FAQ's Table of Contents
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New in ScubaBoard 2021New Forums
We added a new forum category at the top of the ScubaBoard Forums list to showcase our most informative and popular threads.Best of ScubaBoard
ScubaBoard Knowledge Base
ScubaBoard's dedicated resource center of curated information. Please read the Special Rules before posting.
ScubaBoard Download Library
Free library of diving related files curated by ScubaBoard staff. Please read the Special Rules before posting.
Resources Discussions
Express your thoughts on Resources, a new feature introduced in ScubaBoard 2021.
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Special Search Forums that are populated by threads from all over ScubaBoard that relate to a certain subject.
Frequently Asked Questions forum
The FAQ forum is in the Discover ScubaBoard forum category and includes the thread you are reading right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
ScubaBoard’s operating manual with byte-size chapters that can be mastered faster than a safety stop. Please read the Learning Zone Special Rules before posting.
Notable Threads in FAQ
This is our first step in adding Wiki features to ScubaBoard.FAQ - ScubaBoard's Dictionary for Divers
ScubaBoard's Dictionary for Divers An ongoing project of ScubaBoard Brief explanations of terms and jargon used by divers and mariners. Please use "Report" to correct broken links, typos, or suggestions more definitions. ScubaBoard Staff will add new definitions and credit the member...
FAQ - ScubaBoard's Computing & Internet Glossary
ScubaBoard's Computing & Internet Glossary An ongoing project of ScubaBoard Computing and Internet terms, jargon, and acronyms commonly used on ScubaBoard. See ScubaBoard's Dictionary for Divers for diving and maritime-related terms. scu·ba·board /ˈsko͞obəbôrd/ noun 1. World's largest Internet...
FAQ - Mouseover Pop-up Windows
Mouseover Pop-up Windows Mouseover is also known as mouse hover, pointer hover, and hover box. It means letting mouse pointer linger over mouseover-enabled elements without clicking any mouse buttons, which triggers a small window to display. Thumbnail Mouseover Mouseover a thread title and a...
FAQ - Forum & Category Organization
Forum and Category Organization ScubaBoard has grown to almost 500 forums over 20 years. Forums are divided into eleven Categories. Although creating and reorganizing forums is an ongoing process. a major reorganization was completed earlier this year and continues with the 2021 ScubaBoard...
FAQ - Submitting Resources
Submitting Resources :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 ScubaBoard's Resources tab opens a new dimension in information sharing. Explore the existing Resources in order to get a sense of how they are organized and the different Resource types that are available. The following two images will help...
FAQ - Add Links in a Post
Add Links in a Post The first step is to find the Web page you want to include a link to in your post. This example is for a post on ScubaBoard, but you can also go to any Web page and copy the URL from the address bar on your Internet Browser. Move your mouse pointer over the "Share a post"...
This is an example of an unfurled linkFAQ - Unfurled links in ScubaBoard posts
Unfurled links in ScubaBoard posts This is one of my favorite new features in ScubaBoard 2021. Unfurling simplifies including links to other posts in ScubaBoard or any publicly accessible site on the Web. What is an unfurled link? Here is one inside ScubaBoard...
ScubaBoard's message editor is loaded with new features.FAQ - ScubaBoard's Message Editor
ScubaBoard's Message Editor Anyone familiar with word processing programs will be pretty comfortable with ScubaBoard's Message Editor. There are quite a few significant enhancements to this thread might be helpful to old salts as well as new members. :FAQnew: New Features in ScubaBoard 2021...
FAQ - ScubaBoard Bookmarks
ScubaBoard Bookmarks ScubaBoard Bookmarks let you save links to posts that you would like to find again. Begin by clicking the Bookmark icon at the top-right of every post. This menu will display. This image illustrates what the optional Message and Label fields: Thanks to @madamimadam...
This is a major new feature.FAQ - Reactions & Likes
Reactions & Likes The familiar "Like" feature has been significantly enhanced in ScubaBoard 2021. Clicking on Like works like the old days, it registers a Like. However, pausing your mouse pointer over "Like" without clicking, which is called a mouseover, will pop the Reactions menu...
FAQ - Emoticons, Smilies, & Emojis
Emoticons, Smilies, & Emojis Why use any of them? We use simple phrases all the time that can be interpreted in many different ways. Person to person conversation is augmented by context, common cultural experience, intonation, and body language. Unfortunately, you can't depend on any of these...
FAQ - Image Resizing & Text Wrap-around
Image Resizing & Text Wrap-around :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 Step 1: Insert the image into your message editor (usually with Copy & Paste) Step 2: Click on the image, which displays "square handles" on the corners, and click & drag to the size you want. It also displays the menu at...
ScubaBoard Basics
FAQ - What is ScubaBoard?
What is ScubaBoard? scu·ba·board /ˈsko͞obəbôrd/ noun 1. World's largest Internet community serving Scuba divers. Etymology: Derived from Scuba diving and internet bulletin Board ScubaBoard is an Internet Website serving the international Scuba diving community. It operates on Bulletin Board...
FAQ - Learning Zone Special Rules
Learning Zone Special Rules ScubaBoard Staff has designated a number of forums as Learning Zones, which are subject to these special rules: :FAQmember: Learning Zones are intended to be very friendly, both flame and snark free. :FAQmember: Members of all skill levels may ask questions without...
FAQ - ScubaBoard Search
ScubaBoard Search :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 This may look like the old one most of us ignored because it was so poor, but there is a new search engine under the hood. OK, it looks the same... so far. It is faster and far more accurate but don't stop there. Click advanced and there are...
& FAQ - Thread View Legend
Thread View Legend There is a lot of useful information in views that display lists of threads. Understanding them can help with your "click or move-on" decision. Avatar of the member that started the thread Title Prefix flag, optional and the available prefixes vary by the forum Thread...
FAQ - Why Can't I Post???
Why Can't I Post? This is one of the most asked questions we get at Support@ScubaBoard.com and there are many reasons. You're not registered or logged in :FAQmember: Log In or Sign Up :FAQmember: Member Benefits There's a problem with your account You haven't finished registration (make...
FAQ - Supporting Member Benefits, Going Red!
Supporting Member Benefits, Going Red! Supporting Members receive a wide range of benefits including: :sbtinylogo: Your member name appears in red in all of your posts along with a red ScubaBoard Supporter Badge under your Avatar. :sbtinylogo: Unlimited Private Message capacity...
FAQ - Identity Theft & Internet Scams
Identity Theft & Internet Scams Protecting your legal name is the first line of defense against nefarious people trolling the internet for their next victim. You may want to think twice about using yours as you member name unless you have a compelling reason like running a dive charter service...
FAQ - Why can't I edit my post?
Why can't I edit my post? You can, within 24 hours of posting. Oh no! What can I do to fix a mistake? Within reason, you can request that a ScubaBoard Staff member correct typos or serious content errors by clicking Report and entering your request. As a matter of principal...
& FAQ - Finding & Tracking What Interests You
Finding & Tracking What Interests You ScubaBoard's nearly 500 forums can be overwhelming. The trick is finding the information that interests you somewhere in our 570,000+ threads and 8.2+ million posts. Fortunately there are quite a few tools to make that easier. Locating Forums of Interest...
FAQ - Different ways to view threads
Different ways to view threads :FAQkeyconcept: FAQ Key Concept As we see ScubaBoard; forum categories contain forums, forums contain threads, and threads contain posts. But our cloud computer servers see it all differently. All the "content" (data) on ScubaBoard is stored in a large and...
FAQ - Choose your Style
Choose your Style :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 ScubaBoard had different "Styles" in previous versions but there are several significant new options. What are Styles? Styles change the colors that ScubaBoard is displayed in. We now have five Styles to accommodate: Different preferences...
FAQ - Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two Factor Authentication (2FA) What is Two Factor Authentication? Two Factor Authentication is an option for ScubaBoard members to login with much higher security. It will make it extremely difficult for a hacker to hijack your account without also hacking your phone or email. Some form of...
FAQ - Bits, Bytes, & Pixels
Bits, Bytes, & Pixels Humans have always struggled with visualizing and communicating the realities in the real world. Even the human construct of a straight line got muddled by the work that proved Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Before I hijack my own thread any further, the point is the...
FAQ - Internet Browsers 101
Internet Browsers 101 You are using an Internet Browser to see this page right now. The question is, are you using it as effectively as you would like? I know I wasn't before starting to research this thread. Nearly all of this information applies all popular browsers including Chrome, Edge...
Becoming a Member
FAQ - ScubaBoard Member Benefits
Member Benefits Registration is not required to read the ScubaBoard forums, but membership is free, and has loads of benefits: :FAQmember: The first thing you will notice is that this "reminder" goes away. OK it's a "nag", but allowing unregistered people (or software robots) to post would...
FAQ - Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy We are ScubaBoard ("we", "our", "us"). We’re committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. If you have questions about your personal information please contact us. What information we hold about you The type of data that we collect and process includes: Your name or...
FAQ - Sign up to become a Member
Sign up to become a Member Becoming a member of ScubaBoard is free and easy. This guide will make it even easier. Select your username It is a good idea think about the username you before starting the registration process. This thread may help...
FAQ - Changing Your Password
Changing Your Password Click on your avatar to open this drop-down menu. Then click on Password and Security. Enter your current password, then your new password, and enter your new password a second time to confirm that there are no typos. You will receive an email confirming that your...
FAQ - Changing Your E-Mail Address
Changing Your E-Mail Address ScubaBoard Staff can not reset your password and Email address unless one of us can personally verify that you are the member requesting help for a problem with the account. Click your Avatar and click on Account details. Click the Change button next to your...
FAQ - Adding or changing your Avatar & Banner
Adding or changing your Avatar & Banner Click on your member icon and click on Account details. Click on the Choose File button under "Use a custom avatar". Note that the image should be at least 400x400 pixels, which is higher than it was before the ScubaBoard 2021 upgrade. You can drag a...
FAQ - Why Follow Members & Your News Feed
Why Follow Members & Your News Feed Spend enough time on ScubaBoard and you will find members that are especially interesting. You can quickly see their recent posts and their reactions to other posts by adding them to your members you "Follow" list. Then go to Your Account menu and click...
FAQ - Alert a Member in a Post
Alert a Member in a Post There are several options to alert a member to your post, providing their Alert Preferences are set. There are many more notification option than just these but these examples are the most commonly seen. 1. Quotes in your message See Quote an Entire Post and Quoting...
FAQ - Changing Member Names
Changing Member Names There are plenty of reasons that a member might want to change their ScubaBoard username: They are reconsidering the wisdom of using their actual name in this era of identity theft and the dark web. They just came up with a great name. They want a name that reflects their...
FAQ - Supporting Member Benefits, Going Red!
Supporting Member Benefits, Going Red! Supporting Members receive a wide range of benefits including: :sbtinylogo: Your member name appears in red in all of your posts along with a red ScubaBoard Supporter Badge under your Avatar. :sbtinylogo: Unlimited Private Message capacity...
Participating on ScubaBoard
FAQ - Terms of Service and Rules
Terms of Service and Rules Welcome to ScubaBoard: the world's largest community of scuba diving enthusiasts dedicated to sharing the wonders of our underwater world in a fun, safe and friendly environment. Our focus is to advance safety, knowledge and enjoyment within the diving community by...
FAQ - 10,000 Character Limit
10,000 Character Limit ScubaBoard's forum software limits individual posts to a maximum of 10,000 characters, including spaces and BB codes. The one exception is the Article forum type which can have up tp 30,000 characters. Click the "X" in the upper-right corner of the error window. Oh No...
FAQ - Advanced Formatting & Articles
Advanced Formatting & Articles Overview ScubaBoard's ongoing effort to encourage members to write "article quality" threads has new support with several advanced formatting capabilities in the ScubaBoard 2021 upgrade. :sbtinylogo: We are no longer limited to specially formatted articles on our...
FAQ - What is a POV Warrior?
What is a POV Warrior? P·O·V·war·ri·or /'pē ō vē wôrēər/ noun A POV Warrior is a member possessing a narrow or controversial "point of view" Uses every opportunity to turn, hijack or derail a thread to push their personal or agency agenda. Quite often they have no idea that they are doing...
FAQ - Learning Zone Special Rules
Learning Zone Special Rules ScubaBoard Staff has designated a number of forums as Learning Zones, which are subject to these special rules: :FAQmember: Learning Zones are intended to be very friendly, both flame and snark free. :FAQmember: Members of all skill levels may ask questions without...
FAQ - Moderation in all things, including moderation...
Moderation in all things, including moderation... ScubaBoard moderation is predicated as a response system. We encourage users to report problematic areas, rather than us actively seeking them out. That's right: users are an integral part of the mod team and set the tone for the Board. If no...
FAQ - Adding a Resource
Adding a Resource "Resources" is a new feature introduced in the ScubaBoard 2021 upgrade. Please explore the Resources that are approved to get a feel for how they work and are formatted. Step 1: Click "Your resources" Step 2: Click the "Add resource" button Step 3: Click the Resource...
Optional forums and those reserved for industry professionalsFAQ - Restricted Access Forums
Restricted Access Forums ScubaBoard has a number of forums that require members to take specific actions to access them. These forums also exclude all search engine indexing used by services like Google and Bing. Opt-in Forums (no approvals required) The following forums can not be accessed by...
Message Editor & Related FAQs
Starting threads, thread prefixes, thread types, and polls.FAQ - Starting a new thread
Starting a New Thread Step 1: Find the best forum to post it in. ScubaBoard has nearly 500 forums and you will get much better responses by posting in the forum that discusses the subject the most. https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/finding-tracking-what-interests-you.600106/ Step 2: Go...
FAQ - Using the Question "thread type"
Using the Question "thread type" A better way to get answers to your questions :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 A new Question "thread type" is available for starting a new thread in most of ScubaBoard's forums. Is the Question Flag Required? No., but is highly recommended. The Question...
FAQ - ScubaBoard's Message Editor
ScubaBoard's Message Editor Anyone familiar with word processing programs will be pretty comfortable with ScubaBoard's Message Editor. There are quite a few significant enhancements to this thread might be helpful to old salts as well as new members. :FAQnew: New Features in ScubaBoard 2021...
FAQ - Headings & Font Sizes
Headings & Font Sizes :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 Headings Headings is a new feature that makes it easy to format three levels of headings. This replaces having to combine Bold and Font size formats. Font Size Members will notice that the font size menu has changed. Font values on the...
FAQ - Cut, Copy, & Paste
Cut, Copy, & Paste The Clipboard with Cut, Copy, & Paste is one of the most useful functions of modern computing devices. The concept was developed by PARC (Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center) and is an essential part of the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Cut, Copy, & Paste works about the...
FAQ - Introduction to BB Codes
Introduction to BB Codes BB codes (Bulletin Board) are hidden "tags" that start and stop formatting text and images in posts. Members can easily get by with little or no knowledge of BB codes but understanding them is helpful to perform more advanced formatting. Most BB codes are similar to...
FAQ - Emoticons, Smilies, & Emojis
Emoticons, Smilies, & Emojis Why use any of them? We use simple phrases all the time that can be interpreted in many different ways. Person to person conversation is augmented by context, common cultural experience, intonation, and body language. Unfortunately, you can't depend on any of these...
FAQ - Adding Lists
Adding Lists It is easy to add bulleted and numbered lists to you post. You can start the list by clicking on the type of list and typing, or convert a list by selecting the list and clicking the menu button. Bulleted lists Numbered lists Indented lists Lists distinguished by symbols...
FAQ - Add Links in a Post
Add Links in a Post The first step is to find the Web page you want to include a link to in your post. This example is for a post on ScubaBoard, but you can also go to any Web page and copy the URL from the address bar on your Internet Browser. Move your mouse pointer over the "Share a post"...
FAQ - Alert a Member in a Post
Alert a Member in a Post There are several options to alert a member to your post, providing their Alert Preferences are set. There are many more notification option than just these but these examples are the most commonly seen. 1. Quotes in your message See Quote an Entire Post and Quoting...
Inserting ImagesFAQ - Inserting Images in Posts
Inserting Images in Posts A picture is worth a thousand words Or, as @The Chairman would say:useless: The first step is finding an image you want to include in you post. Images that are already on the Internet can be copied and pasted into into your post. Right-Click on a PC, or...
FAQ - Attaching Files to Posts
Attaching Files to Posts Attaching one or more files on your computer or network to a post is pretty simple. Click the "Attach files" at the button of the message editor Select the file from the window that pops up (no image provided, varies by your device's operating system) Repeat steps 1 &...
FAQ - What is a Spoiler?
What is a Spoiler? Click here to find out: :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 Select the text you want to be hidden by a Spoiler and choose the type of spoiler with the menu button: Here are three variations: This is a simple spoiler button: This shows how to put a label in the spoiler...
Testing and Experimenting with PostsWelcome to the Testing Forum
Welcome to the Testing Forum The Testing Forum was created so you can experiment with ScubaBoard's message formatting features and compose posts before posting in a normal public forum. The Testing Forum is unique because: The normal 24 hour limit to edit your thread is removed. Threads and...
FAQ - Screen Capture Tools
Screen Capture Tools Have you ever seen an image in your Internet Browser or elsewhere on you computer screen that you wanted to include in a post on ScubaBoard? It is really easy with these screen capturing tools. :FAQwindows: Microsoft Windows 10 Snip & Sketch is included in Windows 10 and...
FAQ - Image Resizing & Text Wrap-around
Image Resizing & Text Wrap-around :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 Step 1: Insert the image into your message editor (usually with Copy & Paste) Step 2: Click on the image, which displays "square handles" on the corners, and click & drag to the size you want. It also displays the menu at...
FAQ - Quoting Posts for Context
Quoting Posts for Context It can get very confusing following different discussion tracks in a threads with more than 20 replies. Connecting what a member writes with the post, or part of a post, can cause misunderstandings, arguments, and bewilderment. The simple solution is to preface your...
FAQ - Tables
Tables :FAQnew: New in ScubaBoard 2021 Click & drag to select the number of rows and columns you want in your table. There are times when a table is required in a post to communicate the information you need. The Insert table tool makes a complex task fairly simple: Fill in the cells...
FAQ - Symbols, Formulas, & Complex Tables
Symbols, Formulas, & Complex Tables Displaying a simple text messages in ScubaBoard is a pretty straight forward process -- at least for members with their computers configured for the English language. The characters that can directly be typed, or modified by the Shift key, are known as ASCII...
FAQ - Tooltip BB-Code
Tooltips Have you ever been conflicted when writing in a more advanced forum because some readers might be lost by the jargon and acronyms? Example: The best tool for a survey like that is a DPV. Now imagine that sentence in a larger paragraph. You really don't want to distract your advanced...
General Information for Members
Reactions & LikesFAQ - Reactions & Likes
Reactions & Likes The familiar "Like" feature has been significantly enhanced in ScubaBoard 2021. Clicking on Like works like the old days, it registers a Like. However, pausing your mouse pointer over "Like" without clicking, which is called a mouseover, will pop the Reactions menu...
FAQ - Why Follow Members & Your News Feed
Why Follow Members & Your News Feed Spend enough time on ScubaBoard and you will find members that are especially interesting. You can quickly see their recent posts and their reactions to other posts by adding them to your members you "Follow" list. Then go to Your Account menu and click...
Private Message (or PM) 
Conversation Direct Messages (DM)FAQ - Using Direct Messages
Using Direct Messages The names have changed over the years but the function is basically the same. Private Message (or PM) :rtarrow: Conversation :rtarrow: Direct Messages (DM) Direct Message is ScubaBoard's internal private email system between members. You can access it by clicking on...
FAQ - ScubaBoard Bookmarks
ScubaBoard Bookmarks ScubaBoard Bookmarks let you save links to posts that you would like to find again. Begin by clicking the Bookmark icon at the top-right of every post. This menu will display. This image illustrates what the optional Message and Label fields: Thanks to @madamimadam...
Use Report to correct broken links, typos, or make suggestions.
