MAY 2002 • Volume 12 Number 5

THE COVERS	Articles & Editorials	MAY 2002 • Volume 12 Number 5
By Keith Ibsen	Rebreathers have been around since before the days of the Aqualung, and while they won't replace conventional scuba gear anytime soon, their popularity is seeing an increase among recreational divers. This month's feature, "Diving's Ultimate Recyclers: Rebreathers," reviews the history of rebreathers - and ponders their future.

FEATURES

30.	Diving's Ultimate Recyclers: Rebreathers This is the era of recycling. We've been told to salvage paper, plastic, glass, kitchen scraps and various other things to save our planet. Yet when we dive, 80 percent of the air we breathe is wasted. Because rebreathers are designed to recycle our exhaled breath, they can be considered diving's ultimate recyclers.	By Eric Hanauer
42.	Surviving the Road Home: Ascent Rates and Safety Stops The vast majority of divers make sure that everything is in order before taking the plunge. And once in the water, most of us stick to our dive plan. But some divers abandon the planning process once it's time to ascend. The result is often a nonchalant and hurried return to the surface. That's unfortunate because from a safety perspective, the ascent is the most important phase of a dive.	By Alex Brylske
54.	Out-of-the-Ordinary Learning Opportunities: Instructor-Designed Specialties Every training agency provides instructors a selection of standard specialty course offerings. With an instructor-designed specialty, certification agencies allow their instructors to design their own specialty courses to meet local training needs not covered by a standard specialty. These specialties offer divers opportunities to expand their knowledge, train for unusual diving situations or maybe just have some supervised fun.	By Linda Lee Walden

COMMENTARY

8	Editorial: Fear Factor	By Alex Brylske
10	Buddy Lines: Free Diving
18	Dive Observer: Shark Attacks Decrease But Not Efforts to Ban Shark-Feeding Dives and other news from the diving industry	By Gene Gentrup
114	No Dumb Questions: Altitude Diving Examined Questions from our readers	By Alex Brylske

DIVE EXPLORATION

78	Dive Exploration Map: A geographical guide to great dive destinations across the globe
80	Dive Geo: The Marshall Islands' Bikini Atoll: Diving the Aftermath of Operation Crossroads Exploring a postwar paradise for divers	By Eric Hanauer
91	Dive Traveler: The Plane Truth: Conquering Your Fear of Flying	By Staci Meyer
96	Passport/Travel Briefings: Dive travel deals and updates from all over Compiled by Gene Gentrup
98	Training Site: Dutch Springs Recreation Area: Amusement Park for Divers A bustling dive spot in a bucolic setting	By Linda Lee Walden

EVERY MONTH

63	Scuba Skills: Mask Clearing Like a Pro: Advice from the Experts Mask clearing made simple with expert advice	By Linda Lee Walden
67	Instructor Tips: Playing it Safe: Tips for Teaching Safety Stops How to help students put on the brakes at the end of a dive	By Barry Shuster
71	Always Learning: The Opportunist: Looking for Excuses to Dive How to fit a dive trip into your busy schedule	By Mark Twombly
103	What About: Sharp Accessory Tools: Cutting Instruments for Divers Scuba knives, shears and scissors examined	By Lynn Laymon
108	Dive Shop: Compiled by Cathryn Castle
110	Profile: Careers in Diving: Working as a Marine Warden What it's like to be "the law" on and under the water	By Steven M. Barsky
119	What's That?: The Untouchables: Marine Creatures that are Best Left Alone Why "look, but don't touch" is good advice	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 Fins Are the Correct Size A proper fit is important for comfort and safety	By Lynn Laymon