Improve your next dive by losing a few pounds around the waist.

When the waves are rocking, don't come knocking. Follow these tips for diving safely in surging water.

If your dive buddy gets hurt or dies, could you be found liable in a court of law? In a word, yes.

Set a course. Whether you follow a compass course from the anchor line or lay out a guide line or do both depends on how much you can see. So does the route you follow.

Check for leaks. Pressurize the BC using the oral or power inflator and submerge it to look for leaks. Rotate it in all directions to give small bubbles a chance to escape.

Avoid tobacco and alcohol. Both tobacco smoke and alcohol irritate your mucus membranes, promoting more mucus that can block your eustachian tubes.

More v. Bigger. In general, look for more batteries (six or eight) if you want a brighter light; look for bigger batteries (C or D cells) if you want longer burn time.