Coral Reef Travel

OK, I’ll admit I laughed too when I first heard the name-Possum Kingdom. I envisioned legions of furry, beady-eyed woodland critters frolicking and splashing by the lakeshore, claiming sovereignty over this 20,000-acre watershed less than two hours west of Dallas. Could the name be for real, I wondered? I had to check it out. And I’m glad I did. Here in dusty, rolling north Texas I found one of the most picturesque lakes on the Great Plains. And it’s big, too: 69 river-miles long, more than three miles across at its widest point, 145 feet at its deepest. Folks come from Dallas/Fort Worth and as far away as Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico to enjoy surface water temps that peak at 82F in summer, 45F in winter. Divers agree that PK has some of the best visibility in the state, averaging 20 feet and maxing out at 40 on a really good day.

(more…)

Tweet This Post

The rugged coast of Brookings – with its nearshore islands and numerous wash rocks – offers a variety of boat and shore diving opportunities. But what makes diving off the southwestern coast of Oregon a real treat for Northwest divers is the abundance and diversity of marine life.

(more…)

Tweet This Post

Unlike dive guides, you don’t do it every day, yet you still must deal with the highly specialized skills and gear that make diving a challenge. The result is predictable: sometimes all divers, even dive magazine editors, do dumb things. Here are 27 of them.

(more…)

Tweet This Post

The Risks to Overweight Divers

It’s not uncommon to see obese divers; they are a reflection of the general lack of fitness among Americans. However, obesity doesn’t preclude a person from diving. Some of the most experienced and skillful divers I have known were significantly overweight. But obesity in a diver does lead to an increased risk of complications and health problems when diving. In fact, anyone who is 20 percent or more above their ideal body weight is disqualified from commercial, military or scientific diving in the United States. (more…)

Tweet This Post

It seems odd in a way: Divers can be floating in millions of gallons of water, yet find themselves as parched as desert sands. Unfortunately, this predicament can have serious consequences for divers. There are several ways in which diving and the underwater environment contribute to dehydration. It is important to understand these factors and how to prevent or remedy them, since dehydration is thought to increase the risk for DCS. (more…)

Tweet This Post

(more…)

Tweet This Post