THE COVERS Articles & Editorials JULY 2002 • Volume 12 Number 7 
  
By Joseph C. Dovala		 As divers, we can't control the weather, but it pays to understand it when planning a dive outing. This month's feature article, "Putting the Pieces Together for a Perfect Dive: A Guide to Understanding Environmental Conditions," underscores the importance of factoring environmental conditions into our dive plan.
FEATURES
30 Putting the Pieces Together for a Perfect Dive:
Environmental conditions are especially important because they affect conditions both above and below the water. Divers are at the mercy of the environment. We can never afford to enter the water with the puzzle - our dive plan - only partially complete. 		By Alex Brylske
44 A Career Going Under: Weaving Scuba into the Fabric of Work
Everyone who dives would probably like to find a way to make diving part of his or her job. After all, wouldn't it be great to be paid for doing what you love to do best? The author examines a variety of interesting diving-included careers. 		By Robert N. Rossier
58 Air Sharing and Out-of-air Emergencies: Are You Prepared To Meet the Challenge?
Running out of air while diving is a dangerous - and completely avoidable - situation. This article reminds us how to avoid running out of air, and reviews the various air-sharing and emergency procedures that can be put into place if you or your buddy find yourself wondering where your next breath is coming from. 		By Lynn Laymon
COMMENTARY
8 Editorial: Tech-KNOWLEDGE-y By Alex Brylske
10 Buddy Lines: Mask Skills  
16 Dive Observer: Divers Cling to Hopes After Premature Sinking of USS Spiegel Grove
and other news from the diving industry 		By Gene Gentrup
115 No Dumb Questions: The Effects of Nitrogen on Divers
Questions from our readers 		By Alex Brylske
DIVE EXPLORATION
84 Global Dive Exploration Map
A geographical guide to great dive destinations across the globe 		 
86 Dive Geo: Nevis: Relaxing with the "Queen of the Caribees"
Nevis has the breathtaking profile of a South Pacific island with its cloud-capped conical peak and lush tropical landscape. 		By Tanya Burnett
95 Dive Traveler: Saving the Day: Travel Trips for Safety and Security
How to maintain peace-of-mind away from home 		By Robert N. Rossier
100 Passport/Travel Briefings: Dive travel deals and updates from all over
Compiled by Gene Gentrup 		 
102 Training Site: Nuclear Scuba: Advanced Training Offered in a Texas Missile Silo
An unusual Lone Star scuba site 		By David Prichard
107 Diving USA - Dive travel opportunities across America  
EVERY MONTH
71 Scuba Skills: Assembling Scuba Gear: Having A System Helps
Step-by-step gear setup instructions 		By Lynn Laymon
75 Instructor Tips: The Underwater Tour: More than Follow the Leader
How to lead your students to fun - and safety - underwater 		By Barry Shuster
79 Always Learning: Just Say Whoa: Learn When To Fold 'Em
A look at handling less-than-ideal conditions 		By Mark Twombly
108 Dive Shop:   Compiled by Cathryn Castle
110 What About: Hyperbarics at Work: The Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.
A profile of a busy California recompression chamber. 		By Steven M. Barsky
119 What's That?: Hey! What's Going On Over There?
A Look at Relationships Underwater. What you're seeing underwater may not be what you think 		By Tom Ryan
123 Premier Classifieds  
125 Dive Training Classifieds  
129 Dive Training Quiz
Test your knowledge of the information in this month's issue 		 
130 Final Check: What It Looks Like When... Your High-pressure Hose Has Seen Better Days
How to avoid getting hosed by worn equipment 		By Lynn Laymon