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I think of my kit as trying to fill two needs: a) What are the minor things I want to be able to easily take care of (things like small cuts, scrapes, headaches, sprains, splinters, etc.) b) What are the things that are really important to have when things hit the fan (and before EMS arrives)...

The downsides of taking rental gear to Mexico: a) You have to haul it through the airports and dry the gear before you leave b) If there is a problem with the gear, you might be out of luck or are paying to repair gear you do not own c) You may incur baggage fees (depending on weight) That...

To some extent, it is worth customizing your kit to your circumstance. That said, IMHO, there should be a core that you always dive with. You have practiced with them (first on land, and then in the water). I would start with: - Safety sausage. Make it large (at least 4 ft, 6 is better)...

For the same reason that every little league baseball player dreams of playing in the bigs....

Glad you are feeling better. I have no specific training in medicine but would add (given that caveat) a few items to your list. a) Be aggressive about staying hydrated. If you are not peeing clear or close to it, you are not getting enough liquid. Drink even when you are not thirsty. b) Be...

I actually love their response. It says to me: a) We want to see how you actually dive before we decide if more challenging dives are appropriate. (I suspect that means everything from how you handle your gear to your air consumption, trim and general comfort level in the water.) b) We think...

Over the years, I have used AB, Poppy/Telrin, Netty's, Budget and Island (I think it was). None have been perfect and none have been awful. That said, I strongly prefer to use Telerin/Poppy -- I have used them for the last five or six years (one three week rental per year). Here is why I...

Umm, Poppy is a she not a he.

Is that the nitrox ready set?

You can't turn your own valves on and off when in the water? That is something I actually practice. Do you typically enter the water super negative? I tend to be either neutral or slightly positive. What am I missing?

That would be a donkey move -- it also is sort of pointless (as dumpsterdiver explained). I would also add that every reputable shop or charter requires the DM card be presented prior to employment. ---------- Post added December 28th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ---------- This also strikes me as a...

I lacked the funds for the Fenzy but they were what all the cool kids wore in the pacific northwest. Every now and then, I contemplate buying one and taking it out for a spin. Should work just fine with my backplate (sans wing). One of the few material things in life that I find just as...

Lets say circa 1976. The old guard was conceding that a SPG was a good idea. There were still dual hose divers but most had already transitioned to single. There were a few dive computers around (the ScubaPro Bend-o-matic). Many were diving with some sort of BC and the colored ribbon depth...

I think, in most instances, AOW simply gets your feet wet. Four observations: a) Dives vary and how we should prepare also varies. A bounce to 100 FSW in no-current 82 degree water with 200 Ft viz is very different from a similar dive made locally (reduced viz, cold water, high current). b)...

Yes and no. Nothing bad has ever happened from surfacing with too much air. But carrying more gas imposes additional costs of one sort or another. Larger tanks tend to cost more. Larger tank are more unwieldy on the boat -- even more so for a shore dive. Smaller tanks are simply easier and...

The challenge is that some weights are easier to remove and hand off than others. I also feel you should be able to float your rig (without you in it). So these are you choices: a) Use a standard weight belt (your current approach for zodiac) b) Ditch your entire kit and pass it over (in...

Uncle Donnie: Congrats on the new gear! I figure you balance it out with most dive shops. If a place wants to always charge me 100% MSRP -- AND never throws me a deal OR the odd air fill OR truly great service, I will look elsewhere. But, as you understand, deals can come in all forms --...

JackUK: Please don't take my comments personally. Of your 11 points, I don't think any are about safety per se. I agree switching instructors on you is bad form -- potentially a bit of bait and switch. But someone teaching diving for a year should be competent. Watching porn on the job is...

IMHO, a wing needs to be large enough to accomplish two purposes. First it should float your entire rig (with full tanks) at the surface with a bit to spare. It should float the rig both stand alone and with you in the gear Second, it should (generally) allow you to maintain positive...

Let me start with a few observations. First, wearing more negatively buoyant fins (say, -2 per fin) would effectively be little different from wearing neutral fins with a two pound ankle weights. If one solution is OK, they both should be. Second, I own a pair of bios -- nice fin but I don't...