Editorial Integrity

Dive Otter exists to make scuba diving clearer, safer, and grounded in reality. Every article aims to help divers understand what to do and why it matters. This page explains how Dive Otter maintains its standards: how ideas are formed, how information is verified, and how editing tools are used to keep communication clear.

Authorship & Experience

All Dive Otter articles are written by Tyler Allison, a working Divemaster and the founder of Dive Otter. Every piece reflects firsthand experience, direct observation, or verified fact. No ghostwriters or anonymous contributors. If guest authors appear in the future, their qualifications and role will be stated clearly.

Accuracy & Verification

Every statement must be observable, demonstrable, or traceable to a credible source. Technical topics such as gas planning, decompression concepts, and safety practices are checked against recognized training materials or verified field use. If an error is found, it is corrected publicly in the site changelog.

Editing Tools and Clarity

I have always been stronger at verbal communication than at written expression. Writing forces me to translate what is in my head into words that others can follow, and that takes deliberate editing. I have relied on editing tools since the 1980s, when I was writing school papers on a Tandy 1000, to help with spelling, grammar, flow, and readability. I still use them for the same reason: clear writing matters.

These tools assist with language, not meaning. They help me refine the words until they reflect the intent. Every idea, conclusion, and judgment on Dive Otter is mine.

Editorial Independence

Dive Otter does not accept payment or influence for product placement, training recommendations, or endorsements. Gear opinions, course views, and safety guidance are independent. If any financial relationship ever exists, it will be disclosed plainly.

Transparency and Revisions

The changelog records significant updates to published pages, including corrections, expansions, and removals. Readers deserve to see how ideas evolve and how accuracy is maintained over time.

Philosophy of Integrity

Reality is the standard. Words must mean what they say. Facts must survive scrutiny. Trust is earned through accuracy and honesty, not polish. Using tools to improve readability strengthens the message. Pretending not to need them would weaken it.