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I taught myself. I paid for some pool time and had a buddy help me out. I wouldn't recommend that approach for a new diver but a diver with some experience can figure it out. I wouldn't recommend go straight to open water without spending an hour or two in the pool with someone that knows...

I can't imagine why an Atomic tech wouldn't or couldn't do it. It's pretty straightforward.

I have an Atomic and an Apeks and I would say the Apeks works better inverted than the Atomic. Mine is an Apeks ATX200.

The Hood Canal area has some nice camping and easy access to diving. Hood Canal is actually a Fjord with some really nice shore diving. The Northern/Central Oregon Coast has great camping but the diving from shore can be a challenge.

Why not do it in the environment where you intend to teach? If you plan to teach in the UK you should do your training there. If you intend to teach in warm water do your training there.

One in water rescue that had a good ending. Not a medical emergency just a panicked diver. One rescue that resulted in a fatality, classic sceanario, diver surfaced unconcious, towed to shore, stripped out of his gear and CPR started. He didn't make it. I work as a DM so I've been drilled on...

I like DiveTech as well.

It's pretty common. If you get to your open water dives and still feel strongly about not being buddied up with someone tell the instructor your concerns. I make every effort to pair people up that are good together. My concern is that you feel safe and have a good time.

I stay in Kihei every year and I usually dive with Ed Robinsons for boat dives. There are some great shore dives near where you are staying, Five Graves, Ulua Beach, Ahihi Bay to name a few. I always rent tanks and weights from Maui Dreams in Kiehei, very nice people, great prices and they can...

Jumping off a boat without my air turned on. Walking into the water and trying to decend without my weight pouches in my BC. Coming up coughing after trying to decend with my snorkel. Buying an AirII.

I wouldn't talk anyone out of buying an Atomic Reg. I've owned one for 9 years. I love it. I have 100's of dives on it in all kinds of conditions and it's performed flawlessly. My 9 year old Atomic is just as good as my brand new Apeks XTX200. I only bought the Apeks because I got a great...

I would first check the shops in your area to see what you can get serviced. It kind of sucks to have to send a reg out for service. I would stay away from Dacor because parts are very hard to find on their older regs. Poseidon are great regulators but they can be expensive to maintain. I...

I second Ed Robinsons and Mike Severns. I always heard good things about B&B but I have never used them. For shore diving I would talk to the folks at Maui Dreams if you are staying in Kihei. I've never used a guide to shore dive so I can't recommend an individual guide. I go to Maui every...

Aeris computer that is 10 years old and still going strong.

Just buy the yoke fittings for your regs and switch them from DIN to Yoke whenever needed. It's not hard and it's a lot cheaper than buy new regs.

I don't know of any issues with them but getting them serviced in some areas may be a problem because not many shops sell them.

What sort of problems is your brother having with his gear after service? For me, I always talk to the technician and I like to take a look at the work area where they service gear. It should be clean and well organized. Ask other people around the are where they get their gear serviced as well.

I have only been lucky enough to dive Maui but it is awesome. I love the back wall of Molokini, Shark Condos on Molokini, Red Hill is a nice shallow dive with a lot of critters. You can usually catch a boat over to Lanai from Maui and dive the Cathedrals. Shore diving is good and very easy to...

I have an Overbalanced Apeks with a cheap octo and I have taken it below 150' without a free flow.

I have an old Brut that I use for that sort of thing. Works great and any Sherwood dealer can rebuild them.