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Got back a week or so ago from this liveaboard which I would recommend. The diving, as expected, was great. We went to all the signature dive sites: Blue Corner, Ulong Channel, two wrecks, etc and with only 6 divers onboard had the dive sites pretty much to ourselves. There was one occasion when...

You might want to look at another mouthpiece. It has wings on the sides to keep your regulator in your mouth without having to bite down on it. I know someone who uses one and loves it. I think the website is manta-bites.com but if you put in a search for manta scuba mouthpiece, you will find it.

As you get more dives done, your air consumption should improve. But it is important to research the dive operation you are thinking of using- some insist everyone dive as a group and others want buddy pairs. To me, buddy pairs is best- if you don't have one- they will usually pair you with...

The best thing to do to get skilled is to go out and do a lot of diving. I would look at a liveaboard where you can do multiple dives a day, not have to worry about other things like meals and you will be around a lot of people who know and love diving. There are lots of LOBs that do not go to...

Having had to call DAN once on behalf of my dive buddy-I can tell you- it is a must have if you plan on leaving the US. His insurance covered the expenses but I don't know how I would have navigated negotiating an air evacuation in the third world country we were visiting.

I was quoted around $150 for the dive shop portion and then would have to buy the online lessons from PADI so it was quite steep. I found an SSI shop and they were much more reasonable and I was impressed with the classroom training I got- it was a lot more than just showing I could analyze a tank.

I have some secondhand knowledge of this as I know someone who went through DCS after not doing anything wrong. He made the following changes: no more than 3 dives a day, always dive Nitrox when appropriate, dive Nitrox on air profile, never less than 75 minute surface intervals, 5 minute safety...

There is a whole range of choices out there - I think the Blackbeard boat is all bunk beds- dorm style but I am not sure becaue although I have heard good things about them, I want to have my own private room and bathroom but others don't care and don't want to pay for it. But you are going to...

Has anyone heard if the Carib Dancer is going out tomorrow?

Both are great trips- you will see more mantas and sharks at Socorro and the topography is different- there are pinnacles out in Socorro and the dive conditions are a bit more challenging. Socorro is colder and with more current - but that is probably because of the time of year the boats go to...

I use a travel agent when I am going on a far away trip, like to Palau or Galapagos because they know a lot about the destinations and can give me good advice on flights, hotels before and after the liveaboard, things to do while waiting on land, and I also think the liveaboard owners would...

I always pay with a credit card - I am sure the credit card company would, under these conditions, give me a full refund. Of course, if the passenger is cancelling they should pay the penalties outlined when they booked the trip and these are usually made very clear. I agree that the agent...

Have you considered another agent? Reef and Rainforest in California takes credit cards as do many other dive travel agents. The agency may be fine but I wouldn't risk it unless I had to.

A lot of people will not dive in cold water and will avoid strong current when they can. The problem with cold water is that you need so much more exposure protection and thus, more weight which means you will have to exert more to get back on the boat, and move around before the dive and it can...

I found that when I stopped worrying about my air consumption, it got better. The more relaxed- less stressed- you are will improve this and that will happen as you get more skilled on diving. Don't try to change your breathing pattern- do what is natural- or your body will feel stress and use...

Also keep in mind that there are many different models of analyzers so you will probably come across one in your diving future that you cannot figure out. IN this case, have the dive shop show you that the mix is correct using their analayzer. It used to be that you had to do certification...

I live on a lake in Central Virginia and a rogue wave killed an experienced, veteran conservation officer on patrol on the lake last year. So many times when we go out on a dive boat everything is calm and then next thing you know, the current changes, the winds pick up and everything gets...

Those who can get panic under control and THINK are the ones who survive bad situations- it must be nice to know that you are one of those people.

I wouldn't worry too much about this weighting issue as you are not now carrying what would be an excessive amount of weight on you. The problem is if you do not have enough weight going down you will use more air than needed to descend and then at the end of the dive, it will be harder to...

OK- I think one of the big problems you will have getting her back to diving is that she has been diving in a lake which is pretty boring- I have done it. So what is the upside for her- she probably hasn't experienced seeing cool sea life and has experienced a life threatening incident. You...