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Should and could OW courses be taught by all dive agencies to all novice students using a backplate and wing from the very start ? Pros and cons, apart from the obvious major economical impact on the companies that produce BC gear. EDIT: "Should" in the context of my question implies that use...

Is it considered a bad idea, or a good one, to practice Out Of Air ascents (with a functioning regulator in mouth, of course), and if so, what is the SLOWEST realistic and SAFE rate of ascent for a diver that is not panicking (and who does not want to panic) ? Say an OOA episode at 10 meters: a...

According to some Dive Medicine Physicians, taking Zopiclone (a sleeping pill) the previous night would be either a relative or an absolute contra-indication to Professional Diving, and possibly Recreational Diving also. One of the reasons given is the possibility that Zopiclone may have an...

I believe this may have been answered before, but I can’t locate the answer. In the case of a short second source necklace / long hose 7 foot primary source combo, if you are not diving with a dive lamp with a canister, how do you wrap safely the long hose to make sure it doesn’t dangle all...

Sidemount: The Top Five Books ? I am looking into getting a training in sidemount diving next year. What would be the top five books on the topic that would currently be recommended ?

Exercising and keeping fit is good for scuba diving. On the other hand, « strenuous » exercise appears to be a risk factor for DCS. If someone practices jogging 30 minutes every day, and scuba dives every day, is there any scientific evidence to establish the ideal interval between jogging and...

What would be the best sidemount equipment brands/models for recreational diving in 2019 ? Recreational diving: Air or Nitrox. No Trimix. No caves or other overhead environments. Maximum depth around 30m. Please list your favorite or not so favorite brands/models, with all the relevant pros...

I am curious to know if there is a well accepted minimum number of dives that an individual must do before he should, in theory at least, cease to be considered a "beginner" ? Let's imagine a best-case scenario where the certifying agency is considered to have high standards, the instructor...

As the use of all forms of recreational marijuana will become legal in Canada two days from now (Wednesday 17 of October 2018), responsible Canadian divers who use this substance will want to know what should be the recommended minimal interval between absorbing this drug and entering the water...

There are numerous discussions on the relative safety or non-safety about diving alone (solo diving), with many polarized positions on either side of the debate, here on ScubaBoard and elsewhere. One factor that I believe may be an important component of the discussion is the pure enjoyment of...

So I believe the Paralenz Dive Camera came out over a year ago: What is the verdict so far ? What are the pros and cons of this piece of equipment ? For what type of diver, or what type of diving, would this camera be a good "fit" ?

Consider the standard recommended minimalist bp/w configuration with stainless steel plate and single webbing with 3 D-rings and a crotch-strap with 2 more D-rings, and a donut-shaped wing. When using a backplate/wing, is it better to have the buckle on left or right side of crotch-strap, and...

So I have plans to take the GUE Fundamentals course next year, and am in the process of making purchase decisions based on the required equipment. I have found it very hard, up till now, to get a clear answer about the possibility of using backplate/ wings other then the Halcyon brand for the...

What would be your top three or top five recommendations about brands and models of regulators that are less likely to free-flow when diving in cold waters (cold like in "canadian-cold") ? Also, if you were diving with a pony bottle, would it be preferable to have a different brand/model of...

Hello, with this thread I simply wanted to point out this article that was published in Nature on the 4th of July 2018, and that I believe would be of general interest to the diving community at large. Article | OPEN | Published: 04 July 2018 Stimulating fermentation by the prolonged...

Hello, I was wondering if anyone on ScubaBoard has read or reviewed the Revised Edition (2018) of "Deep Into Deco" by Asser Salama ? I have the first edition, and was wondering what would be the main changes in the revised (2018) version ?

This question is mainly for advanced divers. EDIT: Advanced = AOW certification but not necessarily Technical certification. How often have you practiced doing Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascents (CESA) up till now ? Do you practice them horizontally, vertically, or both ? At what depth do...

Very quick question to the décompression science experts on ScubaBoard: Where can I find a thorough and current (2018) scientific discussion about why the bubble theoretical models may have apparently less appeal, following recent scientific studies ?

I would like to ask the collective hive mind of ScubaBoard: based on your practical experience, what are the best portable Gas Analyzers in 2018 (O2, CO, etc.) ?

I will be taking a PADI Nitrox course in a few weeks. Reading about nitrox compared to air made me curious about the variations of the gas mixtures from one filling to the next. I would be curious to know what percentage of advanced divers routinely verify themselves the oxygen percentage of...