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I bought into the Halcyon system, stainless steel BP, 30lb singles wing, STA, and STA weight. Loved it and used the same setup for cold water drysuit (BC, Canada) and Caribbean diving. No need for extra weight in the latter. I switched over to doubles using the same rig by adding a tail weight...

You have to take the course to get the Deep Diver certification. However, if you're asking whether a Deep Diver certification is mandatory to take continuing education courses, it isn't for something like PADI Tec 40, in which you need either the Deep Specialty certification OR have at least 10...

What’s tough about Fundies is learning new things, or new ways of doing old things, then having to demonstrate them right back within the performance requirements. Without a chance to go away for a few dives to get some practice and come back, it's hard. Which is why I think you have the option...

I really enjoy my Icebreaker merino wool clothing year round (base layer under drysuit undergarments, skiing, and for general summer sports). They are soft, nearly like cotton, and you can get various weights to fit your needs. Another big plus is that natural fibres don’t smell like synthetics...

A little flash rust without any other issues like pitting, etc. like that is acceptable (though obviously not for your shop). What you could also try is a 70% isopropyl alcohol rinse after your whip / tumble to get rid of the dry residue and any moisture. Swirl around a 1/2 cup and dump it out...

I can’t really comment too much on the value of the internship at a dive shop compared to getting it done in a few weeks. I didn’t do it for my DM as I didn’t have the time. Any extra experience is a good thing as long as it helps your development and you’re not free labour to them. But as Tom...

I love dedicated skills dives. I’d really only add the following: Figure out what the goal is for your skills. For example, “I want to be able to hover for one minute and +/- 3 feet of a target reference.” That way you can measure your progress and potentially add more task loading or...

No problem with contacts. I have students that wear them for skills and keep their eyes closed. PADI's mask skill requirements in the pool are partial mask flood (up to your eye level) and clear, full flood and clear, mask removal and replacement, and swimming 15m/50' underwater with a buddy and...

I ran through Tec 40 through 50. Dive 4 in Tec 40 is definitely a deco dive. As is dive 4 in Tec 45 and dives 3&4 in Tec 50. As advised by others, ignore the manual sequencing, and go with the section headers that tell you which parts of the Tec Deep manual that are relevant for each course...

A neoprene slap strap might also make it more comfortable compared to regular silicone straps. I use a Halcyon one that replaces the mask strap entirely and I like it a lot. You basically set the size and leave it where it's most comfortable. You can also get the other style that slips over the...

If you have social media accounts I think it is a fairly standard expectation that you should post an announcement about site problems. Social media could be the means to attract more eyes on SB, so I don't necessarily see that as evil. After all all content on SB is publicly viewable and...

Go for private lessons with a good, patient instructor. Group lessons are not for everybody and there is absolutely no shame in that. Being athletic, coordinated, fit, and possessing other land or air skills don’t always translate into immediate success in scuba. The perils of group lessons are...

Great suggestion. I was thinking of doing the same with my daughter. Any suggestions for Cozumel, or would you prefer PDC for beginners? I'm thinking that logistics would involve a shop that allows a non-certified diver to get gear, plus maybe renting a float and weights (controlled descent and...

I might also add the quality of the breath is also important, not only the timing as discussed. Hyperventilation sensations could actually be a clue that you're retaining CO2 - perhaps not enough to cause headaches, but still enough to cause anxiety. Being able to pull air deep and low into...

Of those choices, probably the XDeep. Of course, make sure you select the right BP material and wing size for your type of diving, exposure protection, and tanks. For my drysuit diving, I was happy starting with my Halcyon stainless BP and single 40 wing and single tank adapter that I seamlessly...

I had a similar problem - Halcyon BP with Hollis S38 wing. The BP has the top and lower/middle and no bottom slot, while the wing only has a top and bottom slot for the cam bands, not a middle/lower slot. So only the top slot lined up between the BP and wing. The BP and wing have the standard...

Yes, Subsurface has Android and iOS mobile versions with a subset of the Windows/Mac/Linux version’s features, notably missing the dive planner, which you probably won’t need. It can also be set up to sync the dive log between all your devices which I find useful for viewing or analyzing dives...

Subsurface (Subsurface | An open source divelog) is a free download and you can manually log dives. It also supports various dive computer brands for when you do purchase a computer.

I know a diver who found the standard neck seal claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing when she tried diving with a properly-adjusted neck seal and standard (wet) hood in PNW waters. I'm investigating whether a dry hood setup (e.g. a full latex hood) is a viable option to get around the neck seal...

Back to trim for a second, can you describe exactly what happens when you try to hold a position in the water? Set your BCD, use mid-lung capacity and try to hover off the bottom enough that your fins don't touch, and don't move. You will then rotate head down, feet down, or maybe stay in good...