| Where did the name Hookah come from? It's a | | | | than from scuba tanks. Another term for this technique |
| strange name for diving equipment, possibly derived | | | | is SSSA, which stands for Sport Surface-Supplied |
| from it's similarities to the old Middle-Eastern smoking | | | | Compressed Air. It's not considered "scuba" because |
| device. The American Heritage Dictionary defines | | | | the air source is separate from the diver, instead of |
| Hookah as, "An Eastern smoking pipe designed with a | | | | self-contained. The system uses a small gasoline |
| long tube passing through an urn of water that cools | | | | (some electric) powered air compressor that sits on a |
| the smoke as it is drawn through. Also called | | | | dock, boat or floating inner tube and supplies air via |
| hubble-bubble, narghile." Hookahs are water pipes | | | | hoses with regulators at the end, to the diver. Old |
| resembling bongs. It has a base, or smoke chamber | | | | systems were very large and bulky. Now, modern |
| partially filled with water, a bowl containing the tobacco, | | | | hookah systems are small, relatively lightweight and |
| a pipe connected to the bowl and a hose, which | | | | float above the divers for the ultimate experience in |
| connects to a second tube in the pipe which draws | | | | recreational diving. Reputable dive shops carry and |
| the air out of the smoke chamber. Hookah diving has | | | | service the units and many offer classes for novice |
| been around since the mid 1600's, when Von Guericke | | | | divers. When purchasing your unit, make sure the |
| developed the first effective surface air pump. | | | | shop's staff is knowledgeable and that they carry the |
| The hookah system delivers air to divers below via | | | | extra parts and supplies you may need to get the |
| hoses from a surface-supplied air compressor, rather | | | | most out of your system. |