THE COVERS Articles & Editorials SEPTEMBER 1999 • Volume 9 Number 9 
  
Cover Photo by Steven M. Barsky. Inside Cover Photo by Barry and Ruth Guimbellot
The demand for commercial divers both offshore and inland has increased over the last few years, and employment opportunities for commercial diving school graduates are now abundant. But commercial diving is not for everyone. Before you can work underwater, you must first submerge yourself in an intensive training program. In this month’s cover feature, we explore the realities — and the opportunities — in the commercial diving industry.
FEATURES
22 Lessons from the Inside
The author invites us to consider the mental side of dive planning. He poses a few simple questions, each designed to address head-on the subtle but vital aspect of dive planning that most divers rarely, if ever, consider - what's going on inside our heads. By taking time to incorporate these questions into your normal planning routine, you can improve your performance, enjoyment and safety as a diver.
By Alex Brylske
32 Sink or Swim
Have you ever noticed how some divers seem to move through the water with the grace of a dolphin, while others flail about awkwardly? The key to underwater grace is proper buoyancy. As your bottom time adds up, experience may improve your buoyancy control. But whether you've been diving for decades or only a few days, here are some tricks that can help you achieve better buoyancy control.
By Robert N. Rossier
38 Commercial Diving
Commercial diving is unlike recreational diving to the same extent that commercial flying is different from flying privately. It is not a career path for everyone, but if you fit the profile, love the idea of working underwater, and are willing to work hard and travel wherever the work takes you, commercial diving can be both lucrative and rewarding.
By Steven M. Barsky
COMMENTARY
8 Editorial: Positive-Impact Diving By Alex Brylske
10 Buddy Lines: Common-Sense Comments
14 Diving Notes and News: Sustainable Seas Expeditions Launched And other news from the diving industry By Scott Nickel
96 No Dumb Questions: Metric Gauges
Altitude Diving and Atlantic vs. Pacific Coral Reefs. A reader asks about converting bar to psi when using metric gauges.
By Alex Brylske
DIVE EXPLORATION
64 Dive Geo: Cozumel:
Rich Mexican Culture, Majestic Reefs. Cozumel offers a colorful mix of Mayan and Mexican cultures and is a hot spot for vacationing divers.
By Cara Sherman
88 Training Site: Edmonds Underwater Park.
Divers' Playground on Puget Sound. No, it doesn't have swings and sandboxes, but it is well-stocked with underwater features designed to entertain scuba enthusiasts.
By Linda Lee Walden
81 Dive Traveler: Diving into the Millennium.
If you plan to be diving somewhere special at the stroke of midnight this New Year's Eve, here are a few tips for millennium travel.
By W. Lynn Seldon Jr.
85 Passport:
Dive travel incentives around the globe

Compiled by Cathryn Castle
EVERY MONTH
45 Scuba Skills: The Right Tool in the Right Place.
How to Wear and Use a Dive Knife. To get the most from your dive knife, it is important to choose the right style and size for the job, wear it appropriately and use it safely.
By Lynn Laymon
49 Always Learning: Still at It.
Memorable Firsts That Keep a Diver Diving. The author recalls many firsts in his relatively short stint as a recreational diver.
By Mark Twombly
53 Instructor Tips: A Good Example.
How to Make Scuba Skills Look Easy. The old saying "Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't apply to diving instructors. It's our job to teach - and demonstrate - scuba skills the way our students should perform them.
By Cathryn Castle
57 Imaging: Film.
The film you choose has a major effect on the outcome of your photographs. What is called "film speed" probably plays the most significant role of all.
By Dave Albrecht
72 Diving Through the Decades: The 1960s.
In this ongoing series, we recall a decade every month - the events, personalities, inventions and trends that made diving what it is today.
By Eric Hanauer
76 Weather and Waves:
Waterspouts, They're not just tornadoes that form over water.
By Jack Williams
92 Smithsonian Reports:
Smithsonian scientists report on the geological history of coral reefs.
By Ian G. Macintyre and Michael A. Lang, edited by Alex Brylske
94 Dive Shop:
From Simple to Sophisticated

Compiled by Cathryn Castle
101 What's That?:
The Private Lives of Mantis Shrimp. A look at a secretive shrimp with a nasty reputation
By Dee Scarr
107 International Classifieds
109 Classifieds
113 Dive Training Quiz : Test your knowledge of the information in this month's issue.
114 Final Check: What It Looks Like When You Board a Dive Boat Safely.
How to get on board without going overboard
By Lynn Laymon