What is the Difference Between a Divemaster and Dive Guide?
When taking a scuba diving vacation it's important to know whether you have a dive guide or a divemaster. Learn the crucial differences here!
Andy Davis
Passionate scuba educator, technical sidemount diving fanatic and wreck diving explorer. RAID, PADI, TecRec, SSI and BSAC qualified technical diving instructor. Subic Bay, Philippines. Former Royal Air Force officer. 30+ years of high-level global dive experience.
https://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/andy-davis-technical-diving/
Decompression Sickness Treatment & Recovery
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.
How To Find The Perfect Height For Your Sidemount Tank Bands
Get your sidemount tank bands at the right height to preserve arm mobility & keep your tanks in perfect trim! Follow these 2 simple steps!
Choosing A Wreck Diving Instructor: How To Find Specialist Expertise!
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!
How much experience is needed for technical wreck penetration?
How much dive experience is necessary to do technical wreck penetration diving? An honest guide from a 20-year technical wreck instructor.
DIY Sidemount Helmet Instructions
How to make a DIY sidemount helmet for wreck and cave diving. An illustrated and comprehensive guide.
Wreck Diving Risks: Hazards, Dangers, and Precautions
What are the wreck diving risks & how can wreck divers avoid those hazards? This essential dive guide explains everything you need to know!
The Lost Guideline Search Procedure in Advanced Wreck Diving
A detailed guide to the lost guideline search procedure for advanced wreck divers. Learn the best practices in this step-by-step explanation!
Technical Diving Books You Must Read!
My shortlist of the best 'must read' books for advanced and technical divers. Lot's of knowledge and some good stories
Diving Certification: Do You Need To Get Qualified To Scuba Dive?
Learn the benefits of obtaining a scuba diving certification, including improved safety, access to more dive sites, & enhanced diving skills.
Ultimate Guide: How To Set Up A Sidemount Harness
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.
An Evaluation of the Modern Scuba Diving Training Industry
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.
Nitrogen Narcosis – Perceptions of Susceptibility
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.
A Fatal Attempt: Guy Garman | Doc Deep World Depth Record Fatality 2015
Analysis of the individual and team psychological factors defining the fatal world depth record attempt by Guy Garman (Doc Deep).
What are the Risks of Technical Diving?
Discover the risks associated with tech diving and how they can be mitigated. Learn how to stay safe while exploring deeper depths.
Scuba Gas Planning: Gas Management For Divers
Learn scuba gas planning for your dives! A step-by-step guide to gas management for divers. Enhance your dive knowledge & safety underwater!
Top-5 Best Sidemount Fins 2023
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.
Avoid Costly Mistakes When Buying Dive Gear
Honest expert pro tips to help prevent costly mistakes when buying your dive gear. Don't regret your scuba equipment purchases!
The Risks of Scuba Diving: Understanding the Hidden Dangers Underwater
Understand the potential risks of scuba diving and how to minimize them. Learn about the most common dangers and how to stay safe.
Scuba Equipment Shopping: How To Buy The Best Dive Gear!
When scuba equipment shopping it's easy to waste money on disappointing or inappropriate dive gear. These honest pro tip helps avoid costly mistakes!
No.5 | Horizontal Diver Trim
Stable diver trim is the foundation for good buoyancy control and efficient propulsion. It also helps conserve the marine environment.
Why Do Divers Use Helium?
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.
How To Choose The Best Wreck Diving Course?
Detailed guidance for choosing the best wreck diving course. Wreck diving can be dangerous; so it is important to choose expert instruction
10 Tips for New Divers to Rapidly Improve
Maximize your diving potential with these 10 tips for new divers to rapidly improve confidence, comfort and competency on your dives!
How To Use Less Air When Scuba 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.
What are the benefits of sidemount diving?
An honest explanation of the benefits of sidemount diving. The pros and cons of sidemount versus backmount gear for recreational, technical and cave divers
Scuba Diving FAQs: Common Dive Questions and Expert Answers
Scuba diving FAQs answered by an expert professional diver with 30 years of dive experience! Essential tips for safe & enjoyable dives!
The Changing Technical Diving Mindset: Issues in Technical Diving
Technical diver mindset: an analysis of change over two decades. Contemporary issues in technical diving and certification.
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 the capacity to resolve the next hazardous incident that occurs to you. This applies as much…
Top-10 Tips For Safe Wreck Diving Penetration
Essential tips for safe wreck diving penetration. Don't risk your safety - learn how to avoid wreck diving dangers like an expert!
Accident Analysis: Christine Gauci Fatality | Malta 2020
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.
The Most Iconic Technical Wrecks: A Bucket List for Tech Divers
Discover the most legendary technical wrecks around the world with my ultimate extreme diving bucket list for tech divers!
UNESCO Marine World Heritage Sites That You Can Scuba Dive!
Discover 29 stunning UNESCO Marine World Heritage Sites for your diving bucket list. Awe-inspiring dives that promote marine conservation!
RAID Instructor Cross-Over: My Course Review
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.
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 the best training plan to succeed in your tech diving ambitions by Andy Davis …
Top-20 Best Wreck Dives in the World
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.
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 a huge variety of products and options available for the diver to chose from. The…
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 configuring a very secure, yet easy to deploy safety spool for overhead environment diving. It…
How to Choose the Best Sidemount Instructor
Learn how to select the best sidemount instructor to guarantee maximum performance & a high proficiency outcome! Don't waste money on cowboys!
Master Scuba Diving Buoyancy Control Like A Pro!
Achieve effortless diving with these expert step-by-step tips. Master breathing, weighting, trim, & more. Use less gas & increase your safety!
Top-5 Best Vacation Travel Diving Fins 2023 | Dive Gear Review
Lightweight diving fins that don't compromise on performance! Here is my pick of the best vacation travel scuba diving fins
Is Sidemount …? FAQs
Answering the most common sidemount questions. Is sidemount...? What sidemount...? How sidemount...? A growing resource for quick answers.
What is the best watch sized diving computer? | 2023
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 | Gear Setup Tips
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 enabling good cylinder trim. Choose wisely, using this advice. Diving steel sidemount cylinders When diving…
How to Make a Sidemount Break Away Hose Connector
Learn how to make a sidemount break away hose connector in just 4 easy steps! This DIY guide shows you how to make one cheaply!
Sidemount Regulator Configuration
Discover the 3 types of sidemount regulator configuration. Learn the pros & cons of each setup to choose the best solution for your needs.
How To Set Up Sidemount Loop Bungee
How to set up sidemount loop bungee : an illustrated step-by-step guide by Andy Davis. Take the guesswork & frustration out of kit setup.
XDeep NX Project Wing: Tested and Reviewed
Technical instructor review of the XDeep NX Project doubles wing. A truly innovative tech wing with some excellent and original features.
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 depth.
Is Sidemount Diving Technical Diving?
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!
Working as a Technical Diving Instructor
My thoughts on working as Technical Diving Instructor after two decades teaching tech, trimix & overhead diving as a full-time pro.
A Logical Application of Gradient Factors for OC Tech Divers
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 struggling to use Gradient Factors to their full advantage. This article explains my own systematic…
Technical Wreck Course: What Is Advanced Wreck Training Like?
A technical wreck course is among the most challenging courses for scuba divers. Read this descriptive account of advanced wreck training!
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, right? It seems not… Practice is grossly neglected in scuba diving. It’s not a performance…
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 some trends when it comes to diver reaction to scuba diving incident stress, and how…
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 scuba diving. High air consumption is often the controlling limit on dive time for novice-intermediate…
Bad Dive Buddy | How To Create A Safer Buddy System Dive Team
A bad dive buddy is stressful & dangerous. Follow this advice to develop a harmonious buddy system and boost your diving safety & enjoyment!
What Is Deliberate Practice For Scuba Divers?
Deliberate practice is a methodology for the most efficient skill development. Learn how to fast-track your diving competency with this guide.
How To Build Your Own DIY Custom Sidemount Harness
It's pretty easy (and cheap!) to make a DIY custom sidemount harness for yourself. Sidemount diving tips and 'how to' advice.
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 instruction, it can be translated as meaning that very active, highly motivated technical instructors are…
The Scuba Diving Industry: Cost Versus Quality
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.
Building Homemade Sidemount Equipment Setup
My thoughts and advice about attempting homemade sidemount gear projects. What does it take to create optimal DIY sidemount systems?
The History of Sidemount Diving
A complete guide to the history of sidemount diving: how it evolved and the principles that were shaped from differing environmental needs.
Sidemount Skills: Problems With Fine Motor Movements
My thoughts on experiencing problems with sidemount skills performance; particularly fine motor movements.
Nitrogen Narcosis Sedation & Consciousness
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
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 the most problematic skillset to aquire. In particular, they can have profound difficulties actually reaching…
What is Technical Diving?
Technical diving differs from recreational scuba in many ways. This detailed article explains everything you need to know about tech diving.
7 Diving Buoyancy Facts That You Need To Know
Divers often struggle with their buoyancy. These essential tips are game-changing to set you on the right path for consistent improvement.
What Are The Three Benefits Of Nitrox When Scuba Diving?
The three benefits of nitrox as a breathing gas for scuba diving. Is it worth the cost of training and more expensive cylinder fills?
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 really got popular over the last five years, but one factor that causes some divers…
The Desperate Dive Shop
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?
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 done reputable courses. They talk about diving philosophies. They advocate for better diving training and…
Relocating a Lost Guideline | Skills for Wreck Divers
Relocating a Lost Guideline – Skills for Wreck Divers This article, by Jim Wyatt, was originally published in Underwater Speleology. I have reproduced the article here, as the issue of relocating a lost guideline also demands the attention of wreck…
How to Choose the Right Dive Center: An Honest Pro Guide
Discover the ultimate insider secrets to finding the perfect dive center! An honest proguide on how to pick a high quality dive shop or resort
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 these hybrid systems are able to be converted for sidemount and backmount singles/doubles use. Hybrid…
The Pro Guide To Scuba Diving Suits
Discover the importance of diving suits for underwater exploration. From material to design, learn about the key features to look for.
The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Starting Scuba Diving
This beginners guide has all the information you need for starting scuba diving & ensures you get the most out of your underwater experience!
Best Liveaboards for Tubbataha Reef Natural Park in the Philippines
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.
Ultimate Guide to Sidemount Cylinder Trim
Sidemount cylinder trim is a headache for many sidemount divers. This illustrated guide will help you diagnose the problem & find the solution
Are You Ready For Solo Diving?
Examining the risks & personal factors that should be considered before attempting solo diving. Read this article before you dive alone!
The Best Diving Spots in the Philippines
The Philippines is a diver's paradise, with an abundance of stunning and diverse marine life, vibrant coral reefs, shipwrecks and crystal-clear waters
Guide To Advanced Wreck Diving
A comprehensive guide to advanced wreck diving techniques, equipment, skills and protocols. A must-read for wreck divers at all levels.
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 diving courses by Andy Davis There are some big discrepancies in course pricing for seemingly…
What is a sidemount pouch or pocket?
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.
Ultimate Guide: Positioning Sidemount Cylinder Bands
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.
‘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 I see a lot of scepticism about progressive scuba training courses. Novice divers often question…
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 the process of observing diver performance (both in my students and their peers across the…
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 the need to differentiate between recreational and technical scuba diving. Some people believe that ‘diving…
10 Tips To Horizontal Hover When Scuba Diving
The ability to horizontal hover when scuba diving is the benchmark of fundamental skills proficiency. These tips will help you master hovering
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 cause many divers apprehension. It often also ends in an aborted dive – which sucks…
No.9 | Streamlined Dive Gear
The benefits of streamlined dive gear and how to achieve it with your own scuba diving equipment. Small kit changes can have big effects.
No.8 | Balanced Rig Principle For Diving
The balanced rig principle for diving describes a calculated approach to the amount of weight which can be jettisoned in an emergency
No.7 | Diving Ascents and Descents
How to improve your diving ascents & descents for safer and more comfortable scuba dives. This article can change your diving.
No.6 | Breathing and Scuba Buoyancy
How to control your breathing & scuba buoyancy for more comfort, confidence and competency as a scuba diver.
The Importance of Deep Stops by Richard L. Pyle
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 the full version was subsequently published in Cave Diving Group Newsletter, 121:2-5. by Richard L.…
No.4 | Perfect Scuba Weighting
How to perfect your scuba weighting. Get this right & your buoyancy control will be much easier. Advice not taught in Open Water courses
No.3 | Achieving Great Scuba Buoyancy Control
This is how you achieve great buoyancy control when scuba diving. There are a few key things to know, then you will find it easy
No.2 | Scuba Buoyancy Control Benefits
What are the buoyancy control benefits for scuba divers? The reasons why it is worth devoting time & effort to developing core diving skillset
No.1 | Scuba Buoyancy Control for Divers
The benefits of improving scuba buoyancy control & how it can be developed in training & practice.
Mildly Bent: Decompression Stress and Micro-Bubbles
Explaining decompression stress, micro bubbles. Sub-clinical DCS may not merit a medical emergency, but it should be understood and respected.