THE COVERS Articles & Editorials NOVEMBER 1999 • Volume 11 - No 11 
  
By Barry and Ruth Guimbellot		 Newly certified divers are not always the world's best divers, but they are enthusiastic, well intentioned, eager to learn and set on having fun - that's what scuba is all about. In this month's cover feature, "Learning From New Divers: They May Be More Knowledgeable Than You Think" author Lynn Laymon takes a look at what veteran divers might learn from newbies.
FEATURES
24 Learning From New Divers: They May Be More Knowledgeable Than You Think.
Aside from needing time underwater to fine tune their skills, the majority of new divers are more academically astute and physically prepared than experienced divers believe. In fact, in many cases experienced divers might do well to take a few lessons from their newly certified brethren. 		By Lynn Laymon
32 The Physiology of Nitrox: The Pros and Cons of the Other Gas.
If you think back to your Open Water course, you may remember that the air you breathe contains about 79 percent nitrogen. When breathing Nitrox, you're breathing a mixture containing less nitrogen than the normal 79 percent. The net effect of breathing a reduced percentage of nitrogen is that you absorb less nitrogen into your body compared to breathing air. While this sounds simple enough, lots of myths and misconceptions have grown up around using Nitrox; this article will help dispel them. 		By Alex Brylske
40 Going the Distance: What Makes Diving Instructors Stick With It.
Beyond the skills and knowledge needed for diving, instructors teach us some important lessons in life. They stimulate our sense of adventure, and temper that enthusiasm with a respect for the ocean. They teach us about making commitments, learning, achieving potential, and accepting responsibilities. The author takes a look at what makes dive instructors tick. 		By Robert N. Rossier
COMMENTARY
8 Editorial: I Think It's Working By Alex Brylske
10 Buddy Lines: Tech It Slowly
16 Dive Observer: Have Pool, Will Travel And other diving notes and news from the diving industry By Patricia Luebke
87 No Dumb Questions: Osmoregulation, Navigation and Certification Answers to questions about continuing education, compass handling, and the difference between freshwater and saltwater fishes. By Alex Brylske
DIVE EXPLORATION
66 Dive Geo: Magic Maui: Isle of Contrasts
Maui is the product of the merging of two volcanoes located in the most remote island chain on earth, the Hawaiian Islands. It's also a melting pot of many diverse cultures and the home of some fascinating reef creatures. 		By Linda Lee Walden
82 Dive Traveler: Brochure Basics
A quick lesson in brochure-eze 		By Brenda Fine
84 Passport:
Compiled by Cathryn Castle
EVERY MONTH
47 Scuba Skills: How to Fit a Mask So It's Part Of Your Face.
Picking the right mask may have a larger influence on your water enjoyment than your choice of any other single piece of gear. 		By Linda Lee Walden
51 Always Learning: Defining Local Diving. Planes, Cars and Catamarans. A look at how getting there can be part of the fun. By Mark Twombly
55 Instructor Tips: Back-Saving Techniques for Gearing Up. Tips to help you teach your students to get with a buddy to gear up - to avoid unwanted back pain By Jan Neal
59 Imaging: Composition: A Key Element to Good Photography.
A good underwater photograph does not happen by chance; it is a conscious effort by the photographer to produce an image that will have a visual impact. This process is called composition, and is one of the most powerful tools in photography. 		By Dave Albrecht
73 Weather and Waves: The Oceans' Rhythm: Understanding Tide Changes.
The rhythms of the tides dominate life around the edges of the oceans. Understanding and using these rhythms can make a trip to the ocean more enjoyable and maybe even safer. 		By Jack Williams
78 Diving Through the Decades: The 1980s. 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
94 Smithsonian Reports. Smithsonian scientists report on Algal Sexual Reproduction on Coral Reefs
Edited by Alex Brylske 		By Kenneth E. Clifton and Michael A. Lang
102 Dive Shop: New Technology at Work
Compiled by Cathryn Castle
104 What's That?: Sea Hare Secrets
more than you average sea slug. 		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 Undress to Keep Warm. Shedding your suit can help you conserve body heat. By Linda Lee Walden