This is Richard Pyle's account of suffering decompression sickness; the mistakes he made, the treatment he recieved and the long journey to recovery. Every diver should read this, because DCS isn't an urban myth.
Finding a legitimately expert specialist wreck diving instructor is critical for becoming a safe and proficient wreck diver. Choose wisely with this honest pro advice!
There are just a few simple steps to the methodical setup of a sidemount harness system. Knowing those right steps can save you lots of time and frustration.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the scuba diving training industry and how can that effect both dive profesionals and divers? The aim of this article is to take a look at the modern scuba diving training industry and hopefully induce some debate on what's right, and bad.
The greatest variation between divers is the individual perception of susceptibility to narcosis. This is the person's awareness of when, or if, they are suffering a decline in mental cognizance due to elevated nitrogen partial pressure.
Choosing the right set of sidemount fins is an important decision. They have a profound effect on diver trim and control. With that recommendation in mind, here is my pick of the top 5 warm-water sidemount fins.
Find out the three reasons why divers use helium in their breathing gas to increase diving safety. Scuba agencies havie differing policies on training for helium diving.
The question of using less air when scuba diving is one of the most pressing issues that a majority of newly qualified divers ask. The best way to use less air while scuba diving is to address the root cause of higher air consumption, not to focus on the symptoms.
An honest explanation of the benefits of sidemount diving. The pros and cons of sidemount versus backmount gear for recreational, technical and cave divers
Assessing critical learning points to help promote increased dive safety. In January 2020, Christine Gauci, a 35-year old technical diver tragically perished in a scuba diving accident in Malta.
Early in 2017, I made a decision to cross-over my scuba diving instructor rating to RAID. What I liked about RAID was that they were aiming for quality, not quantity. That was reflected in their syllabus, as well as having stringent and measurable performance standards at every level.
If you're a wreck diving enthusiast, you know that not all dive sites are created equal. I've put together the ultimate bucket list of the top 20 best wreck dives in the world that will take you on an unforgettable journey to some of the most intriguing underwater sites on the planet.
Choose the best watch sized dive computer for your needs; in-water and for daily life. They are a big investment, so it's critical that you have the right information to choose for your needs.
Sidemount Cylinder Boltsnaps Sidemount cylinder boltsnaps may seem a little insignificant in your list of sidemount equipment purchases, but they play a critical role in…
Sidemount diving has soared in popularity since 2012, but some still debate whether it is technical level diving or exclusively suitable for only specific diving niches. Let's explore that debate!
A Logical Application of Gradient Factors Settings for Open-Circuit Tech Divers As an active technical diving instructor for many years, I see many tech divers…
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…
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…
Here's a contentious suggestion for the scuba diving industry; training agency affiliation can become a barrier to quality differentiation when trying to compete in the market on something other than offering the cheapest possible price.
The commonly taught model of alcohol-like intoxication fails to describe the nuanced cognitive effect upon the diver and, at worst, promotes divers towards a dangerous misbelief that they aren't mentally impeded by narcosis
Top-5 Tips to Perform Technical Diving Valve Drills [no_toc] When learning technical diving, many students will remark that mastering backmount valve drills can be amongst…
Many dive shop owners follow a very flawed business model. It's hurting them and makes them desperate. Diving consumers owe desperate dive shops nothing. That's the quintessential nature of the consumer-supplier relationship. It's the responsibility of dive shops to find a more profitable business model.
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…
Relocating a Lost Guideline – Skills for Wreck Divers This article, by Jim Wyatt, was originally published in Underwater Speleology. I have reproduced the article…
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…
If you are planning a trip to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a liveaboard is the only way to experience the beauty of this underwater world. In this article, I will discuss the best liveaboards that are available for exploring the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
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 sidemount pouch, or pocket, is used to stow ancillary diving equipment when sidemount diving. It clips to square D-rings on the read harness via two double-end boltsnaps.
I observe lots of sidemount divers experiencing frustration with their kit; and it's often due to their sidemount cylinder band positioning. There's actually a very simple principle that determines band positioning.
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…
The Importance of Deep Stops: Rethinking Ascent Patterns From Decompression Dives An abridged version of this deep stops article was originally in DeepTech, 5:64; and…