Understanding the basics of drysuit technology Drysuits have long been standard dress for many technical divers, underwater photographers, instructors and other professionals who spend a lot of time underwater. It’s not surprising then, that with longer dive times arising from the use of nitrox and larger capacity cylinders as well as a greater awareness of …
When purchasing a new or replacement drysuit, there are some important considerations that can affect your safety underwater. Skin conditions, constriction, buoyancy and other potential issues need to be taken into account; by focusing on them now, you can prevent problems later. CONSTRICTION The seals around your neck and wrists should fit snugly without being …
ASK DAN: What do I need to know about choosing a drysuit? Read More »
Two years ago, I was attending an event with various professional peers and took part in a training session for educators who taught layperson responder courses such as first aid, CPR, etc. Over a period of about 2 hours, I witnessed dozens of educators walk through common skill sets and was blown away by performances …
I began writing this and then had the unfortunate, unique experience of becoming hypothermic. Hypothermia is a condition that is caused by cold. The body can begin having signs and symptoms of hypothermia when immersed in water as warm as 86F/30C degrees. There is a lot of water in the United States that is at …
We often hear the phrase ‘task loading’ in dive training. What exactly is task loading, and how do you avoid it? It’s illegal to drive a car and use a handheld device in many regions of the world for safety reasons. While providing definitive evidence is problematic, it is likely that official statistics understate the …
We hear the question all the time from new divers and in some cases seasoned divers as well – How do I get more time out of my cylinder? The usual answers include “relax” or “it’ll come with time and experience” or “count through your breaths,” just to throw a few out there. However, we rarely take …
THE TRICK TO GETTING MORE TIME OUT OF YOUR TANKS Read More »
Here are 5 things that people who are interested in tech diving need to know Feel comfortable in the water. In tech diving, you are going to need a lot of gear (backmount doubles, stages). You need to be comfortable and relaxed in the water. You need to control your gear in an intuitive manner. Imagine …
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START TECH DIVING Read More »
Recently, I met a diver who had been out of the sport for several years. He had a medical condition that took his focus away from the sport, and then life happened. He did other things such as learning to fly, sail, etc. Then, happenstance and bad weather led to a sunken boat next to …
There’s an old mindset that all technical diving gear is unsuitable for a new diver or student. I’m here to give you 9 reasons why tech gear is suitable (if not BETTER) than the standardized sport diving setup (and I’m not even a tech diver). Let the debates begin. 1. Most technical setups are built …
When you think back to the dive training you’ve done over the years, no doubt there’s that one instructor who stands out to you. The person who seems to know everything there is to know about diving. Their knowledge extends beyond the diving manuals. They always have an answer to every question you ask, a …