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When it comes to passing a test to get certified, rules and regulations are – unfortunately – bend more often than not. And while I do not know the procedures of all the certification agencies, I believe that this is a problem across the board (to a lesser extend in technical...

That’s o.k. Some additional revenue may help the owner to stay afloat and keep the Blue Grotto open to divers. There were rumors that he negotiated with several water bottle companies some years back, but the asking price of several million Dollars was too much even for a company like DANONE.

If you consider the $37 + entry fee per day per diver, you understand why it is empty.

Private label products can be better, but not always. Sometimes, large manufacturers “reserve” good products for themselves, which means they effectively prohibit other companies to sell it under their own label by ordering large quantities. Sherwood, for example, is ordering a...

Brett Hemphill did design the Armadillo gear. A good article with pictures and a description of the setup can be found here: ADM Online Years back Brett started converting Zeagle BCD’s for sidemount set-up.

What Cenote did you visit?

I’m not sure about the legal definition, but when I cross a border using whatever travel means I have visited that country. The exception would be if I have to pass immigration. So even if I gross a border but I’m refused entry by immigration I would say I have not visited that...

Isn’t this a good reason to start diving again – now that she is gone?

Somebody could argue that they help to identify the instructor. One dive shop showed me a blinking mask (with an LED build in) several years back and told me that they are an instructor-favorite. Must be a rec-tec thing! Thanks, but NO thanks!

I did read some statistics that the average diver stays with the sport for 3 – 4 years. Then family (non-diving partner), relocation, or introduction to another sport (did somebody say golf) puts an end to the fun. Relocation could definitely be another source; however, it was not listed...

As stated before, the instructor is much more important than the training agency. I have seen dive shops offering Padi courses in addition to IANTD, NSS-CDS or NACD because they feel they have to from a business perspective. Since they are still using the same instructors the training will most...

OMS has some info on cylinders here: OMS High Volume High Pressure Steel Scuba Cylinders Specifications http://www.OMSdive.com PST info is here: PST-Scuba - products Seapearls has an overview of Worthington cylinders here: Sea Pearls - Steel Cylinders Perhaps not complete, but...

Great story! I'm glad that Halcyon is still around!

Well, I'm really sorry that I have started this. We did have the politics for too long on too many discussion boards. But at least now we know where everybody stands – brain-dead or not. Let the dead souls (sorry, let me rephrase this to let the retired souls) rest in peace, but let...

Did you try sex while diving? Perhaps there is an opportunity for a new specialty! An advanced certification would be doing it wearing a drysuit, and a pro-version would include an overhead environment, perhaps deep air, Trimix …. ???

Most NSS-CDS properties have a gate and you need a key or the lock combination to get in. I did dive Wayne’s World many times years ago (Paul did own it at the time), and I believe it did have a gate. Is the site now open to everybody?

I did not know this! Where do you get your XP software from? Do you have to surrender your Vista software to Microsoft?

I basically concur with your las statement. European products are most likely more expensive, but there are many reasons for it - higher labor costs, the current exchange rate, clear-cut trademarks, etc. I feel it is almost impossible to determine which portion of their asking price is...

A combination of XP and Vista is still available through the Dell website. A link is here: Business Desktop Computers & Custom PC's - Dell However, the price has increased to $99. This is what the Dell says: "Need XP? Windows XP Professional pre-installed when purchasing Windows Vista...

Quality difference between China and Taiwan – that’s really a tough question. I think you have good and not so good companies in each country. In my opinion, Taiwan acts more as a consolidator. They produce the more “complicated” gear (i.e. regulators, BCD’s) and...