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There came a point where I really didn't need to keep documentation of how many dives I've had, but I kept logging because it's been a priceless source of other information, like: What level of exposure protection worked (or didn't) for a given water temp? What was the ideal weighting for...

My username combines two of my most important overall interests: the sea (obviously) and my horse. Doesn't get much simpler than that. The photo is a Bahamian sunset shot from a liveaboard. The trip sucked, but that sunset was nice.

I would have gotten a lot more aggressive about thermal protection a lot sooner. I've always gotten cold easily, and continually underestimated what it would take to deal with it. Started with a 3/2 suit, then added a hood, eventually went to a 7 mil custom suit, and far too much later, chucked...

If I have to err one way or the other, I'll err on the side that keeps me able to control my place in the water column at the end of the dive. In your position, I'd make a habit of doing safety stops on the mooring line in the interim if there is any doubt at all. Do a controlled ascent to the...

Yes, refresher sessions are for certified divers who want to tune up a bit before re-entering the water after some time away. Agreed that you just need to contact your LDS to see what your options are.

I always wear a bathing suit. I figure that if I get a suit flood, I'm going to need to get out of everything else and still be wearing something that can keep me decent and dry quickly.

Waterproof Parka | Dive Parka | Boat Coat | Swim Parka | Surf-fur.com I have one of these. It's quite nice.

A dive skin will probably help tremendously. As to the wetsuit itself, it works well to get the lower legs fully in place before you start bringing the rest of the suit up past your knees, and just keep stretching the suit upward as you go. I've made a game of trying to put it on too "high,"...

I think it must be impossible to be objective about this decision. You've got major money invested, time scheduled off work, upended your life for a week, and have been looking forward to this for who knows how long. The sensible thing is to pay close attention to what your body is...

I've been fortunate that my bags have always arrived with me, though I've been on several trips where someone else wasn't as lucky. Until the downsizing of carry-ons a few years ago, I was able to have all the essentials (dive stuff, toothbrush, no clothes) with me at all times, so there was no...

My trips have all been to liveaboards. Critical gear includes my mask with prescription lenses and either a 7 mil wetsuit or a dry suit and the peripherals associated with them. Admittedly, my exposure protection needs are extreme compared to most. Then again, I do rent all the actual equipment...

It's not so much the extra fees that bother me (though they do) as that this trend means many of us will have no way to keep with us the items we would need to save a dive trip in the event of some lost luggage. I've always packed very defensively, stuffing my backpack and carry-on with the...

What a great question, OP! Mine is too boring to even write about, but it fits the challenge perfectly. I was on a liveaboard for a week where things had not gone well all week long. Crappy diving, multiple boat maintenance problems, bad crew morale, cold showers ... you name it, it went wrong...

That's been my experience. The dives themselves aren't usually that much exercise (unless there's some current), although they're certainly more exercise than sitting in front of a computer, which is probably what I'd be doing otherwise. When I do a liveaboard, I go up and down flights of...

That's what everybody said about me. I always drove lifeguards nuts because I was so seldom at the surface where they could keep an eye on me. Didn't help with the eyes, however. :confused:

I can see enough to count fingers but regardless of the water (pool, fresh, salt), it hurts my eyes so badly that I just keep them closed. I would keep them open if my life depended on it, but that's the only reason.

Spring straps: http://www.leisurepro.com/p-aquezr/ez-spring-fin-strap-recreational-diver-black

What I take from what's been posted so far is what I've experienced myself: Whether you tuck the hood in or not just depends. You can wear it either way, depending on the circumstances at the time. No major harm done if you guess wrong on a given day.

I'll add my vote to the school of putting air in the drysuit only to reduce squeeze and/or to increase warmth. My reason is that air hides in lots of little places in the dry suit, so you can't dump it as effectively on ascent as you can from a BC. I think it's also simpler to keep the functions...

I agree with you to a point, DD, but current changes the equation. I am an adult diver, very confident swimming on my own, with no desire to hold hands with anyone on a dive. Except sometimes when there's a strong current. I have repeatedly found that, as a small woman (especially when wearing a...