Which factors can affect a diver's buoyancy?

Buoyancy in diving is primarily influenced by the diver's body composition and the thickness of their wetsuit. Body composition affects buoyancy because fat is less dense than water, whereas muscle and bone are denser. A diver who has a higher body fat percentage may find themselves more buoyant, while those with more muscle mass might struggle more to maintain buoyancy.

Wetsuit thickness also plays a crucial role. A thicker wetsuit provides more insulation and contains more air, increasing buoyancy. Conversely, a thinner wetsuit has less air and therefore offers less buoyancy, affecting how a diver ascends or descends in the water.

While other factors such as diving experience, equipment quality, water temperature, current strength, diving location, and time underwater can influence a dive experience, they do not directly impact buoyancy in the same way. Diving experience can help divers manage their buoyancy more effectively, and equipment quality can determine how well a diver can control buoyancy, but body composition and wetsuit thickness are fundamental physical properties that have a direct effect on buoyancy.