… or “how can I safely extend bottom times on deep dives?”
Deep Diving. Dives deeper than 100 feet. What does that conjure up for you? Wrecks, hydro-coral, unique photo opportunities, and more? How often do you go Deep Diving? And what is it that keeps you from diving below 100 feet? Most likely, the answers are “not very often,” and “because of the limited bottom time we have in which to explore these dive locations,” respectively. Enter Extended Range (XR) Nitrox Diving.
… or, “why does my cylinder pressure change so much?”
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. We go to a shop, we get our cylinders filled, we check the Pressure, we’re happy that they’re full, we go diving, and as soon as we hit the water, we notice that there’s less Pressure in our cylinder. Why is this, and where did that Pressure go?
Dive computers have changed the world of diving, and are commonplace now. They help us extend our bottom times, track critical dive information, and, let’s face it, they’re just plain easier to use than the dive tables. But computers and smart devices also have the capability of providing us with a wealth of information to plan, execute, and track our dives. Here are a few of my favorites, and how I use them. Some of them weren’t really intended for Scuba Divers, but we won’t let that stop us from using them and having a great dive! Finally, please note that I’m not affiliated with any of these software producers. They’re just cool programs that I’ve found to improve my diving.
The Department of Transportation is seeking assistance from divers to identify Scuba Cylinders with an invalid Retesters Identification Number (RIN). The RIN is applied after hydrostatic testing, which must be performed every five years to ensure Scuba Cylinders are in a safe condition. It identifies which facility performed the hydrostatic test. Each facility performing these tests is required to be licensed and verified to ensure public safety in the testing and handling of Scuba Cylinders.
Channel Islands Scuba 