreationally or professionally in any context.
Scuba Diver
“Scuba diver” refers more specifically to a person who dives while using scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) gear. This type of diving involves breathing compressed air from tanks carried on the diver’s back.
Freediver
“Freediver” refers to someone who dives underwater relying solely on their ability to hold their breath. Freedivers do not use external air supply like scuba gear. Common freediving activities include spearfishing, competitive breath-hold diving, and recreational exploration.
Snorkeler
A “snorkeler” refers to someone who swims at the surface of the water while wearing a mask, snorkel tube, and fins. Snorkelers look down into the water to observe underwater scenery but do not dive or swim underwater like scuba divers or freedivers.
Commercial Diver
A “commercial diver” is someone who dives professionally as part of their job. Commercial divers might perform underwater construction work, inspections, repairs, salvage operations, and more. Specialized training and certification is required to become a commercial diver.
Military Diver
A “military diver” is a member of the armed forces who is trained in diving operations. They may use diving skills for combat, reconnaissance, explosives handling, and other military purposes.Extensive technical training is required to become a military diver.
Professional Diver
“Professional diver” is a broad term that can encompass commercial divers, military divers, scientific divers, and others who dive as part of their profession. It refers to anyone with specialized diving skills who uses them as an occupation.
Scientific Diver
A “scientific diver” is someone who dives in support of scientific research and underwater exploration. Scientific divers may document marine ecosystems, survey shipwrecks, collect samples, conduct experiments, and more while diving.
Public Safety Diver
A “public safety diver” is a police diver, fire department diver, or search and rescue diver who dives in order to protect public safety. They may perform underwater searches, recover evidence and bodies, and conduct rescues following accidents.
Recreational Diver
A “recreational diver” dives for enjoyment and leisure rather than professional reasons. Recreational diving includes sport diving, tropical resort diving, underwater photography, wreck diving, and more casual diving activities.
Technical Diver
A “technical diver” has specialized training to dive deeper than recreational limits, penetrate overhead environments like caves and shipwrecks, and use complex gas mixtures like heliox and trimix.
Cave Diver
A “cave diver” is a subtype of technical diver who is specially trained to safely dive inside underwater caves. Cave diving is one of the most challenging and dangerous types of diving.
Wreck Diver
A “wreck diver” specializes in diving to explore sunken shipwrecks and artificial reefs. Advanced wreck diving requires specialized training in navigation, penetration, and deco procedures.
Ice Diver
An “ice diver” is trained to dive under ice, often in Arctic and Antarctic regions. Ice diving requires specialized equipment like dive lights and penetration lines, as well as ice safety training.
Altitude Diver
An “altitude diver” is trained in the special procedures and precautions needed for diving at high altitude locations like mountain lakes and reservoirs.
Saturation Diver
A “saturation diver” works professionally at extreme depths while living under saturation – pressurized conditions for days at a time between dives. This allows more bottom time at depth.
Mixed Gas Diver
A “mixed gas diver” is trained to safely use special gas blends like trimix and heliox in technical diving operations.
Rebreather Diver
A “rebreather diver” uses a rebreather unit for closed-circuit diving. Rebreathers recycle exhaled gas while scrubbing out CO2.
Sidemount Diver
A “sidemount diver” dives with decompression gas cylinders mounted alongside the body rather than on the back.
Blue Water Diver
A “blue water diver” specializes in diving in the open ocean environment, far from shore.
Night Diver
A “night diver” is trained in procedures and techniques for recreational or technical diving at night.
Deep Diver
A “deep diver” has advanced training to safely dive to depths beyond typical recreational limits, usually deeper than 100 feet.
Cave Rescue Diver
A “cave rescue diver” has extensive, specialized training in safely rescuing injured cave divers from complex underwater cave environments.
Conclusion
In summary, there are many different terms for divers depending on whether they dive professionally, recreationally, technically, in specialty environments, and using certain equipment configurations. The context of the diving activity determines what specific label best fits a person who dives.
Type of Diver | Description |
---|---|
Diver | General term for anyone who dives recreationally or professionally |
Scuba Diver | Dives using scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) |
Freediver | Dives relying solely on breath-hold ability |
Snorkeler | Swims at surface wearing mask, snorkel, and fins |
Commercial Diver | Professional diver performing underwater work tasks |
Military Diver | Dives for combat, recon, etc. in armed forces |
Scientific Diver | Supports underwater research and exploration |
Public Safety Diver | Police, fire, or SAR diver protecting public safety |
Recreational Diver | Dives for enjoyment and leisure |
Technical Diver | Specialized training for deeper / overhead diving |
Cave Diver | Dives safely inside underwater caves |
Wreck Diver | Explores sunken shipwrecks and artificial reefs |