Scuba Diving

swiftwalker43 said:Did you even read this post? If you did, then answer me!
I’ve been scuba diving alongside divers from all sorts of different agencies, and I’ve led dives with people from different organizations too, so trust me, I know who actually knows how to dive. Some of these people carry "Instructor" titles, but their actual skill level is basically that of a complete beginner.
How much do you think my dive count was in just one single year? And don't even get me started on my total number.
Adler, why on earth would you try to step into a conversation where you can't even begin to compete with me?
If you can answer one very simple question—besides basic knowledge, what is it that truly makes someone a real diver?
Once you answer that, I’ll be more than happy to respond to all your questions, whether they're about theory, technical knowledge, dive medicine, SAR, and so on.

Will you just calm down!!!
First off, it's not "divers," it's "scuba divers"...
And no, the associations aren't what matters...
It's the individual person being taught, not some club or organization...
And if you were actually a high-quality diver, you wouldn't be acting such a jerk by bragging about your dive count...🙂
Who even counts them or logs them anymore, unless you need them for a certification or a course?

If you have any questions or just aren't quite sure about something, you can probably find the answers from the experts on this really helpful site ☕ Better to learn the ropes first rather than just winging it 😁

Man, it feels like I’m watching a debate in US Congress or something. You guys are still going at it while this guy might have been scuba diving for a whole year already. Or hey, maybe he was actually talking about a freediving course...
If that's the case, for him and anyone else who might be interested, check this out:
http://podvodni.com/

Hi everyone!

So, I’ve been scrolling through all the different threads under the scuba diving section to see if anything fits what I'm looking for, and this was really the only recent one I could find. Here’s my situation: I’m planning to take my Divemaster exam this year. I actually checked off all the requirements last season, but we were right at the finish line when we decided it would be better to just push it off to the new season. I’ve got about 115 dives under my belt—mostly in the ocean... 🙂—and I've finished my OWD, AOWD, Rescue, Oxygen provider, Dry suit, night diving, and navigation. Since I can only get out to dive on weekends, I’m hoping to hit maybe 40 dives a year, which would be awesome if it works out. Does anyone have any study materials they'd recommend? I'd love something digital if possible, like presentations, PDFs, or little study guides, just so I can start digging in. I’ve still got a month left, and while that sounds like plenty of time, my job requires me to be totally "on" and mentally sharp 24/7, so I can really only absorb a tiny bit of info—maybe two pages a day—during my downtime... I usually dive exclusively with one local club, Vertigo, mostly because their boat actually has a decent restroom. From what I've seen, on most other boats, you can't even move your arms without accidentally elbowing someone in the ribs!

Anyway, that's me! Thanks so much in advance for any help!

I’d love to help you out, but I’m just a humble underwater fisherman and freediver, so I probably shouldn't be the expert here—just Google it. Seriously, do you really think it's possible to *not* find what you're looking for on the internet? Unlikely. It's been a minute since I've checked in on this specific forum, so maybe try checking out some of the big US diving boards; there are some useful links over at
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So, I’m on the hunt for a new wetsuit! I need something that offers full coverage—I'm talking hands, feet, and head included—since I plan on hitting the ocean for swims all year round. I’ve heard you can get a custom one ordered for somewhere between $1,000 and $500. Does anyone have any advice or tips to share? Thanks so much!

Looking for a wetsuit or something for scuba diving? This one comes with a built-in hood, making it a full-on dive suit. As for one that covers your hands and feet too... well, I guess that hasn't been invented yet.

So, I’m looking to get some gear for swimming, specifically in those chilly waters ranging from about 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. To be honest, I definitely want to grab a hood, some gloves, and booties too. I’ll admit—I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to all this technical stuff! I know there isn't one single suit that covers every inch of you from head to toe, so I realize I’ll need to pick up the gloves and booties separately. I also know the drill regarding two-piece versus one-piece wetsuits, and that thickness levels vary quite a bit... anyway, my main goal is to find something that is going to provide 100% reliable insulation in those specific temperature ranges.

You’re asking for way too much. I don't mean "too much" as in overkill, just that you're trying to cover too big a range. Personally, I still dive in a 5mm suit even when the water is hitting 65 or 70 degrees, and I'm perfectly fine. And mind you, I get cold incredibly easily once I'm in the water. Once things dip below 65, I just throw on a 3mm wetsuit underneath. Plus, when I'm spearfishing, everything is basically slow motion—just easy swimming and relaxing before the descent—so I don't really feel the chill. Your heart rate stays up while you're swimming, which keeps your body temp higher than mine...
You're looking for one suit to cover a massive temperature gap. If you were talking about waters in the 60s, I'd say go with a 3mm. But 50 degrees? That's freezing. You'll be shivering in anything thinner than 5mm.
There's another issue here. When the water is cold, the air usually is too. You've got those heavy winds like the Mistral or the Santa Ana winds blowing around. The real trouble starts when you climb out of the water. You have to strip off and dry up fast. If it's 50 degrees outside, trust me, if you're exposed to that air and those Santa Ana winds for even three minutes, you're going to get sick. Just stick to a 5mm, skip the fancy features, and look specifically for a spearfishing suit—they're built to keep you warm. Make sure your gloves and boots are just as thick, because your hands and feet are far from your core and lose heat fast, leaving you prone to freezing up.
If you're using fins, definitely keep an eye on how thick your booties are.

Alright, so the water temp is sitting at a solid 69 degrees here, and honestly, I can jump in for a swim and stay perfectly cozy—as long as we aren't dealing with any nasty wind, of course—without needing a full wetsuit. But, I'm actually hunting for something better suited for those much chillier temperatures.

Do you think a 5mm suit offers enough flexibility if I'm trying to swim laps?

My place is just a quick 50-yard dash from the beach.

What about suits without zippers? I heard they mostly just come with front or back zips? What does "zipperless" even mean in this context?

A 12-degree day would be extreme—maybe something we'd see in February out here. But 57 degrees? That’s probably plenty for about 95% of the time.

Wetsuits with back zips are really meant for surfers since they aren't out in the water constantly. I'm no pro or anything, but I'm sure there are decent ones out there—they just tend to be pricey. Those zipperless suits? Those are strictly for spearfishing. They aren't built for swimming because we don't actually swim, we just kick our legs while holding a gun in our hands, you know? But honestly, a size five feels super comfortable; I could probably head out to the English Channel in one without a second thought.
You’re missing the mark on the water temperature. In the winter, it hits about 54 degrees down at 25 or 30 feet, and the surface layer is totally at the mercy of the weather. And that’s exactly where you’ll be hanging out. I’ve got a Direction D4 that tracks the water temp for me. I usually just toss it in the water when I head out in December—it'll read somewhere around 40 to 45. Then in January or February, if the Santa Ana winds are blowing, it drops to maybe 48 or 45...
Don't cheap out, man. You'll seriously regret it once you freeze your butt off and realize you wasted your cash.

Thanks so much! Honestly, I feel like you can't really know for sure without giving it a proper test run first—it’s just one of those things, right? Anyway, I'll find a way to get in touch soon!

Hey there. I’m planning on heading out with some buddies to dig for marine worms this year, so I figured I should probably work on my conditioning first. Back in the day, I could stay under for ages, but nowadays? I’ll take the win if I can manage 30 seconds before needing air. I’ve been digging through all those O2 and CO2 charts—read basically everything out there—and now I’ve got a few questions. My plan is to hit the CO2 tables on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, then switch to the O2 tables on Sundays. Just let me know one thing: how should I be breathing during the drills? Shallow breaths or deep ones?

I’ve been diving for 20 years now and honestly, I’ve never once bothered with following those breathing tables. If you want to dive deep, check out underwater-world.com—they’ve got everything laid out there. Just a heads-up though, those charts can definitely help you out, but they aren't a magic fix unless you actually get out in the water. You might be able to pull off a five-minute breath hold on land, but once you're out in the ocean, you'll struggle to hit even a minute.

Peter Carter6 said:I’ve been diving for 20 years and I’ve never touched a single breathing table in my life. Check out underwater-training.com; they’ve got everything you need there. Just a heads up—those tables help a ton, but you actually have to get in the water to make them work. You can pull off a 5-minute apnea in a pool, but once you're out in the Atlantic, you might struggle to hit sixty seconds.

Thanks, I'll check it out. 🙂

If you can get your hands on a pool, I’d say that would be a pretty solid move. But honestly, even if you don't, just staying in shape is worth its weight in gold, I guess. Especially if you're actually serious about getting ready for this, right?

Jesse Cooper97 said:If you can get some pool time in, honestly, do it. It’s a smart move. But even if you don't, just staying in shape is worth its weight in gold. If you're actually serious about preparing, you know?

Not really, but my neighbor’s got a summer and winter wetsuit sitting around—he doesn't dive anymore, so he's letting me use them. I just need to grab some fins and booties, then I'll head down to the coast and give it a shot. Besides, I'm working out every single day to keep my cardio up, plus I ride my bike whenever I get the chance. I've already knocked out all 20 phases for those CO2 and O2 breath-hold tables. Starting this Friday.

Look, those spreadsheets don't just work however you feel like; they actually follow a specific set of rules, so maybe do a little homework on them first.

Peter Carter6 said:Look, you can't just make up your own rules for these charts. There’s an actual system in place. Maybe try actually reading up on it before jumping in.

I've done the math. CO2 gets logged three times a week, O2 just once.

This might sound a little ridiculous, but I have to ask. Are there those tiny oxygen canisters available here in the States? I’m thinking of the kind that only hold enough for maybe a few breaths.