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I'd have called the dive. You're using your back-up so have lost redundancy and ponies don't last long. A problem with your main reg's first stage could have caused your octopus to free flow...with reduced capacity in your pony to fall back on. The "incident pit" gets steeper and deeper...

You're taking chances with a likely oxygen toxicity hit..won't kill you by itself but the consequent seizures will cause you to lose your regs...then you drown...albeit saturated with O2. Not a good idea for any diver.

I carry most of the above tools, plus one useful repair kit for me - a small bottle of "new skin" to paint over any annoying cuts/nicks/scraps that I always pick up but can never figure out where or when. I've also got a few small diamond files - useful for taking sharp edges/burrs off things...

With my BC I carry a knife and shears mounted on the belt, and a line cutter in the pocket. Just moving to a wing now, so will carry knife and shears...just sorting out where to put them. Underwater I've only used my shears three times but have been glad I had them: first to free up a large...

Oh, Welcome to SB by the way. There's a good forum in the UK that you can use too Scuba Diving Forums .

Hi Stu, Well you've got PADI, SAA, and BSAC. With good clubs/instructors, you'll get good training. PADI tend to run set courses, ie join next week, and we'll get you qualified in a month or two - skills and performance permitting. BSAC and SAA are usually run as clubs, usually over longer...

I qualified as an Open Water Instructor in April this year. Why? Well I started similar to you, helping out with classes, learning from others mistakes, and learning how to do things better. All the time, I found that I was always learning something to help me and diving. Even better was the...

You could use/sell them as stage cylinders, or larger-than-average pony bottles. I carry a 5litre bottle side slung as a pony. When I move to twins, it'll be there as a deco cylinder.

I agree with the guys above, and have a couple of thoughts to share. Your profile says you're early in your diving career, probably still having to work at things, and almost certainly a bit anxious about diving and air consumption. As you relax with experience and practice, and you will...

Hi Lee, In Scotland, you'll have BSAC, Scot-SAC, and PADI. If you want get certified quickly, and be taught specific skills over specific weekends, then pay money to a good instructor with PADI. Having been quickly certified, you'll still have to learn to dive better and gain experience...

Interesting thread. While learning to dive in the US (and then diving with YMCA) we were told that aspirin could help with "blood thinning", and could (legal-ese apart) be offered to someone that was thinking they could/would get a DCS hit as a precaution/first aid measure. I've sinced moved...

Tempting, but if I came over for the weekend I'd be torn between not diving after flying, and not flying after diving.... I can set up some penetration if you ever want to play on this side of the big pond!...with hot chocolate too! See much of CaverDave at all? (I really should log on here...

Congrats Pennypue - just got to logging on after a while away.

For drysuit divers: never miss an opportunity to go pee (before suiting up!) If something looks pretty enough and slow enough that you could catch it....there's at least one good reason why you shouldn't!

You've mentioned another reason for sticking with air, or diving Nitrox with your computer set to air - your buddy. There's no point in one of you being able to avoid a (longer) deco obligation - or a shorter SI - if you have to stick with your buddy while he does his.

I went for the chisel - flat- tip. I don't trust myself with a sharp, pointy object on the surface, let alone underwater. If needs be, you can also use the tip to better lever objects (no tip to break) or even as a screwdriver. For better safety, and one-handed use, I also carry a pair of...

One thing you'll find is that your buoyancy will get better with practice, and with (eventual)depth. If you're getting "excited" then you'll breathe more, become more bouyant, think you need more lead, use more inflation, get excited..the spiral continues! Just relax and set yourself small...

If you're snorkelling then you should be able to clear your snorkel as you approach and clear the surface of the water with a little practice. As you approach the surface raise one arm vertically , tip your head slightly back and gently exhale through the snorkel as your fingertips break the...

I carry a 6' orange DSMB, and a dayglow yellow lifting bag. In the event of a problem, the DSMB goes up, and then I clip the bag on the line and send it up too.

We've got three dogs: Estrela Mountain Dog, Bearded Collie, and a Tibetan Terror. My wife doesn't dive, so I leave all four at home when I go off to enjoy myself. If my wife is away too- dog shows, then we have family that lives locally.