In the word SCUBA the letter B stands for breathing.
underwater
breathing
SCUBA-self contained underwater breathing apparatus
The word scuba was originally an acronym for self contained breathing apparatus.
It's an acronym: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus = SCUBA (not scuba)
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Buoyancy Control device
An acronym is a string of letters standing for the words in a phrase. So no - SCUBA was not a word before it was an acronym. As an acronym SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) has entered the language and now can stand on its own as a noun -- an aqualung or a verb - scubaed and scubaing, an adjective - the scuba industry. So no an acronym doesn't have to be a word, and just because some become words doesn't mean they should. HAND.
Scuba is a word based on an acronym so it is international, now the word diving will need to be translated.
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus