Pre-Dive Checks
Turn gear checks into a standard habit so you are not relying on memory or rushed last minute inspections at the edge of the water.
Dive Planning: Gas Management and Pre-Dive Preparation
Planning a dive is more than picking a site and jumping in. Good planning means understanding your gas needs, choosing safe depth limits, and running simple pre-dive routines that keep you and your team ready before you ever descend.
Do a Bubble Check
Every dive should include a bubble check as part of your pre-dive routine. A bubble check is your last chance to spot gear failures before a dive.
Understanding Nitrox
Understand Nitrox, its real benefits, limits, and safe depth planning. Learn how it reduces nitrogen load and how to use it correctly on recreational dives.
Recreational Gas Planning
Practical recreational gas planning: RMV basics, Minimum Gas Reserve, and turn pressure methods. Equations and examples included.
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Planning and the Dive Otter Stages
The Dive Otter Stages describe how a diver's priorities change as control, awareness, and responsibility develop. The Planning section organizes the preparation and gas-management practices you can learn, while the Stages help explain what deserves your attention at different points in your diving.
Explore the Dive Otter Stages