Articles

The Backplate: Foundation of Technical Rigs

The metal backplate has become the standard for many technical divers over the past few decades. Even though many new divers are told that diving with a metal backplate is the only way to dive by their instructors and friends, many are unaware of the history surrounding this piece of...

O2ptima CM Testing

With the recent release of the chest-mounted O2ptima CM, we wanted to share a bit about the testing that went into bringing this new unit to market. Testing is a vital part of rebreather design because it provides objective data that proves the ability of the device to perform its job—in this case, supporting human...

Converting your Transpac XT Harness to Diving with Double Cylinders.

Are you a Diver who loves single tank reef diving with your Transpac XT Harness but also would like to the use same harness for more advanced dives with double cylinders? Being the most versatile product in Dive Rite’s line, the Transpac XT allows you to dive several different gear configurations by simply…

Oxygen Toxicity and CCR/Rebreather Diving

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of spending five days in Florida with Lamar Hires, the owner of Dive Rite. That was the longest time we have managed to spend together since he ‘certified’ me as a full cave diver in 1988 (I had already done over 100 exploratory cave dives in...

2018 Cocklebiddy Cave Expedition – Part 3

By Dive Rite Ambassador Liz Rogers When planning a camping expedition to spend five days underground in a dry chamber between sumps in Australia’s Cocklebiddy Cave, it’s easy to forget that the logistics and the camping are a means to an end. The challenges of food, water, sleep, power, sorb, oxygen and scooters all require...

2018 Cocklebiddy Cave Expedition – Part 2

By Dive Rite Ambassador Liz Rogers Any expedition that begins with hauling a freshly dead kangaroo out of the cave entrance can only get better from there. We arrived at Cocklebiddy Cave in the dark two weeks ago and set up camp, ready to lower gear over the overhang in the morning. Dawn revealed a...

2018 Cocklebiddy Cave Expedition – Part 1

Dive Rite Ambassador Liz Rogers and her team are beginning their 2018 Cocklebiddy Cave Expedition in Australia's Nullarbor Plain. Here's a quick look at their plan and goals for the expedition. We can't wait to see the results. A month of preparation, packing, and lists of lists of things to remember; and we are finally...

Sidemount Bungee Styles

A sidemount diving configuration generally consists of two cylinders that are attached to an integrated harness and BC system. The cylinders are attached individually, one on each side of the body, instead of mounted on the back like a traditional open water configuration. One of the primary advantages of the sidemount configuration is that, by...

Gradient Factors

By Matti Anttila, Ph.D. Remember your first diving classes and the lesson about bubbling soda bottle and too rapid ascents? No matter how deeply you study the decompression theory, this soda bubble analogy is still valid. However, it’s time to introduce some more fundamentals of the issue. But let’s start from the history: HISTORY Decompression theory...

Oxygen Toxicity – Signs and Symptoms

By Dr. K. David Sawatzky The second half of a two part series on oxygen toxicity, first published in Diver Magazine in Feb/Mar 2009.Last column we focused mainly on the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity. This column will continue that discussion with a description of the toxic effects of oxygen on the lungs and the brain....