Technical Diving Books You Must Read!
Technical Diving Books You Must Read! Serious diving books that should be on every advanced divers bookshelf This is my shortlist and review of the…
Nitrogen Narcosis – Perceptions of Susceptibility
Nitrogen Narcosis – Perceptions of Susceptibility Is it actually possible to gauge your real susceptibility to nitrogen narcosis and make good judgements to manage it?…
A Fatal Attempt: Guy Garman | World Depth Record Fatality 2015
Guy Garman: World Depth Record Fatality Analyzing The Psychological Factors That Can Lead A Team Into A Destructive Goal Pursuit. On the 15th August 2015,…
Aquamundo Sidemount System Philippines For Sale
Product for Sale: Aquamundo Sidemount System *available for shipping in the Philippines and internationally. The Aquamundo Sidemount system is full-feature sidemount system, complete with everything…
Top-5 Best Sidemount Fins 2023 | Scuba Diving Equipment
Top-5 Warm Water Sidemount Fins Choosing the right set of sidemount fins is an important decision. They have a profound effect on diver trim and…
What is the best technical diving computer? | 2023
What is the best technical diving computer? A breakdown of the best computers for open circuit technical diving in 2023. Here’s my updated 2023 review…
Scuba Q&A: Why Do Deep Divers Use Helium?
Scuba Q&A: Why Do Deep Divers Use Helium? Q. Why is helium preferred over nitrogen for diluting oxygen during deep sea diving? Answer: There are…
What is the best wreck diving course?
What is the best wreck diving course? What to know so that you get the best quality wreck diving course In this article I will…
Scuba Q&A: Do You Need A Diving Certification?
Scuba Q&A: Do You Need A Diving Certification? Q. Does someone need a certification for scuba diving? Answer: You need to be aware of certain…
Scuba Q&A: How Can I Use Less Air While Scuba Diving
Scuba Q&A: How Can I Use Less Air While Scuba Diving? Q. How do you use less air while scuba diving? Answer: Some divers, especially…
Scuba Q&A: Why Does Diving Make Me Feel Tired?
Scuba Q&A: Why Does Diving Make Me Feel Tired? Q. Why does scuba diving make you tired? Answer: It doesn’t – or at least, it…
Scuba Q&A: What Is Your Reason For Technical Diving?
Scuba Q&A: What Is Your Reason For Technical Diving? Q. What is your reason for doing technical diving? Answer: I look at it as “tools…
Scuba Q&A: How Deep Can You Dive Using Air?
Scuba Q&A: How Deep Can You Dive Using Air? Q. How deep can someone scuba dive using normal air? Answer: There are a number of…
Scuba Q&A: What’s The Best Advice For Someone Starting Open Water Diver Qualification?
Scuba Q&A: What’s The Best Advice For Someone Starting Open Water Diver Qualification? Q. What advice do experienced divers have for someone starting their PADI…
What is the biggest risk in technical diving (and how to avoid it)
What is the biggest risk in technical diving? ..and how to avoid it! The biggest risk in technical diving is, quite simply, not having…
Philippines Underwater Archaeology | Shipwreck Resources
Philippines Underwater Archaeology, Shipwreck and Salvage Resources This is my resource link page for useful infomation on Philippines underwater archaeology, shipwreck resources and information about…
Accident Analysis: Christine Gauci Fatality | Malta 2020
Accident Analysis: The Christine Gauci Fatality, Malta 2020 Assessing critical learning points from a fatal diving accident to help promote increased dive safety. In January…
What are the two styles of sidemount BCD design?
What are the two styles of sidemount BCD design? Florida-cave and Mexican-cave sidemount BCD design principles Over recent years, a plethora of new sidemount BCD…
RAID Instructor Cross-Over: My Course Review
RAID Instructor Cross-Over: Course Review My journey to becoming a technical diving instructor with RAID Early in 2017, I made a decision to cross-over my…
How To Set Goals For Your Technical Diving Development
How To Set Goals For Your Technical Diving Development Don’t waste time and money when developing as a technical diver. Use this advice to create…
Scuba Q&A: How Can I Make My Air Last Longer When Diving?
Scuba Q&A: How Can I Make My Air Last Longer When Diving? by Andy Davis Q. I normally finish my air before everyone else. How…
Scuba Diving Q&A: Is Solo Diving Safe?
Scuba Diving Q&A: Is Solo Diving Safe? by Andy Davis Question: Is solo diving safe and recommended? What do I need to consider if…
What Constitutes Diving Experience?
What Constitutes Diving Experience? by Andy Davis We often hear the term ‘experienced diver’. What does this actually mean? Some people consider experience based on…
Choosing a Buoyancy Control Device BCD
Choosing Your Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) by Andy Davis Shopping for a scuba buoyancy control device (BCD) is like completing a jigsaw. There is…
Diving Equipment: Bungee Secured Safety Spool
Bungee Secured Safety Spool A configuration idea to setup a finger spool for safety use in wreck and cave diving Here’s my approach to…
Scuba Q&A: Deep Diving Below Recreational Agency Depth Limits
Scuba Q&A Question: I was taught that “recreational divers plan all dives to be no stop dives” and also that most agencies consider 40m…
Scuba Q and A: Diver Stress, Relationships and Comfort Zones
Scuba Q and A: QUESTION: I am a recreational diver and I dive mostly with my husband. Our relationship issues (bickering) caused me stress. Is…
Top-5 Best Tropical Vacation Diving Fins 2023 | Scuba Equipment
Top-10 Best Tropical Vacation Diving Fins by Andy Davis When going on a scuba diving vacation to the tropics, you need a lightweight fin…
Scuba Q and A: Drysuit or BCD for Primary Buoyancy?
Scuba Q and A: Drysuit or BCD for Primary Buoyancy? by Andy Davis QUESTION: I need some advice; I have been told to use your BCD…
Scuba Q and A: When To Drop Your Weight Belt?
Scuba Q and A: Question: On my Open Water course, I was taught to drop my weight belt in an emergency. What situations would merit…
What is the best watch sized diving computer? | 2023
What is the best watch sized diving computer? Choose the best watch sized dive computer for your needs; in-water and for daily life More and…
Choosing Sidemount Cylinder Boltsnaps | Equipment Setup
Choosing Sidemount Cylinder Boltsnaps by Andy Davis The length of the boltsnap, combined with the length of the 550-cord loop is a critical factor influencing…
How To Set Up Sidemount Loop Bungees
How To Set Up Sidemount Loop Bungees by Andy Davis I’ve found that sidemount Loop Bungees are the most popular with my students and offer…
Does Nitrogen Narcosis Impairment Persist?
Does Nitrogen Narcosis Impairment Persist? A new study on nitrogen narcosis challenges the long held presumption that nitrogen narcosis impairment dissipates immediately on ascent from…
What it’s like to be a technical diving instructor
What It’s Like To Be… A Technical Diving Instructor by Andy Davis I was recently interviewed by preaquaint.com on my career as a technical diving instructor.…
A Logical Application of Gradient Factors for OC Tech Divers
A Logical Application of Gradient Factors Settings for Open-Circuit Tech Divers by Andy Davis As an active technical diving instructor for many years, I see…
How To Evaluate A Wreck Diving Course?
How To Evaluate A Wreck Diving Course by Andy Davis In this article, I will be looking at what differentiates basic wreck diving courses –…
99 Problems….and your TRIM is one!
99 Problems….and your TRIM is one! by Andy Davis. The short article outlines the most common trim problems experienced by scuba divers and how to…
Technical Wreck Course Report
Technical Wreck Course Report by Andy Davis A technical wreck (sometimes called ‘advanced wreck’) course is a pinnacle-level diving course for highly qualified technical divers…
The Secret to Diving Expertise: Experience versus Ability
The Secret to Diving Expertise: Experience Versus Ability by Andy Davis If you want to be an expert diver, then you need to practice. Obvious,…
Stress Management & Acute Panic Response in Scuba Diving
Stress Management in Scuba Training – What can be done about the Panic Reaction? by Andy Davis I’m not a psychologist, but I have noticed…
The Secret To Improving Your Air Consumption For Scuba Diving
The Secret To Improving Your Air Consumption by Andy Davis I encounter many novice divers who are dissatisfied, even frustrated, by their air consumption whilst…
The Best Technical Diving Computers | 2018
The Best Technical Diving Computers 2018 by Andy Davis CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2019 LIST OF TECHNICAL COMPUTERS Here’s my list of the best…
How to Scuba Dive with ‘Insta-Buddies’
How to Dive with ‘Insta-Buddies’ by Andy Davis The term ‘insta-buddy‘ is popularly used within the scuba community to define a diver of unknown skill,…
The Changing Technical Diving Mindset
The Changing Technical Diving Mindset Technical diving went mainstream. It’s not a good thing in all respects by Andy Davis. Having been actively involved in…
Balanced Weighting For Scuba Divers
Balanced Weighting For Scuba Divers The purpose of weighting for a scuba diver is to ensure that they can remain neutrally buoyant at all times…
What Is Deliberate Practice For Scuba Divers?
What Is Deliberate Practice For Scuba Divers? by Andy Davis “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect”. Vince Lombardi When discussing how…
How To Build Your Own DIY Custom Sidemount Harness
How To Build Your Own DIY Custom Sidemount Harness It’s pretty easy (and cheap!) to make a DIY custom sidemount harness for yourself. Configure it…
Technical Diving Instruction: Finding Dolphins in the Desert
Technical Diving Instruction: Finding Dolphins in the Desert by Andy Davis As a general principle; ‘you don’t find dolphins in the desert‘. Applied to tech…
The Scuba Diving Industry: Cost Versus Quality
The Scuba Diving Industry Dive training agencies and competition on quality versus price Here’s a contentious suggestion for the scuba diving industry; training agency affiliation…
My Approach to Innovating Diving Equipment and Protocols
My Approach to Innovating Diving Equipment and Protocols by Andy Davis I enjoy testing and trialing alternatives. It’s important as a precaution to overcome the…
Sidemount Q&A: XDeep Stealth – Reaching the Rear Dump
Sidemount Q&A: XDeep Stealth – Reaching the Rear Dump In 99% of cases, this is a skills problem, not an equipment issue. That’s solved by…
Building Homemade Sidemount Equipment Setup
Building Homemade Sidemount Equipment Setup DIY sidemount can be cheap, but it takes some expertise to make it safe and fully functional by Andy Davis…
Scuba Q&A: Diving Descent Speed and Decompression
Scuba Q&A: Diving Descent Speed and Decompression by Andy Davis Question: What happens if you exceed a deco algorithm maximum descent rate? ANSWER: If…
Scuba Q&A: Diving Descent Speed and Narcosis
Scuba Q&A: Diving Descent Speed and Narcosis by Andy Davis Question 1: Apart from the need to recognise narcosis, and the need to equalise, is…
Scuba Q&A: CO2 Narcosis and Hypercapnia
Scuba Q&A: CO2 Narcosis and Hypercapnia CO2 narcosis and the link with hypercapnia when scuba diving In this scuba Q&A article, I will address the…
Sidemount Q&A: Problems With Fine Motor Skills
Sidemount Q&A: Problems With Fine Motor Skills by Andy Davis QUESTION: I just did my sidemount training and I trained in a heated swimming pool.…
Nitrogen Narcosis Sedation & Consciousness
Nitrogen Narcosis Sedation and Consciousness Nitrogen narcosis sedation: elevated partial pressures of nitrogen has an anesthesic/sedative effect. The commonly taught model of alcohol-like intoxication utterly…
Scuba Q&A: Air Integration | Using Transmitters
Scuba Q&A: Air Integration by Andy Davis Question: Is Air Integration a valuable upgrade to your diving equipment? Should I use transmitters with my dive…
Top-5 Tips to Perform Technical Diving Valve Drills
Top-5 Tips to Perform Technical Diving Valve Drills When learning technical diving, many students will remark that mastering backmount valve drills can be amongst the…
Scuba Q&A: Changing to an AIR-2 Octopus
Scuba Q&A: Changing to an AIR-2 Octopus What are the pros and cons to changing to an AIR2 type octopus? ANSWER: AIR-2 systems, also known…
What scuba training agency is best for technical diving?
What scuba training agency is best for technical diving? This advice will help you the best training agency for your technical diving training by Andy…
Scuba Equipment Shopping | How To Get The Best Diving Kit
Scuba Equipment Shopping An important tip when considering diving equipment purchases When scuba equipment shopping it’s easy to waste money on dissapointing or inappropriate products.…
Top 5 Preparation Tips For Those Considering Technical Diving Training
Top 5 Preparation Tips For Those Considering Technical Diving Training by Andy Davis 1. FUNDIES. Get your core fundamental skills to a very high level.…
Scuba Q&A: Scuba Diving Anxiety & CO2 Narcosis
Scuba Q&A: Scuba Diving Anxiety & CO2 Narcosis Scuba diving anxiety effects many divers. It can be anticipated with beginners, but even very experienced divers…
7 Bouyancy Truths That Scuba Divers Need To Know
7 Bouyancy Truths That Scuba Divers Need To Know by Andy Davis 1. Proper weighting – You need to weight yourself to be neutrally buoyant…
Scuba Q&A:Why do tech divers use two dive computers?
Scuba Q&A: Why do tech divers use two dive computers? Technical diving requires redundancy of safety-critical equipment. If something fails, you still have to complete…
The $1200 Budget Sidemount Diver
The $1200 Budget Sidemount Diver You can be a budget sidemount diver – and not have to make compromises on equipment function or safety. Sidemount…
The History of Subic Bay
The History of Subic Bay A concise history of Subic Bay, charting 500 years of turmoil, conflict and occupation The history of Subic Bay reflects…
The Desperate Dive Shop
The Desperate Dive Shop Why do so many scuba dive shops struggle to profit or even go bankrupt? Many dive shop owners follow a very…
Are You A Prestigious Diver?
Are You A Prestigious Diver? The prestigious diver If you dive regularly, you’ve probably met a prestigious diver already. They’ve got the good gear. They’ve…
How to find the Optimal Height for Sidemount Cylinder Bands | Equipment Setup
How to find the Optimal Height for Sidemount Cylinder Bands by Andy Davis Here is a quick ‘how to’ guide to configure the optimal height…
Top 5 Convertible Hybrid Sidemount Systems
Top 5 Convertible Hybrid Sidemount Systems by Andy Davis My list of the top 5 most popular hybrid sidemount systems currently available worldwide. All of…
Mildly Bent: Decompression Stress and Micro-Bubbles
Mildly Bent: Decompression Stress and Micro-Bubbles The issue of decompression stress is badly understood by many divers. This article seeks to explain what it is,…
Top-10 Tips For Wreck Penetration Diving Safety
Top-10 Tips For Wreck Penetration Diving Safety As a technical wreck instructor, it’s been my full time job for several decades to train and advise…
Scuba Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Divemaster and Dive Guide?
Scuba Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Divemaster and Dive Guide? Question: What is the difference between a Dive Guide and a Divemaster? Both…
DCS and the Immune System
DCS and the Immune System The microbubble effect The link between DCS and the immune system still isn’t well understood in diving medicine; although numerous…
Choosing and Using a SCUBA Redundant Air Source | Diving Equipment
Choosing and Using A Redundant Air Source By Andy Davis Pony cylinders are a popular choice amongst divers who seek a redundant form of air…
Ultimate Guide to Sidemount Cylinder Trim | Equipment Setup
Ultimate Guide to Sidemount Cylinder Trim by Andy Davis This is my comprehensive guide to the good, the bad and the ugly of sidemount…
8 Essential Tips To Avoid Noobie Mistakes When Buying Scuba Gear | Diving Equipment
8 Essential Tips To Avoid Noobie Mistakes When Buying Dive Kit by Andy Davis Scuba equipment is an expensive investment. But take one look at…
Are You Ready For Solo Diving?
Are You Ready For Solo Diving? by Andy Davis The issue of solo diving often comes up in conversation amongst divers and the activity…
Are Some Scuba Courses more Equal than Others?
Are Some Scuba Courses more Equal than Others? Don’t pay good money for bad training. Undertanding these factors will help you identify the best scuba…
A Look at Sidemount Stowage Solutions | Pouches & Pockets
Sidemount Pouches and Pockets A Look At Sidemount Stowage Solutions IMHO, thigh pockets are entirely inappropriate for sidemount diving. They are difficult to access with…
Pony Cylinders and Redundant Air Sources for Wreck Diving
Pony Cylinders and Redundant Air Sources for Wreck Diving by Andy Davis Recreational wreck divers often question whether they need to carry a redundant source…
Ultimate Guide: Positioning Sidemount Cylinder Bands | Equipment Setup
Ultimate Guide: Positioning Sidemount Cylinder Bands by Andy Davis One of the most common mistakes that I see with sidemount configurations is the incorrect positioning of…
‘Putting Another Dollar In’ – The Value of Progressive Scuba Training
The Value of Progressive Scuba Training – ‘Putting Another Dollar In’. by Andy Davis When I talk with divers and read the online scuba forums…
Scuba Q&A: What is the value in taking more diving courses?
Scuba Q&A: What is the value in taking more diving courses? by Andy Davis Question: What is the value of doing more diving courses beyond…
Scuba Q&A: How To Ascend When Diving?
Scuba Q&A: How To Ascend When Diving? Q. How should a scuba diver ascend when scuba diving? Answer: Novice scuba divers are taught to ascend…
Performance Development for Technical Divers
Performance Development for Technical Divers Observe – Analyze – Adapt by Andy Davis As a technical diving instructor, a primary aspect of my work is…
Scuba Diving – Why The Need For Rules, Boundaries & Limitations?
Technical versus Recreational Scuba Diving: Why is there a need for Rules, Boundaries and Limitations? by Andy Davis There is currently a strong debate about…
Ten Pro Tips For A Better Horizontal Hover
Ten Tips to Attain a Better Horizontal Hover – Scuba Diving Techniques by Andy Davis Scuba diving techniques to improve your comfort and capability underwater.…
A Guide to Modern Sidemount Diving
Modern Sidemount Diving A comprehensive guide to the history, equipment configurations, skills, protocols and characteristics of sidemount diving Interested in sidemount diving? Welcome to my…
Scuba Diving Buddy Separation Safety Protocols
Scuba Diving Safety Protocols: Buddy Separation by Andy Davis Losing your buddy is an easy way to ruining a good dive. Being alone underwater can…
No.9 | Streamlined Scuba Equipment
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass Series #1 STREAMLINED SCUBA EQUIPMENT by Andy Davis Streamlined scuba equipment is a critical factor in making overall improvements to your comfort…
No.8 | The Balanced Rig
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass Series #8 THE BALANCED RIG by Andy Davis When considering the configuration of their scuba equipment for precision buoyancy and weighting, scuba…
No.7 | Ascent, Descent & Bottom Phase
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass #7 ASCENT, DESCENT & BOTTOM PHASE by Andy Davis Scuba buoyancy plays an important role in all the phases of a scuba…
No.6 | Scuba Buoyancy & Breathing
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass #6 SCUBA BUOYANCY AND BREATHING by Andy Davis Breathing plays a critical role in scuba buoyancy control. As we breath, the inflation…
No.5 | Precision Trim & Position Contol
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass #5 PRECISION TRIM & POSITION CONTROL by Andy Davis Whenever we use our fins for propulsion in the water, we create directional…
No.4 | Perfect Scuba Weighting
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass Series #4 PERFECT SCUBA WEIGHTING by Andy Davis Divers seeking perfected scuba buoyancy can achieve precise and correct weighting through the application…
No.3 | Achieving Great Scuba Buoyancy Control
Scuba Buoyancy Masterclass ACHIEVING GREAT SCUBA BUOYANCY CONTROL by Andy Davis Scuba buoyancy control is determined by a number of different factors, such as breathing…
