Abstract: An aquatic breathing apparatus includes a buoyancy vest for aquatic breathing. The vest includes a weight-bearing back portion positionable adjacent a back of a user and a front portion positionable adjacent the chest. The front portion includes a support element adapted for removably affixing an air tank thereto. The support element is positioned for resting adjacent a sternum. A buoyancy element is housed within the front portion, and a pair of side straps is provided wherein each side strap is affixable to connect the front and the back portion to respective opposed sides thereof. A system for aquatic breathing includes the buoyancy vest and an air tank and a regulator. The regulator comprises a hose that is connected in fluid communication at a first end to the air tank and at a second end to a mouthpiece. The hose is supported by a second support element on the vest.

Abstract: The invention comprises a buoyancy compensator for supporting an air cylinder to the back of a scuba diver. The buoyancy compensator comprises a vest to be worn about the diver's torso and an inflatable air bladder assembly interconnected to the vest by tank straps which rigidly secure the air cylinder of the vest in a backpack configuration. The inflatable bladder assembly comprises a horseshoe-shaped configuration positioned over the cylinder with the sides of the air bladder assembly being positioned along the opposing sides of the air cylinder so at to not obstruct the diver's view or freedom of movement. The vest of the buoyancy compensator comprises a back section, an adjustable torso section, adjustable shoulder strap sections connected to the adjustable torso section and adjustable left and right waistband sections. The vertical adjustment of the torso section relative to the vest allows the height of the buoyancy compensator to be easily adjusted.

Abstract: A swim fin having open instep and heel portions. The swimmer's foot is retained in the fin by means of an instep strap configured to pass over the instep of the foot and a heel strap that surrounds the heel of the foot. The instep strap passes through a pair of longitudinal slots in the planar foot portion of the fin and up and over the foot such that the ends of the instep strap are secured at the instep. Preferably, to facilitate adjustments, the ends of the instep strap overlap one another and are secured with hook and loop fasteners. A locking strap overlays the instep strap at the instep of the foot and further secures the fin to the foot. The instep strap conforms to the instep of the foot and lends itself to enclasping the arch of the swimmer's foot. Preferably, the heel strap is integrally formed from the instep strap and the ends of which overlap one another are secured with hook and loop fasteners. A heel locking strap overlays the heel strap at the ankle and further secures the fin to the foot.

Abstract: A vest assembly for supporting an air cylinder to the back of a scuba diver, comprising a vest to be worn about the person's torso including a back section for supporting the air cylinder, a waist band section having left and right side portions for removably affixing about the person's waist, and a detachable shoulder section for positioning over the person's shoulders. The detachable shoulder section may be replaced by another shoulder section of a different torso length so as to provide a comfortable fit of the vest to the height of the person's torso.