EQUIPMENT Technical diving is undeniably an equipment intensive sport. The divers that took up SCUBA diving in the 50's and 60's were a bunch of ragged individuals who disclaimed any gadgets in access of the minimum necessary equipment of mask, fins, weight belt, tank and regulator. Today however, redundancy plays a major part in the safety of the deep divers. Special equipment and deep diving go hand in hand. Longer exposures and greater depths not only require that the diver be physically and mentally prepared but also that he possesses the proper equipment as well as the knowledge to utilise the equipment to safely perform the dive. Diving equipment has evolved so quickly to service the technical diver that it requires a periodic update to keep up with the latest advances in diving equipment.