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If there is an easy way to drink water underwater, it should be a standard part of every diver's gear. Considering that dehydration is a risk factor for DCS, and that divers can become dehydrated on dives, shouldn't we all drink water during the dive if it could reduce our risk of DCS? I'm...

Zept, I think that getting supervised dives with a DM right after becoming certified is a great idea. But if students prefer to do those supervised dives with an instructor, how could that be bad? I think that most of us (maybe) agree that the additional experience beyond the...

I never heard of OWII certification. Sounds like a good program to me. So does PADI OW + PADI AOW = OWII? Is OWII a YMCA cert? otter-cat

I was already thinking of doing some polar diving, but if I wasn't convinced, those pictures on your website pushed me over the edge! Great stuff. I guess it's going to be a VERY expensive endeavor as well. Probably worth it, but it may take me a long time to save up enough money! otter-cat

What do you think of the value of the program as a part of regular OW certification? Same complete OW course, with the same certification dives and skills, and then several dives introducing a few additional skills appropriate to the different types of dives that they do? (Maybe it could be...

Hello Doctors, I have a friend who I would like to suggest take the OW diver course, but he has Bichete's syndrome (sorry for the misspelled name). I personally know almost nothing about the disease, and I am sure that he would go get a physical evaluation before he took the course, but if...

I have to agree with everything that has been posted so far. You are right to postpone the class if you feel you need more time before you're ready. Your husband should not be pissed at you, so don't worry about what he thinks in this situation. A few notes about the weights that might...

...I can't help but fret. UP, I have in many threads read your good advice to others about waiting to buy equipment for tech diving until after DIRF. And it will be quite some time before I am able to take any courses OR buy any gear for technical diving. But I'm curious about it now, and...

But what if something happened to you & Shane, and he and his light were injured together. He may be unconscious. You have to find and assist him. Wouldn't it be better if he was wearing some bright colors that you may glimpse a corner of using your HID to scan through the silt that has been...

I have noticed that blue is surprisingly bright underwater as well. Recently a couple of the instructors at the shop I am doing my DM certification through got blue drygloves, and it was amazing how much easier it was to see their hands, even in very low vis! I wonder why it isn't a more...

I am always concerned about the lead oxide that leaches from soft weight belts, especially as they get older. It's that milky white stuff that drips from the weight pack. Of course, all lead weights that aren't coated will generate a small amount of lead oxide when placed in seawater, but the...

I am not qualified to answer your question, but I was wondering: What was his buoyancy like before he quit smoking? I don't think a rapid breathing rate will make someone overly buoyant, but I'm not an expert. Maybe he gained weight after quitting smoking, which would mean that he'd probably...

If you have long hair, keeping it in a low ponytail is definitely the first step to keeping it under control while using a hood. I have found that by adding a second rubber band 1-2 inches from the bottom of the ponytail, the top of the ponytail holds much better, even when removing/replacing...

Now I'm wondering why specific colors for gear aren't part of the DIR rules. If bright colors are safer, why not "mandate" their use (to the extent that any particular gear is "mandated")? And if they are more dangerous, why aren't they prohibited? Maybe I'm wrong about this, but my...

I do not know very much about DIR, and most of what I have heard about it has been through posts on this board. Without wanting to enter into the extensive debates about the merits of DIR, (which can be found in other threads, for those interested,) I want to ask a question about DIR philosophy...

mtdivegirl, The best thing for you to do is go to the shop ahead of time, (sometime when you are not in a rush is best) and try on rental wetsuits until you find something that fits, or find out that they don't have anything, at which point you can go to other shops. Your shop will most...

Se7en, I am also in the process of acquiring my PADI DM certification. I think many of the points you raise are very good ones. I, too, think that the course is a little too heavy on selling PADI itself, and also agree that it's annoying that I have to recite reasons why I should become an...

Dr Deco, Thanks for your quick reply. While I am not surprised that there is not much research out there about this topic, it seems like it would be something worth studying, since there are certainly divers out there who use marijuana. I am guessing that there must be studies of the...

Ralph, The current drysuit I have is pretty new, and I've been storing it open thus far. However, the tech who recommends storing it closed, (and suggests it when he teaches the equipment specialty class) has been storing his drysuit with the zipper closed for many years. His drysuit has...

Hi Dr. Deco, I am seeking information on the effects of marijuana use by divers, especially as related to DCS. Several times, students have asked about it, but I have found no information about diving and marijuana other than the (correct) admonition that diving while under the influence of...