| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| replacement license | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I am needing a replacement license and certificate. My card is worn out. thanks, Doug.
A: You didn't say which agency your were certified under so I cannot give you a specific procedure for ...
|
| Difficult Breathing | 8/26/2008 |
Q: I had my first scuba diving lesson yesterday and it was not good one. I couldn't slow my breathing ...
A: I'm very sorry to hear that you're having problems with your scuba lessons. Anxiety is normal ...
|
| Where in the Caribbean is good to set up a new dive school | 8/24/2008 |
Q: Im a 37 year old ex-marine, my buddy is a top level naval diver with too many qualifications to ...
A: First, thanks very much for your military service. It's because of people like you that we are able ...
|
| Dive log | 8/23/2008 |
Q: I got certified in Kenya back in 1981. When I left for university I left all my gear at home. When ...
A: Cheers, Didier!! By all means, log the dives!! It doesn't matter that time has passed since you ...
|
| Buoyancy and wet suits | 8/18/2008 |
Q: When diving in the Caribbean with no wet suit I could maintain good buoyancy at surface and shallow ...
A: First, let me assure you that you didn't do anything "wrong"!! As I'm sure you know, the 7-mil ...
|
| opening a dive shop | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I've been diving for over 10years now and I am trained to the rescue diver level. I'm interested ...
A: Opening a dive shop is a great idea. If you love diving and don't mind working from dawn until ...
|
| weigh&length of scuba unit | 7/24/2008 |
Q: what is the approximate weight of scuba unit ?(1/separate 2/together) what is the length of hose for ...
A: In order for me to provide some sort of answer to your questions, let me give you some rough ...
|
| Touched a Sponge! EEEK | 7/17/2008 |
Q: I unintentionally touched a sponge while diving in St. Vincent and the Grenadines...3 weeks ago. My ...
A: I'm sorry to hear that you've run into an inhospitable sponge!! Your problem is not unusual and ...
|
| breathing difficulties | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I am just starting my confined water training and have completed the first two sessions. I am ...
A: Congratulations on your decision to pursue your scuba diving certification!! I'm sorry to hear that ...
|
| new wetsuit and weights | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a new 3mm wetsuit which is just like the one I previously had. (old one was ...
A: It is likely that the extra weight you require for your new wetsuit is due to the material in the ...
|
| Shark Suits | 5/30/2008 |
Q: I am interested in purchasing a protective suit. I snorkle and windsurf in Fla in an area ...
A: I wouldn't recommend wearing a protective (chain mail) shark suit while snorkeling or windsurfing ...
|
| International Dive Flag | 5/9/2008 |
Q: Mike, We plan to dive some locations in the Greek waters and i am curious if you know if a diver ...
A: You are correct in the use of the Alpha flag for diving. I'm not personally familiar with the legal ...
|
| full face mask for cold water | 4/20/2008 |
Q: i am using a hookah system and diving in very cold water, i currently use a rubber full mask but it ...
A: There are a number of different brands of full face masks and it's impossible for me to tell you ...
|
| proper dive weight | 4/20/2008 |
Q: i shallow dive in rivers gold mining using a hookah system, i am 6' 1" 245LBS old and over weight by ...
A: I assume you're the same "James" as in the previous question. I don't see a question in your ...
|
| Scuba Diving training | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I am really looking to find out where I could go to get certified. I had done a discover Scuba ...
A: Congratulations on your decision to pursue your scuba certification!! Now you know why so many of ...
|
| setting up a dive school | 4/12/2008 |
Q: would you be able to give me some advice re procedures regarding regulations for owning a dive ...
A: I'm not familiar with the laws and regulations in the Dominican Republic but can give you some ...
|
| Certifiying with My Son? | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Mr Giles, My 14 year old son and I intend to take lessons and certify through our local NAUI ...
A: Congratulations on your decision to join the ranks of certified divers!! You're already aware ...
|
| Scuba diving equipment | 3/24/2008 |
Q: I have problems with my lower back and would like to know what type of BC and weights (other dive ...
A: Unfortunately, any dive equipment that you have to wear on your back is going to impact your lower ...
|
| good diving for beginners | 3/11/2008 |
Q: My family is interested in becoming certified and then taking a trip to dive someplace warm...we ...
A: I haven't been to Anthony's Key Resort in a few years so my opinion is based on "old" information. ...
|
| Recertification Dive Cylinders | 3/7/2008 |
Q: I have a somewhat particular question. I have been emigrated to the US from Europe. I brought my ...
A: Your situation is not unique. The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations change from time ...
|
| good diving for beginners | 3/1/2008 |
Q: My family is interested in becoming certified and then taking a trip to dive someplace warm...we ...
A: First, let me apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I was out of town and just returned ...
|
| age limits | 2/11/2008 |
Q: I am 60 years old and am considering taking a scuba course before my holiday in Malta in June.I used ...
A: I'm pleased to hear that you're considering taking up the sport of Scuba Diving. You are definitely ...
|
| Question | 2/1/2008 |
Q: Right now I'm taking a class about Resech methods, and I would like to do an investigation about ...
A: The scuba diving certifications (licenses) are issued by the individual instructors but are ...
|
| Question | 1/31/2008 |
Q: Right now I'm taking a class about Resech methods, and I would like to do an investigation about ...
A: The basic requirement to obtain a scuba diving certification (license)involves classroom work, ...
|
| Why no weights? | 1/24/2008 |
Q: I took my first lesson last night and am thrilled from the experience. I have good instructors and ...
A: Hey Tom With regards to your statement about your "1 inch layer of fat", I can only say that ...
|
| Why no weights? | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I took my first lesson last night and am thrilled from the experience. I have good instructors and ...
A: Wow...it must be nice to not need any weights!! Your information regarding the relative buoyancy of ...
|
| diving masks | 1/10/2008 |
Q: How long should a silicone mask last (i.e. does silicone deteriorate over time)? Thanks
A: Silicone is an amazingly resilient material. Unlike the rubber and neoprene masks of years ago, ...
|
| Twin Independent Cyl. vs. Manifolded Dbls | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I am getting ready to take an intro class with a wreck diving school which requires two full sized ...
A: The short answer to your question is "No", there is no reason why you can't keep your cylinders ...
|
| New Dive Shop | 12/16/2007 |
Q: My wife and I recently purchased an existing dive shop, and were wondering what the best approach to ...
A: Congratulations on your business purchase. I hope you and your wife will find it to be a rewarding ...
|
| Buoyancy Control in a Drysuit | 11/28/2007 |
Q: Please address the apparent divergence of opinion amongst very experienced divers (instructors, et. ...
A: Wow...you ask a loaded question!! There are valid opinions on both sides of this question so my ...
|
| swimsuit material | 11/26/2007 |
Q: I have a idea. I'm trying to locate and purchase wet suit material.
A: I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I was out of town and only got this message about ...
|
| oxygen cylinders | 11/14/2007 |
Q: Can we use 100% oxygen in diving cylinders at grater depths. If not what are the possible ...
A: The question of which one is "best" does not have a clear-cut answer. It depends on the depths for ...
|
| oxygen cylinders | 11/14/2007 |
Q: Can we use 100% oxygen in diving cylinders at grater depths. If not what are the possible ...
A: The short answer to your question is "No". Although oxygen is necessary to support metabolism ...
|
| adjusting the regulator pressure | 10/29/2007 |
Q: how is the pressure at the intermediate pressure stage of a regulator adjusted on a piston ...
A: First, let me apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I've been out of state for the past ...
|
| SCUBA gas cylinder | 9/30/2007 |
Q: It was very useful to me. The greatest problem I am facing at the moment is about filling the gas ...
A: I am troubled by a couple of things you posed in your question. First, if you are ordering a ...
|
| NC Cape Fear | 8/30/2007 |
Q: Mike, are you a resident of North Carolina, US?
A: Although I have relatives in Winston-Salem, I'm currently a resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana. ...
|
| how much weight? | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if there is a way to determine how much weight I will need without getting in water. ...
A: I hate estimating weight without having seen the diver. However, based on your description, I think ...
|
| How much weigh | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I am purchasing SCUBA equipment and it has been a while since I have gone diving. Also, all of my ...
A: There are a lot of "formulas" for determining how much weight you'll need but none of them are very ...
|
| child scuba | 7/19/2007 |
Q: My sone loves water and I have done a fair amount of diving, I wont him to have lessons, but ...
A: First, let me apologize for the late response. I've been out of town and had very limited access to ...
|
| SHARK PROTECTION SUIT | 7/10/2007 |
Q: We are thinking the 'taylor' suit of mail that covers one's wet suit won't protect against a shark's ...
A: I have no knowledge of an instance where bone fractures occurred through the chain mail suit. As ...
|
| Agencies | 6/29/2007 |
Q: Have you ever heard of an agency called SDA (Scuba Diving Agency)? I recently completed an online ...
A: First, let me aologize for the delay in getting back to you. I'm currently out of town undergoing ...
|
| Getting Started in the Business | 5/28/2007 |
Q: If you were to start into the Dive Business today, what approach would you recommend? I have a ...
A: Wow...that's quite a question. I could write a book on the answer to that one!! First, I've ...
|
| what do you where under a wetsuit | 5/25/2007 |
Q: what is the best to wear under the wetsuit.
A: Remember, a wetsuit needs to fit skintight over as much as your body as possible in order to work ...
|
| Maintenance of a Dacor ExtremeElle | 4/22/2007 |
Q: Mike, I have over 200 dives on this bc and really like it other than cleaning it. The self-inflator ...
A: It sounds like you've really gotten your money's worth out of that BC! It's a nice BC and, as you ...
|
| re pee valve and zip on wetsuits | 2/5/2007 |
Q: just wanted to know can a wetsuited diver have a pee valve attaced to his wetsuit and use the ...
A: First, let me state that I'm not a drysuit expert since most of my diving is in the southern US and ...
|
| Do I always need a wetsuit | 1/3/2007 |
Q: I am getting ready to go through the classes for my open water certification, but I was just curious ...
A: Congratulations on your decision to pursue your Open Water certification! I hope you find it to be ...
|
| "kevlar" material | 12/22/2006 |
Q: i am interested in developing an idea could you tell me where i could purchase the kevlar material ...
A: I Googled "kevlar" and found a couple of sites which offer this material. I've never used the sites ...
|
| Agency Affiliation | 10/30/2006 |
Q: I am considering taking on scuba as a career, either as an instructor or possibly in conjunction ...
A: You pose some excellent questions. I'll try to give you some unbiased advice (although I am a PADI ...
|
| Regulators | 10/29/2006 |
Q: 1.)What is the difference between the two types of regulator connectors (Standard 200 Bar and DIN ...
A: First, the "Bar" designation is just another way of measuring pressure. One Bar is equivalent to ...
|
| Opening a dive shop | 9/22/2006 |
Q: I found your name on the internet, I am trying to find out some information on opening a dive shop ...
A: The answer to this question is much longer than I can fully address in this columm but I invite you ...
|
| back mount b/c size | 9/4/2006 |
Q: I am buying my own SCUBA equipment for the first time. I'll be diving primarily on salvage sites in ...
A: As you've noticed, they can differ considerably. First, let's establish a key point...the BC is NOT ...
|
| breath control | 8/29/2006 |
Q: Could you elaboprate on hissing into the regulator mouthpiece. Is this accomplished by closing the ...
A: This is a suggestion I've made several times and I was wondering if you might have read it on an ...
|
| Snorkeling | 8/20/2006 |
Q: This is about snorkel masks, really. I hava a mustache and beard. Why do I need my nose covered? ...
A: The answer to this question actually requires some additional information. If you're only going ...
|
| Good low maintenance/cost BC and regulator | 8/10/2006 |
Q: I hope this note or inquiry finds you well. I was certified in 1977 and have been diving ...
A: Hey Alfredo Thanks for the letter and it's always good to talk with an "old salt"!! I started in ...
|
| New Gear; New Weight and Bouyancy | 8/2/2006 |
Q: Mike, I've been diving the west coast for years. I've recently purchased a new 5/7mm Henderson ...
A: That's a great question. As you've noticed, there are lots of different ways to predict how much ...
|
| temporary c-card | 7/19/2006 |
Q: My temporary c-card expires in a few days and I am just now sending my application in for a ...
A: I answered your question on the day you asked it but the All Experts people tell me that it may have ...
|
| Dive School in Brazil | 7/19/2006 |
Q: I´m making a project for a dive school in Brazil. I want to know What a good dive school needs ? ...
A: That's an interesting question with a lot of different areas to consider. First you have to assess ...
|
| BC Purchase | 7/16/2006 |
Q: I have been offered a Scubapro Classic plus with air 2 systems for $375, I know for a fact that it ...
A: The price for the BC and the AirII is excellent if the equipment is in good condition. Using the ...
|
| Rec Dive in Hawaii | 7/16/2006 |
Q: Mike, I am going to Hawaii with my son. I want to know of the adviseability of renting dive ...
A: Renting gear from a well-maintained dive shop should not pose any undue risks for you. I would ask ...
|
| mask storage | 7/2/2006 |
Q: I just purchased my basic dive gear and noticed that when i placed the dive mask back into the ...
A: Congratulations on your decision to join the realm of scuba divers!! Your question is a good one ...
|
| Dive Watch User Replaceable Battery | 6/30/2006 |
Q: So I have my newest scuba gadget, and in the water for the first time in four years. Well, the low ...
A: That's a good question and the short answer is "you can do it yourself". However there are several ...
|
| ballistic chain mail | 4/25/2006 |
Q: sir, I understand this area isn't of your expertise but you answered a similar question for another ...
A: As you suggested, titanium would be much lighter and would probably stand up to the forces of a ...
|
| recreational diving equipment | 4/6/2006 |
Q: I am CMAS* (bronze) diver and have about 50 logged dives and now I want to buy my own diving ...
A: First let me state that I am not well versed in Cave Diving. There aren't any caves in my immediate ...
|
| regulator pressure | 1/16/2006 |
Q: What are the pressures of the high and low outputs on the first stage
A: The pressures can actually vary. The high pressure port does not modulate the pressure and will ...
|
| shark mesh or chainmael strength | 1/8/2006 |
Q: This is really going to be an "off the wall" question. To cut to the chase, I'm wondering if shark ...
A: I must admit, this is an unusual question...but an interesting one. Let me preface my answer by ...
|
| amature | 12/27/2005 |
Q: i'm 16yrs old and live in Qatar,middle east.i often visit the beach and love swimming.there is a lot ...
A: It's a terrific sport and, at 16 years old, you're just the right age to really enjoy diving!! As ...
|
| Rust | 10/14/2005 |
Q: Mike, first off thanks for the time. I have a scuba knife that I have not taken care of and has ...
A: Most scuba knives are made of either stainless steel or titanium. Titanium is rust proof but the ...
|
| Dive Flags | 10/11/2005 |
Q: I'm a Canadian who's just moved to Australia. I've only started diving a few years ago but have ...
A: Maureen What a great question...and I'm surprised that it doesn't come up more often. I can shed ...
|
| weight question | 9/15/2005 |
Q: I was PADI certified a few years ago and have since made only a few dives. My weight belt is ...
A: There are several "formulas" for computing the weight required for diving. It's been my experience ...
|
| Breathing | 8/24/2005 |
Q: I have done 20 dives so far, but not for 6 months. I have a question on buoyancy control and air ...
A: G'Day, Marc I think I can help you understand the bouyancy and air consumption problems you're ...
|
| 3atm water resistant watch | 6/21/2005 |
Q: I did some more research and as strange as it might sound, most of Swiss watchmakers write 3atm on ...
A: Emilio Thanks for clarifying the "3atm" rating. As per our discussion yesterday, whether we use ...
|
| diver's watch | 6/20/2005 |
Q: Is it imperative to use a scuba company watch or any watch thats water resitant to 100 meters. ...
A: Hey Emil Your follow-up reply causes me some concern. You said you got a "3atm" water resistant ...
|
| diver's watch | 6/19/2005 |
Q: Is it imperative to use a scuba company watch or any watch thats water resitant to 100 meters.
A: Emil That's an interesting question since there are a number of ways to answer it. First, divers ...
|
| regulators | 3/13/2005 |
Q: What is the difference between an 1st and 2nd stage regulator and why is one better than the other?
A: Patrick Thanks for your question. There is, indeed, a difference between a 1st stage regulator and ...
|
| Slipped Disk | 11/23/2004 |
Q: I have a female friend with a slipped disk who insists on learning how to scuba dive. She is not ...
A: Mak Thanks for the question about your friend's back problem. Since I'm not a medical doctor, I ...
|
| what to wear... | 7/4/2004 |
Q: Giles, I'm about to start my open water dive certification class and was just wondering what I ...
A: Andy Good question...and I'm glad you're thinking ahead!! Wetsuits need to fit skin tight in order ...
|
| oxygen | 6/20/2004 |
Q: How do people isolate oxygen to put in oxygen tanks? Is there a special machine and are they ...
A: Babak Thanks for your insightful question regarding oxygen. Oxygen can be produced in a number of ...
|
| scuba tank's fills | 5/23/2004 |
Q: Me and my wife are very new divers and love the sport. We jumped in with both feet, after our ...
A: John First, congratulations on achieving your scuba certification. It will provide a lifetime of ...
|
| Craigcat catamaran | 4/15/2004 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing a Craigcat for possible diving and fishing. Are you familar with this ...
A: I wanted to reply to your question and thank you for writing. Unfortunately, I am totally ...
|
| equipment storage | 3/1/2004 |
Q: What's the best way to store scuba gear when not in use?
A: Kim Thanks for asking an important question. Lots of expensive dive gear is ruined by improper ...
|
| S.C.U.B.A. Career | 2/26/2004 |
Q: I have always wanted to be an underwater photographer. I got my beginner's PADI certification in ...
A: Sharon Underwater photography can be a very rewarding and lucrative profession. Many divers learn ...
|
| Rebreathers | 1/5/2004 |
Q: How does a dreagar Rebreather work? Also I want to Build a sub but use a SCBA for oxygen If I ...
A: Jason Thanks for your question on rebreathers and SCBA use in a submarine. First, a rebreather ...
|
| *SCUBA | 10/25/2003 |
Q: I'M GOING TO COSTA RICA IN FEBURARY, I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING SCUBA DIVING THERE, I HAVE NEVER SCUBA ...
A: Hey, Dino The diving in Costa Rica can get very challenging, especially for new divers so I'd ...
|
| Equipment suggestions | 9/23/2003 |
Q: I am currently working on tri-mix gas certification with goal of technical diving. Do ice diving as ...
A: John My experience with ice diving and tri-mix gases is limited since I've done most of my diving ...
|
| Instruction | 8/22/2003 |
Q: I'm confused about all the different types of scuba instruction,PADI,SSI,IDEA,NAUI,is there any real ...
A: Susan First, let me apologize for being so late in getting back to you. We've had server problems ...
|
| Dry Suits | 7/22/2003 |
Q: I have the opportunity to purchase a 1 year old DUI Flex dry suit for $600. If I want a new suit I ...
A: Nathan Thanks for your inquiry about the used DUI drysuit. I'm not an expert in dry suits since ...
|
| scuba repair tech | 6/17/2003 |
Q: I am currently repairing medical eq. for a living but I would like to change careers and repair ...
A: Kevin Thanks for your inquiry. Most scuba repair technicians get their start through a dive shop. ...
|
