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  1. Esprise Me

    If you could change one thing about dive training...

    Training standards being too low is a perennial topic of discussion around here, along with routine violations of those standards that exist. The discussion most often centers around OW certification, but AOW and specialty courses are popular targets too, and even tech courses are not above...
  2. Esprise Me

    Uninspected 6-packs: what's the risk?

    Not sure if this is the right forum; mods feel free to move. The question occurred to me while reading this thread about a diver who drowned when the boat sank; it later came out that the boat had failed inspection by the Coast Guard but continued running with only 6 passengers to avoid...
  3. Esprise Me

    Why the U-shaped difference between air and Nitrox NDLs (PADI tables)?

    Short version: I noticed that, if you calculate the difference in NDL between air and 32% Nitrox using PADI tables as a percentage and plot those numbers on a graph, you get something of a U shape, with the least increase in bottom time at 90 feet. Why is that? Long version for those avoiding...
  4. Esprise Me

    Backup computer died; what would you do?

    I started diving with a Cressi Leonardo 2 years ago, and bought a Shearwater Teric 1 year ago. I kept the Leonardo and wore it as a backup on solo dives and liveaboards, and otherwise left it in my gear bag in case I forgot to charge (or forgot to bring) my Teric. Several months ago I lent it to...
  5. Esprise Me

    Your most expensive dive

    Inspired by the "Cost per dive" thread. There are beach dives where you only pay for gasoline and a tank fill; there are dive trips to developing countries where everything is cheap; there are dives people get paid to do. But what's the most you've ever spent on a dive? Feel free to be creative...
  6. Esprise Me

    White stuff on a cucumber?

    I recognize the critter, but what's that white stuff?
  7. Esprise Me

    Modifying a hood with velcro?

    I'm thinking about buying a large or extra-large hood with a bib (I wear a medium) so that I can cut it down the front, sew in some velcro, and have something that's easier to remove without creating a million tiny knots in my hair. The hood I'm looking at is $35, so not a tragedy if it doesn't...
  8. Esprise Me

    Difference in drying time between soft weights

    So here's a profoundly unimportant question. I have two soft weights, both two pounders. One of them consistently dries much faster than the other, even when they're both exposed to the same conditions. You can see them here side by side. What's up with that?
  9. Esprise Me

    Contingency planning in OW training?

    I've seen a few folks here get dragged for "not following [their] training" in the wake of accidents or near misses, particularly in cases where a buddy or even a DM/guide ignored their "low air" signal or offered their octopus instead of ascending. I've reviewed my PADI OW manual (version 3.02)...
  10. Esprise Me

    Looking for women's 5/3 suit and related advice

    I'm going to Cozumel in June with my husband and dive club; we might also do a day trip to the cenotes. I currently own a 7mm wetsuit and a Sharkskin jacket, the latter of which I find to be the warmth equivalent of about 2 mm of neoprene. I'm thinking about buying a thinner wetsuit for the...
  11. Esprise Me

    Cavern with single tank?

    A friend and I have been talking about taking a cavern course together. The stars are expected to align probably no sooner than a year and a half from now, so obviously a lot of things will change. But currently, she has a little over 50 dives and I have a little over 100; she is excellent on...
  12. Esprise Me

    Recreational wreck instructor recommendations?

    ...Or, rec wreck recs? Sorry. I'm still just a baby diver, fewer than 100 dives, never been deeper than 100 feet, working on drysuit next month and doubles sometime after that, not ready for tec. But I really like wrecks. I've had a chance to dive a few of them, no penetration obviously, and...
  13. Esprise Me

    Diving after spontaneous pneumothorax

    My husband is maybe coming around on the idea of joining me on my diving adventures. Problem is he once suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax, so his regular doc won't sign the medical form but encouraged him to see a specialist. So I have a bunch of questions, and I'd welcome input from lay...
  14. Esprise Me

    Morning dives near Rome, Venice, or Athens

    My husband doesn't dive and has never been to Europe. I've been several times, but never as a diver. We're thinking about a ten-day trip next fall or maybe the year after. I'm planning a couple dive trips without him, so this trip needs to be primarily about what he wants to do and about...
  15. Esprise Me

    How much extra neoprene for repetitive dives on liveaboard?

    I've just booked my first LOB to Turks & Caicos in January. I understand the average water temperature that time of year is 79F/26C. I've comfortably dived in water that temperature in a 3mm, but only for 2 dives per day; this trip offers 5 dives per day including a night dive. I know I'm often...
  16. Esprise Me

    Review of Shark Reef aquarium dive at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

    So I did this thing. TL;DR version: it was fun for a newbie diver like me, traveling with non-divers, with $650 to burn and no desire to gamble. Longer version: The dive costs $650 for one person, or $1000 for two, plus a $50 resort fee if you're not staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel. (I...
  17. Esprise Me

    Buddy OOA with 1,000 PSI

    I went out on a local dive boat today and got paired with an instabuddy with a similar dive count but who had only dived in Thailand. On our second dive, just after we started our ascent from 60 feet, she signaled "out of air" and grabbed my octo. She struggled with it for a second, long enough...
  18. Esprise Me

    Storing gear in a garage

    I've been renting most of my gear so far (wetsuit, BCD, regulator, cylinder, weights; I have the small stuff) but I'm thinking about buying. The issue isn't money but space; I live in a small city apartment without a lot of room for storage. My apartment complex recently installed storage...
  19. Esprise Me

    Stupid questions about Avalon Harbor Cleanup

    I'm intrigued by this event, but I have so many questions. - Is this suitable for noobs? - What are the advantages of booking as part of a team? Will they set me up with a buddy? - Can I still join a team or find a buddy somehow if I come for Friday night and stay the weekend rather than coming...
  20. Esprise Me

    Escaping to warm water over a long weekend?

    Newbie here, itching to dive again but not so sure about local diving over the next couple months, given the temperatures. I've been back in LA from my trip to Mexico less than 24 hours and I'm already plotting my return. I have a 4-day weekend in February and was thinking about visiting Cabo...
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