Barotrauma – rupture of the eardrum of the ear. The eardrum is a thin membrane about 9 mm in diameter. It is strong enough and can withstand large pressure changes, but only if the ascent is slow.
When diving to great depths, the atmospheric air pressure increases, while the internal pressure in the ear cavity decreases proportionally. Therefore, under the influence of hydrostatic pressure, the eardrum bends inward and tears. The opposite also happens – the descent goes normally, but during a rapid ascent, you can rupture the eardrum, not inward but outward.
Over time, any diver realizes that they cannot do without personal equipment. And they begin to assemble their own kit. As a rule, it starts with buying fins, a wetsuit, a mask, and a snorkel. Then comes the turn of a buoyancy compensator, a dive computer, and a regulator.
When the desire arises to descend to great depths, they go for air cylinders, because to breathe freely underwater, they are simply necessary. And, accordingly, a compressor is needed to fill those cylinders. By the way, the owner of such an important thing as a compressor becomes an object of attraction for everyone who needs compressed air.
What should you know about a compressor for diving? Currently, compressors are classified as follows: portable, stationary, with a gasoline (diesel) engine, and with an electric motor. Dive centers mainly use stationary compressors because they have to fill a large number of cylinders.
A private individual should get a portable compressor with a capacity of 80-100 liters per hour. With it, you can fill a 12-liter cylinder to 200 bar in 25-30 minutes. Which engine to prefer depends on ease of operation. The most convenient option is an electric motor – plug it into a 220 V outlet and “fill” the cylinders.
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