SCUBA diving is an equipment intensive sport. Human beings are not made to live underwater so we have created a vast array of technology that allows us to swim like the fish. We have been able to develop devices to overcome just about all underwater obstacles from breathing to propulsion and everything in between. We have bright underwater lights to cut through the darkness, wetsuits, drysuits, and even heaters to withstand the coldest water. We carry powerful computers that make complex mathematical calculations of our decompression schedules and provide an amazing amount of information about our dives. With all this incredible technology we, all too often, forget to use our most beneficial and important piece of equipment- those three pounds of grey matter tucked away between our ears.
Dive gear has come a long way since Jacques Cousteau and Émile Gagnan invented the Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus way back in 1943. We now have an array of manufacturers worldwide designing and engineering products to meet our every need and allowing us to dive deeper, longer, and safer. Dive shops are filled with equipment in every size and color that is specialized for any type of diving. We have online stores where, with the click of a mouse, products that would have been considered science fiction just a few years ago can be bought by anybody with a credit card. A modern day dive show displaying the latest new gadgets can be dazzling. With all these improvements the piece of hardware that hasn’t seen an upgrade or redesign is the one that really makes it all possible, the human brain.
The best piece of dive gear is worthless if the diver doesn’t know how to use it properly and it becomes dangerous if the diver chooses to use it improperly. Since the beginning of history man has been fascinated with the subsurface world and began to experiment with methods to allow us to breathe underwater. Over the centuries we have learned many costly lessons that have been paid for with the lives of 
those who have gone before us. We have built on the knowledge gained from early experiments to arrive at today’s advanced level. Today’s diver has a tremendous amount of information available and there are many training agencies who provide knowledgeable and experienced instructors ready to cram as much of it into our craniums as we can stand. It is up to the individual to take advantage of the resources available.
All of our training is valueless if we don’t choose to use it and if we don’t augment it with good judgment. Our dives don’t begin when we enter the water. We must start by preparing ourselves for the type of diving we want to participate in. We must acquire the proper equipment and become very familiar with its use. Pre-dive planning is a must and our brain must be engaged throughout the dive because it truly is the one piece of equipment likely to save us in an emergency.
Any SCUBA diver taking the time to read this understands the need to acquire knowledge in this sport. We are fortunate to have many people with experience who are willing to help us with our skills. It is our responsibility to seek instructors and mentors to help us develop our diving knowledge to prepare for the challenges we will encounter. We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones, and the SCUBA diving community as a whole to keep safety our number one concern; to not engage in risky behavior and to never dive beyond the level of our training. More importantly, it is also our responsibility to help and encourage others to keep safety in mind as well.