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stop, you're making me yawn.

Usually the DMs don't get paid because they are in the same OSHA category as commercial fisherman (or something along those lines). Since commercial fishermen tend to get hurt, often, the insurance is too expensive for dive operations. If they don't pay them, then they are not employees and...

Is the algorithm for RGBM publicly available?

PADI requires 10 dives or AOW brandon ps. I like TDI's course

The MOD for EAN32 is 130ft. If you are trying to keep your END to less than 100ft. I could see it more in 28% (~150) Putting helium in your mix will reduce your narcosis levels enough without putting too much helium and increasing decompression obligations. As for using HOTx for a 330fsw...

High Oxygen TrimiX. It is for those who want to dive in depths less that 180fsw (still in >21%02) with out narcosis and the benefits of higher fO2. There are various other names for this as well. brandon

winter quarry diving is actually rather nice. The water is usually clearer, but it is rather cold and the fish aren't active. This winter I did my drysuit specialty (no one wanted to teach it to me, too cold). I'd love to go with you, but my schedule doesn't allow it (not to mention the fact...

Generally, you should have the same brand octo as primary and first stage because some regs have different intermediate pressures. This can lead to free-flows or difficult breathing. brandon

At blue stone they have an artificial cave. It's just a metal tube about 100ft long with holes every 25ft or so. It's not really that interesting. Besides, sometimes it's below the thermocline.

Try any antibacterial soap. Or steal lots of those free packets that dive shops are always giving out ("Your total comes to 1346.39, and, what the hell, I'll throw in a sample of sink-the-stink.") brandon

The most important limit is personal. If you do not feel comfortable going below 60ft, don't do it. Uncomfortable divers are unsafe divers. The truth is, there is no magical distinction at 60 ft, 100ft, or even 130ft. The 60ft limit was chosen as a function of NDLs and the time to use an...

You guys are exactly right. Triggerfish are mean little...I don't know if I can say this, so I'll play it safe. I had one that took a chunk out of my head. I had to swat him away twice (I was about to get out my knife) before he left. I was pissed--he drew blood! Sometimes nesting male...

Not that I would be attempting staged dives any time soon, for one I am a student and must scrape together cash to fill my tanks (not to mention tech charters, training, and gear). I just wanted to hear some specific opinions. Tanks for the info guys. brandon

This is not really "technical" per se, but it does have to do with wreck diving. I was thinking that it would be kind of fun to build a "shipwreck" out of something like PVC and some kind of plastic-type mesh (cuttable so that in the event of an emergency direct ascent is available) for use in...

What is the proper procedure for using stages? Should one breathe off the stage first so that ample back gas remains in the event of an emergency (makes the most sense to me)? or Should stage bottles be, uh, "staged" for the end of the dive so that additional bouancy is available in the the...

Your air consumption can be improved best with increased practice and bouancy control. You aerobic capacity and physical size also play a modifyable role in SAC. As far as age go, I am sure that it doesn't have a direct implication on SAC. It probably only goes so far as to imply diminished...

a few barnacles and some slimy algae were all. Fire coral would have been worth it, but I don't know about the moray. He might have severed some hoses ;). The head used to be protected inside the hull, until some divers tried to recover it. Now, it's sitting loose by the hull and gets...

There is a particular dive in the BVI's (the Fearless) in which the head is easily accessible. I have a friend (yeah, a friend...that's right) who took off all his gear (including swim wear) at 90ft so that he could sit on the head. It's a pity that my buddy...I mean his buddy...didn't have a...

The soda bottle analogy is my favorite. I love to scare people like that. It works very well for explaining decompression. Other than that I usually get really mundane questions. brandon

In diving with internationally trained divers I have only had a few inconsistencies: Apparently, in France the surface OK signal (clenched fist on top of head) means out of air/low on air as opposed to clenched fist on the chest or cut-throat. air pressure, aside from bar/psi problems. I...