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If you really want to go for all 5's, go for it. I know of only one person who came close (got a 4 on the tired diver tow, but otherwise got 5's). He was a competitive swimmer. I played the numbers game. I looked for how to get 13-14 points and that would put me over the 12 point requirement...

I just received my Zeagle Stiletto LTD this week and gave it a spin in the pool. Overall, it is a delightful BC. Adjusting it to fit perfectly took a few moments as I detached, moved, and reattached the cummerbund to fit. A few tugs on the straps and everything was in order. The hose...

The back dial can be duplicated using the up/down/left/right arrow keys for many situations. Depending on the shooting mode, you can assign different functions to the two rings (back and front). As I tend to shoot RAW+jpeg, I am less concerned about using the back ring much. The one time it...

Congrats on your certification! Any method will work. Walking in, planning ahead, etc. The more you plan and research, the more likely you will have a better experience. When we plan a trip, my wife chooses the location. I then go on Scubaboard and do various searches for reviews of dive...

I am a longtime owner of Olympus cameras and did my time teaching photography at a college. I, too, wrestled with selecting a new dive camera. After eliminating all the Nikons, Olympus, and others, I was reduced to G11 or S90. Price and versatility were significant factors for not getting...

I suggest you start with asking yourself what type of diving you will be doing. Then, based on that answer, buy the items in the following order (until you run out of money). Buy the best item for your needs/situation and don't worry about renting the rest. Mask Regulators, Sea Cure...

I suspect the leash will be more of an inconvenience than it is worth. On a swim through where divers go through single file, the leash will get in the way. When you are around coral, it can possibly snag, and kill, the coral. Can I recommend paying attention to each other and carry a...

I dove with an Aeris Epic as my primary system for about two years. Same for my wife. I recently switched to a Galileo Sol and my wife went for the CompuMask. She uses a Sol as her logging tool and backup gauge. I use my Epic as my backup gauge. My daughter now has my wife's Epic. Pros...

Does the Split Saddle Strap Assembly connect to the Express Tech BC? According to the instructions, the front is attached by two screw fasteners to the front of the vest. I want to get the Express Tech with weight pockets added in and was wondering if the Split Saddle Strap Assembly attaches...

Today's breakwater conditions: The large sets were too big to fight, but the small sets were manageable for experienced divers. Vis was approx. one foot. On the plus side, there were no students cluttering up breakwater, so parking was a breeze. . . . and no, I did not go dive. A couple...

Some of the pros of a back inflate is that your front area is more free and open. There is more flexibility than a jacket. In the con category: On the surface you will have a tendency of falling forward. It is easily fixed by remembering to keep your thigh straight with your body (don't bend...

For cold water, shore dives in Monterey assisting with classes: ScubaPro Twin Jets with spring straps. It's also my fin of choice for strong drift dives. I have not liked anything else for it. For boat diving, photo dives, and all other dives, ForceFin's SD-1.

Neutral trim, as you are defining it, is not possible: "whatever position you get into, it takes no effort to maintain that position" Unless every aspect of yourself and your gear is the same density, there will always be a tendency for the more dense portion to be lower than the less dense...

LOL ! My wife loves hers more than the Galileo.

Very nice.

This one might be good enough for "Chuck's Tongue in Cheek Guide to Swell Heights" page listing of a bad day in Monterey. So much for my three day weekend. . .

I think so. Aside from supporting their activities in dive medicine, they also offer insurance worth looking into.

I had the opportunity to test out a pair of Foil Force Fins this week. I must say, I am very impressed with them. They even performed well for surface swimming. Compared to my SD-1 (which has the unfair advantage of being my normal fins), they are better in some ways and not so good in...

Perhaps I am missing something, but from my point of view, your list is pretty good. Your choice of strobe is certainly one that will carry through as you upgrade. The same can be said for the ULCS. The tray may or may not be reusable depending on the housing of your DSLR choice. That is a...

Foot pockets and heel straps break. It's a fact of life. Fins with heel straps are easier to fix than foot pockets. Besides, springs straps are the easiest things to put on. The order of importance (for me) in buying gear is: Mask (nearly all masks do not fit my face, so I am unlikely to...